Let's All Dance are visiting the Lyric Hammersmith Theatre with their new adaptation of The Ugly Duckling. This timeless tale has been told over decades, and this show is not the first nor last of its kind, but is beautifully presented and well worth seeing! 

With a small cast of only 4, and a piece that ebbs and flows for 40 minutes with no break, this ballet is one of the few children’s shows currently running with a duration and size that feels right. It's not small or short enough to be equivalent to a TV episode or amateur production, but is also not overly commercialised or long enough that some start to lose focus or become hyperactive. 

It is clear from the off why James Aiden Kay was awarded the lead role, as his lines and extensions are faultless. He is engaging and entertaining as soon as he steps on stage until he exits after final bows, but in fairness the same can be said for all the other dancers too. Every character was clear and recognisable, which is always important but even more so in entirely non-speaking shows like this, and Fran Mangiacasale was exemplary in this department. Although a beat behind on a few occasions, his clear passion for the art and loveable goofiness shine through, made it easy to look past the tiniest discrepancy.

Many moments involved the cast making their way very close to the front row of the audience - not in a way that felt the space was badly managed, but a fun break of the fourth wall for a millisecond here and there. This went on to prove only more positive as the characters explored further into the auditorium, encouraging little ones and grown ups alike to fully immerse themselves in the duckling’s world.

The lighting design wasn't particularly new or novel and, as gorgeous as the costumes designed by Fran Mangiacasale, and made by Jane Webster of Tutututu were, again these were nothing overly grand or adventurous… but they didn’t need to be! Both of these elements worked wonderfully and were just right for the piece. They added levels of texture and material artistry, yet allowed the ballet driven plot to remain the central focus. CAT looked like the pristine ballerina lots of little ones imagine, or aspire to be when they're older, so seeing her in real life was mesmerising. 

The set was cosy, giving it a very autumnal feel and inviting us all to relax into the story without being overwhelmed with clunky staging or invasive colour palettes as is all too common nowadays. The scenery helped to use all parts of the stage effectively and created multiple settings sleekly with simplicity.

Technically, everyone was very proficient, and it was nice to see a variety of classical choreography and more contemporary sequences. From tap shoes to pointes, and flats of many colours, it introduced young people to the art of using our bodies to tell stories. The Ugly Duckling relies solely on posture, movement, and facial expressions to convey its meaning - often to an audience who are still learning about the world and all the emotions it contains.

This is a perfect conversation starter and visual representation about the importance of difference and diversity. 

This show was reviewed on the 12th October 2024 at the Lyric Hammersmith Theatre, London.  To find out more about Let's All Dance and the touring locations please visit: The Ugly Duckling - Lets All Dance (lets-all-dance.co.uk)

Review written by Katie-Anna McConnell

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