There's a Monster In Your Show
This delightful production is based on Tom Fletcher’s enchanting book series, Who’s in Your Book? The series is known for its interactive elements, encouraging children to shake, tickle, and engage with the story; this remains true with the show as we are encouraged to join in with the motions happening on stage. The show, written by Tom Fletcher and Barrie Bignold, runs just over 50 minutes with no interval. Since it's geared towards a younger audience, there’s no judgment if you need to step out with your little ones.
This show was so inspiring that I found myself wishing something like this existed when I was younger—though it’s still a joy to experience as an adult.
At the top of the show, the cast introduces themselves and their personalities, one by one. The audience enjoyed waving back at the performers, especially when one cheekily faced away, shaking his behind. This is a magical introduction to theatre, where the cast teaches the audience about theatre call bells, when to take our seats, and when to applaud, with a sign to help guide us. They even introduced a member of the cast in a tech role, who also stepped on stage occasionally. While I would have liked a bit more theatre vocabulary, I think they struck the right balance, considering the target audience.
Two projector screens on stage showcased silhouettes of the Monster and some Worry Gremlins, much to the audience's delight. The children especially loved the silhouettes, eagerly anticipating what was coming next.
The true stars of the show are the puppets. Keith Frederick (Puppet Designer and Maker) has done a magnificent job bringing these beloved book characters to life. With Roman Stefanski’s expert Puppet Direction, the puppets moved and spoke as if they were truly alive. The cast individually voiced and manipulated each puppet, only needing help for more challenging tasks, like playing the trumpet.
Each puppet came to life with its own unique movements, voices, and special abilities. The Unicorn’s horn and hooves lit up, while smoke billowed from the Dragon’s nostrils, igniting the imagination of the children, some even standing up to try to touch the smoky haze. The show also included a dance that incorporated sign language for the characters' names, though it would have been lovely to see this integrated into their character introductions as well.
I highly recommend this magical journey where monsters, unicorns, and dragons come to life to anyone with small children—and I’d even suggest bringing the grandparents along!
This show was reviewed on the 15th August 2024 at the Riverside Studios, London where it runs until the 1st September 2024. Tickets available here: There's A Monster In Your Show | Riverside Studios
Review written by Valentine Gale-Sides
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Photo credit: Pamela Raith
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