REVIEWS
Hands down, Lyngo Theatre’s production of Tom Thumb, at the Nuffield Southampton Theatres, is the best piece of children’s theatre I have seen to date. Aimed at children aged 3+, Tom Thumb is beautifully visual, with use of handmade props and set. Shabby chic, inventive and unique, this production is 'the wooden train set of young theatre', compared to 'the Fisher Price kitchen set styled theatre' I have seen previously.
The story followed the famous poetic tale of Tom Thumb, proving that despite being tiny, he can still save his brothers from the great ogre. The ogre was portrayed using a ram’s skull. Although slightly nightmarish, this created the perfect monster, and, with the the use of a red wash, the creation of shadows heightened the experience, increasing the ogre’s magnitude. The approach to the play was genuine and simultaneously completely original.
The set consisted entirely of an old kitchen table; on it sat a model house with internal lights attached to a rope and carabiner. The table had two draws which were also self-lit. The small, intimate set was lit by a vintage, squirrel cage light bulb, shaded by a symbol. The light was suspended by rope, attached to a window frame which Tom often peeped through to tell parts of the story. The use of props was genius. The creation of birds was done with kite poles attached to origami bird structures. The migration of the bird across the stage was fluid and, with the combination of bird song soundscape, the invention was magic.
The developing seasons was imaginative and executed with flair. Snow was shown through the gentle cascading of feathers from a material bag attached to the lighting rig, which could be tugged by rope to release. This created the paragon effect of a snowy day, with feathers sticking to branches and forming a white blanket on the ground. There is something enchanting about the falling of snow, and Lyngo Theatre captured that essence flawlessly. A rainy day was conjured using an upside-down bottle of water pierced with holes attached to an umbrella. This was compelling and added a charming absurdity.
The story was retold by a one performer, taking on the role of narration, as well as characters, such as Tom Thumb, mother, father, the ogre and the old lady. His used of voice, changing in accent and dialect allowing for the subtle shift of character, without the need for a change of costume.
The soundscape, designed by Carlo Cialdo Capelli, alluring, bringing the fairy tale to life, whilst also creating a slightly eerie undertone. The wandering minor scales and chimes of the glockenspiel created the passing of time. And finally, the addition of the lullaby, sung live, brought warm and sleepy atmosphere to the stage, drawing the performance to an end. This performance provides an enchanting adventure through the forest, perfect for children and parents.
Reviewer - Grace McNicholas
on - 30/3/19
https://number9reviews.blogspot.com/2019/03/review-tom-thumb-nuffield-southampton.html?m=1
Yesterday we had the pleasure of attending Sherman Theatre to see the first performance of Tom Thumb, brought to the stage by Lyngo and starring Patrick Lynch. This story tells a tale of a tiny boy called Tom, who overhears his parent’s plan to take the children to the forest and leave them there because of their poverty stricken life. Tom has other ideas though, and he won’t give up on returning home to be with his parents…
I had no idea what to expect from this performance, but I was pleasantly surprised as it unfolded into a magical fairy-tale via Lynch’s beautiful performance. The stage was set with various contraptions and the props were so cleverly created; I particularly adored the use of pulleys, magnets and magical moments of inspiration. These constructions were imaginative and I felt as though I was watching my own children create and play with the various sensory instruments.
The music and lighting added extra sensory elements, and reinforced the magical intimacy created by Lynch. Lynch performs with a childlike manor, offering a gentle and interactive character to the audience. He is mesmerising as Tom, as well as various other characters, and the costume and props allow him to flit between the different characters in order to tell the story.
Lynch also offers a very calm and soothing environment, drawing us into Tom’s world as the story unfolds. I loved how he interacted with the audience and how relaxed the atmosphere felt. With gorgeously simple yet effective special effects (think water, movement, feathers…) this show is a glorious example of imagination and heart.
I implore you to catch this performance! https://kellyallenwriter.com/review-tom-thumb-at-sherman-theatre/
COMMENTS
On Saturday we were back at @halfmoon_theatre , this time to see Lyngo Theatre’s Tom Thumb. It’s a one man show all performed on and around an old kitchen table with the most magical use of simple handmade props to create beautiful worlds. A tiny cardboard house, paper birds, a forest of branches and a mesmerising snowfall of fluffy white feathers. I think it’s the best children’s theatre show I’ve ever seen. Partly because it didn’t feel like a show for children - they weren’t underestimated and nothing in the performance was overly simplified or hammed up for their sake. It also didn’t shy away from the more sinister elements of the story. I get infuriated by the sanitisation of fairy tales. I remember an account on here declaring that fairy tales aren’t suitable for young children and saying that he tells his kids the story of Hansel and Gretel without the witch or the child abandonment... This story of Tom Thumb has similar themes, with the brothers left in the woods when their parents can’t afford to feed them. They end up in the house of an ogre - brought to life with a completely nightmarish cow’s skull - who plans to eat them but is tricked into eating his own daughters instead. The entire show is billed simply as suitable for 3+ and is a shining example of masterful storytelling. Sadly it doesn’t look like there’s any more performances coming up, but apparently it’s been on tour for more than 10 years so I’m sure it will be back, and I’m excited to see more from Lyngo Theatre.
Tom Thumb by Lyngo this morning was stunning. Agile performance and incredible stage props. Brilliant storytelling that captivated young and old. Autumn was magical. Catch Jack and the Beanstalk on Friday and Saturday.
Went to see Tom Thumb today in the civic with my daughter it was magical she hasn't stopped talking about it all day so much work and imagination went into producing it well done lyngo theatre.
Just been to see Tom Thumb at Wakefield Theatre with my son and it was brilliant! So well told and funny at the same time.
Just saw Tom Thumb with our 3 year old at the Town Hall in Newtownards. What an excellent show! Well done to all involved. Our son (and us) absolutely loved it!
An atmospheric storytelling, visually beautiful, it completely drew you in, maybe a bit too much for my six year old as she was scared of the Ogre! My three year old chuckled at the ogres gruesome meal! They loved it especially the magical representation of the birds and the snow. Thank you for an enchanting show. My mum took my children today (ages 6 and 9). They loved it. It was a delightful production with ingenious and inventive props and effects, a sprinkling of humour throughout, one slightly scary bit (but OK!) and a slight wetting for those in the front seats!
Took my two boys today to see Tom Thumb. I enjoyed it as much as they did. We loved the simplicity. I was struck by the bare bones of it. It was magical, and beautiful, and funny too, and yet barely any props at all, and just one actor, but they were enough and more. I would make every effort to see more performances. Please come back to the IOW.
We were lucky enough to see the fantastic Tom Thumb show today at The Beggar’s Theatre in Millom. It was wonderful. Spellbinding storytelling and an incredibly ingenious and imaginative set. A superbly professional and assured performance that just enchanted my children. Thank you so much. This is the sort of inspiring theatre I love my children to see. Cannot recommend highly enough. Go see this if you can. And if you can’t, cancel whatever it is that’s stopping you!
We saw Tom Thumb last year, and Jack and the Beanstalk in Leeds on Sunday. Both beautiful, enchanting and engaging. Would recommend to anyone whether they had children or not.
Wonderful production yet again at the Stafford gatehouse today. Thanks for all your hard work which always mesmerises and captivates our children's imaginations. Very much looking forward to seeing Tom thumb
Saw tom thumb today,in Drogheda.what a whimsical delight on an autumnal afternoon.the physicality,music,command of an excited audience,what an array of exciting props,and just the right length of time for the lil ones at the show, Bravo!! Emma,41 and a half and Laoise,3 and a half — feeling grateful.
I had the absolute pleasure of seeing this amazing one man show, Tom Thumb, yesterday at the Palace Theatre Dixon studio, Southend.
My daughter was fascinated by the bird and here you can see how her questions were answered.
Amazing production of Tom Thumb! The use of space; the creativity; and way Tom captured the imagination of the children was amazing. A must see...
'We were very lucky to be at the performance of 'Tom Thumb' today at the Riverbank, Newbridge. It was absolute magic, incredible well paced and engaging. Kids loved being part of the whole experience. The play a breath of fresh air and to see the use of natural elements on stage is lovely. We will have so much to talk about at bed time tonight and so much to be grateful for when we remember Tom's story. Thank you, please come back soon!' FB
'Thoroughly enjoyed yesterday's performance at the Sherman theatre. The props used (snow and water) were great. Highly recommended people to go see the story of Tom thumb' FB
'Brilliant Tom Thumb show from @LyngoTheatre . Amazing storytelling and awesome props. Children's first theatre experience and they loved it! It was absolutely beautiful.' TW
'Visually stunning, creative, engaging and in Ivy’s words ‘an engineering masterpiece’. @LyngoTheatre ‘s Tom Thumb at @arcstockton is amazing! Do yourself a favour and get yourself tickets for the 2.30pm show! Storytelling at its best!' TW
'My 4yr old and I were completely enchanted by this magical children’s theatre performance of Tom Thumb. A one man show set entirely on/in/around a table. Lovely music, really clever and inventive use of minimal, beautifully designed props. Highly recommended' FB
'(...) Genuinely enchanting children’s theatre. This was an intimate, really magical and inventive performance - it succeeded on every level. TW
'Just watched Tom Thumb at Tunbridge Wells. Fantastic production with effecrive staging. Really enjoyed this version of the story. My girls thought it was great fun.' FB
'I went to see Tom Thumb at Darwen Library yesterday performed by Patrick Lynch (from Cbeebies) and Lyngo Theatre - really excellent performance the grandchildren loved it - I definitly recommend this show if it is on near you take the kids / grandkids - well worth it' FB
'Wonderfully magical adaptation & production of Tom Thumb...my 6yr old son was enthralled and really engaged with the dialogue of Patrick Lynch during the 1hr show which seemed much less...We would most definitely go again...highly recommended by a hard to please 6yr old' FB
'I took my two children to see Tom Thumb at the Lighthouse, Poole. Thank you for giving them a fabulous and magical introduction to the theatre. They were spell bound...I enjoyed it too!' FB
‘Loved the use of simple devices to stir the imagination. Patrick Lynch drew you into his world.’
‘Great actor, wonderful storytelling, ingenious props.’
‘I thought the birds were brilliant.’
‘ “exelunt show”, from Abigail, age 7, front row with hie hill shoes...who touched the cows head.’
‘Oscar loved the things you have made, Georgia loved the way it was life-like and mysterious, Pete loved the snow-tree, I loved the music and the beautifully put together whole.’
‘What I liked was the way you adapted parts of the story to fit the props (not the other way round). The gadgets were captivating for the children, and the way the sticks for example represented the big forest. It was stimulating for my little sisters because they had to think about it.’
COMMENTS
What a completely brilliant Christmas present I just received. Snow Play atSquare Chapel. You can easily pay loads more for shows elsewhere which are nowhere near as magical as this. GO SEE THIS. You’ll love it.
Took my 5 year old to see Snow Play today. I’ve never experienced such a vibrant, fun, interactive and absolute hilarious play. My little boy laughed from beginning to end. Everyone was smiling, everything felt magical just as I remember it used to be at the theatre a long time ago. Thank you for such a wonderful experience.
We really enjoyed the performance of Snow Play today. Fantastic job. The kids (and adults) were gripped from start to finish, and all came out smiling.
‘The creators and performers of this show had an exceptional rapport with the audience of children. It was great.’
‘Incredible, beautiful play for young audiences, such fun, kids were enthralled and had a wonderful time, as did the grown ups!’
‘The show was brilliant.’
‘I thought the show was fantastic. Went with a 3 yr old who laughed all the way through but would be suitable from around 2yrs up to 6 or 7 I would say. Lots of good slapstick panto type comedy. Actors were engaging to children and adults. Kids got to participate in snowball fight at the end which was very popular…Highly recommend.’
‘I thought 'Snow Play' was captivating and hugely entertaining for both the children and adults in the audience. It was lovely 2 be involved in the story.’
‘The show was great best show I have seen with my kids for a while.’
‘Show was really enjoyable. Very interactive and funny.’
REVIEWS
More recent brilliant reviews here: read review here read review here read review here read review here read review here.
‘This is a 50 minute piece aimed at the little ones, say from three years old to the end of infant school, and a pleasure for grown ups to who can enjoy sharing something that is simple and direct.
Tall Carlo Rossi is tramp-like looking Mr White. He's dozing on a chair centre stage when the audience enter but wakes up and waves at them from the other side of the French windows, mouthing words we cannot hear. The kids who wave back are in for a treat for there is plenty of opportunity for the confident to participate in the action and those who are shy won't be pushed into doing anything. They can sit back and enjoy it - though even they seem to enjoy getting into a snowball fight before things are over.
In fact Mr white soon comes out and gives everyone some snow. But it isn't his house. It's the home of Mr Green (lively Patrick Lynch, the straight man to Rossi's oddball). And now he comes back from his holidays. At first he thinks he must have gone to the wrong house but it is certainly his Christmas tree in the garden. How is Mr Green (or Mr Scream or Mr Ice Cream as Mr White calls him) going to get White to leave, or at least to stop him and his audience helpers from bringing more and more of cold winter indoors?
Spring comes at last, with flowers and a butterfly but not before there has been lots of snow fun and Mr White goes back north taking winter with him.
It works because its mime and surreal symbolism are so direct and because Rossi and Lynch are skilled performers who gauge their audience perfectly and have them joyfully co-operating in creating the occasion. .Lynch doesn't need to ask the audience to tell him what Rossi is doing while his back is turned; there spontaneously shouting out that he isn't keep still but moving, as he performs a dancing perambulation sideways. Directed and designed by Chiarenza, with accompanying music by Cialdo Capelli, it really is delightful .
“Snow Play” ends at Pleasance Theatre Islington 1st June, plays Salisbury Playhouse 2nd June and will be seen at the Edinburgh Fringe 2011.’ The British Theatre Guide
‘ “It won't be cold for long, Mr White. There's something under the snow.”
With Edinburgh festival “previews” now running all over the city, Londoners are even more spoilt for choice than usual when it comes to the capital's cultural smorgasbord. This is also the case for “mini-Londoners”, and this week my four-year-old and I went along to see the Lyngo Theatre Company's Snow Play. The company had a hit with this play at the Lyric Hammersmith over Christmas, but how would a wintry play work for a summer audience?
The play was charming and engaging, and the interaction was probably made easier by the intimacy of the audience. Indeed, my daughter, not usually one for overcoming her shyness in front of groups of strangers, got so involved that without prompting she went up to the front and helped coat Mr White in “snow”.
I had had visions of the play utilising real snow, and the auditorium being chilled to an uncomfortable degree. However, on entering the theatre it became apparent that this was not the case, and that instead the company had utilised feathers, white fibre and wadding, which with imaginative lighting and billowing winds was immensely effective (although I couldn't help wondering whether children with asthma and allergies might not get on too well, and might be advised to sit near the back. We were right at the front and could've certainly have done with a “de-linting” after the show had ended!).
The premise is simple: Mr White has moved into Mr Green's house, and in so doing has brought on Winter, “stealing” Spring. There's a lot of excellent physical comedy, much loved by the children, and the simplicity of the storyline (plus the relatively short running time) keeps the children rapt. The constant interaction (we were throwing “snowballs” at Mr White at one point) meant that the kids felt part of the action rather than mere onlookers, which is a key way to keep this fidgety audience engaged.
It was a brave decision to stage the play quite starkly; not for Lyngo the gaudy palette much favoured by many children's theatre companies. Indeed, I had to laugh inwardly when I realised the production reminded me in a strange way of a Samuel Beckett play! The fact was though that the snow was the star, and extra colours, whizzes and bangs were simply not necessary.
What though of the unseasonal nature of the play? As Mr Green put it, “It's June! It shouldn't be snowing everywhere!” Well, as the theme of the play is the search for spring (and I don't think I will be giving the game away too much if I tell you that the quest is successful!), the play works in a summer setting. Indeed, this play would work in any season because for adults and children alike it proves itself to be captivating.’ www.mylondonyourlondon.com
‘The most vividly memorable thing about this show is the gales of infantile laughter every time the charismatic Carol Rossi lifts so much as an eyebrow. He has a remarkable gift for entertaining children.
A grey-coated, ragged personification of winter, Rossi's character has arrived squatter-like in the home of Mr Green (Patrick Lynch) who plays the 'straight' spring-like role very warmly against the surreality of Rossi's character. Rossi, a star of Italian children's television, has a chiselled, lived-in extraordinarily expressive face and his naughty dance as the subversive snowman, who is meant to stay put but doesn't, is a delight.
There's a lot of snow in this production - big feathery flakes of it everywhere - and children are invited to handle it, stick it on Rossi's coat and throw snowballs made of it. Cue for more irrepressible joyful mirth from the young audience.
Much of the action is accompanied by Carlo Cialdo Capelli's gentle, melodious music which features seasonal bells.
After each performance of Snow Play two facilitators (who also assist during the show) run a workshop in which children use craft materials to make snowy Christmas trees and other activities. The Stage
Another fantastic show for very young ones, this is an utterly enchanting 40 minutes devised and performed by the Italian theatre company Lyngo, which tells the story of a snowman, Mr White, who takes over Mr Green's house and covers everything in snow, until spring comes and he has to melt away. Children (and adults) will be captivated.’ The Evening Standard
‘Wonderful.’ Pick of the day Metro
Fun and frolics in the snow
It may have caused the grown-ups a few problems earlier this year, but for children, snow is never a burden. Faced with falling flakes and a snowy white landscape, traffic infrastructure is far from their mind. Scottish/Italian company, Lyngo Theatre may not have real snow in its simple yet highly effective show, but the cotton wool-style substitute goes down a storm with its young audience.
Returning from his holiday in warmer climes, Mr Green (aka spring) finds an uninvited guest in his house. A guest who refuses to leave and, worse still, insists on making an increasingly bigger mess in Mr Green's garden and living room. It transpires the unwelcome visitor is Mr White (aka winter) who can't quite cope with the fact that his time (for this year at least) is over.
Both Patrick Lynch (Green) and Carlo Rossi (White) have a warm performance style that instantly puts the audience at ease. Even though we know Mr Green is in the right, we're really not sure who to root for, so amiable are both characters. Early on, Rossi enlists the help of two adults from the audience, and if children are left wondering why they haven't been chosen instead, the answer soon reveals itself.
Layers of snow, imaginary furniture and even Mr White himself are carried in and out of the house by the volunteers, adding some lovely comic touches without ever veering into the realm of audience humiliation. But the real fun comes from the moments when children can get involved. Shrieks of pleasure accompany them ploughing onto the stage to cover Mr White in false snow or pelt Mr Green and his tennis racket with snow balls. Best of all, there's no damp, soggy mess to clear up afterwards.’ The List
‘It may be August but children love a snowball fight at any time of year. Snow Play is a lively and entertaining production performed by Patrick Lynch (Cbeebies) and Italian actor Carlo Rossi. Mr Green returns from his holiday to find Mr White (winter) has taken over his house and covered it with snow. Along with continuous help from the young audience Mr Green tries everything he can to get winter to leave so that spring can return. Squealing with delight children are invited to throw snow at Mr White, sweep the snow with brooms, and stick the snow to Mr White when Mr Green turns him into a snowman. At one point Mr Green opens up his umbrella and creates a magical snowstorm over the entire audience. This is a show with real universal appeal for young and old alike. And if any adults reading this would like to get on the stage then make sure you sit in the front row! Using slapstick humour and minimal props this hardworking duo have created a vibrant, fun-filled show that pushes all the right buttons - interactive theatre at its best. Although the more timid observers are under no pressure to participate but can watch the fun instead. Jake (age 5) loved throwing snowballs at Mr White but liked it when Mr White hit them back with a tennis racket even better! Elise (age 4) said she couldn't stop laughing when Mr White would move behind Mr Green's back but then stand still when Mr Green turned round and pretend he had been in the same place all along. The 45 minutes raced by. There is no padding in this show, just good old-fashioned non-stop entertainment.’ The Primary Times
‘Inviting audience interaction almost from the start, Lyngo theatre's charming little production succeeds in bringing a cold winter day to the summer stage - and leaves its over-four-years-old audience feeling all warm from the experience.
Carlo Rossi plays Mr White, a tall foreign-sounding, pipe-smoking gentleman from the north. Patrick Lynch is the put-upon Mr Green, who arrives home singing arias from his summer holiday only to find Mr White not just asleep in his front room, but spreading snow all over the place.
Soon they are vying for the audience's approval. Mr White proffers cotton wool as pretend snowballs and floats motes of snow-like dust around the stage. Mr Green tries to tidy up and gets a couple of kids up from the front row to help. Mr White, meanwhile, has a couple of mums up and helping him spread a blanket of cotton wool across Mr Green's sitting room.
It's great fun, with the rules of theatre carefully introduced. With the skilfully managed anarchy growing nicely, Mr White is soon being made into a snowman and Mr Green starts to accept Mr White as a friend. Just as that happens, of course, the sun comes out. Embracing that which is different makes its differences disappear, it would seem. Great stuff.’ The Stage
Slapstick and Storytelling
‘Snow Play is a two person piece designed for two to seven year olds.
Mr White (Carlo Rossi) is asleep onstage under a single bare light bulb as the house opens, downstage of him are some basic glassless french windows and to the right of those a Christmas tree. It would be a bare and slightly dull setup were it not for Carlo Cappeli's score - which is a beautiful and evocative piece of writing - and the 'snow' circling in the air. With these in place the theatre becomes a magical winter environment.
A rowdy audience of children never really settles throughout (this is failing on the parents part rather than the performers) but when they are as close as they will get Carlo Rossi awakes. He comes out of the window and hands 'snow' to the audience; 'for later' he says. Rossi hasn't got any lines that are much more complicated than that, a skilled clown his role in the piece is to thwart Mr Green's (Patrick Lynch) attempts to get him out of the house and clear up the snow. He is a captivating performer with a great capacity for physical humour and keeps the children mesmerised throughout.
Patrick Lynch is a excellent foil for Rossi, he has the bulk of the lines, communicates clearly and simply with the children but shows a great deal of flair for physical comedy as well. A great deal of credit should be given to him for his control over the children, the production asks a lot (at one point every child in the auditorium is onstage) and yet he manages things without breaking character which is a considerable achievement. Together, him and Rossi are a classy team who effortlessly entertain.
The third performer is Kate Phillips, she is a plant (a performer sat in the audience in plain clothing) she has minimal involvement and does a excellent job but, ultimately, her involvement feels calculated and disingenuous.
Despite the skills of the performers the real star of Snow Play is the script and its tight integration with the prop and set design. Many different types of snow are used - ranging from large rolls of it that the audience spread over Mr Green's house whilst he is sweeping up the paper based snow Mr White has spread outside. Other tricks used to great effect are a umbrella that snows continuously from inside itself when opened and 'snowballs' that the audience throw at Mr White who then bats them back with a tennis racket.
Marcello Chiarenza's direction is assured and skilled, mixing slapstick with storytelling and always keeping Mr White and Mr Green as distinct and rounded characters. He takes his young audience seriously and repeatedly gets them involved, allowing the stage to get close to anarchy before trusting his two excellent performers to reign things back in. It's very impressive work.
There are slight niggles, the lighting design is patchy and disjointed at times, although operator error and usual Edinburgh technical compromises most likely explain this. The French windows in the set are also slightly too imposing from some angles and obscure some of the action.
These are minor issues but it is a testament to how much Snow Play gets absolutely right that they irritate. Another irritation is that on occasion the experience feels a little calculated - having Mr Green remind people that the soundtrack is in sale in the foyer as the piece ends is a key example - The children without exception have a magical and fun time, and the adults are well entertained, it is a testament to how well this is done that no-one wants to be distracted from the snowy reality that the show creates.’ Fringe Report
‘Mr Green returns from his holidays to find that Mr White has moved in. It wouldn't be so bad but he is the winter and covers the house inside and out with snow. A touch of adult interaction, kids throwing snowballs and a wonderful hour under the lights leaves young and old thoroughly satisfied.
The piece has simplicity at its core but does ask us to suspend our disbelief from beginning to end. Two actors without the youthfulness of a C Beebies presenter but with the experience of being one - take a bow Patrick Lynch alongside Carlo Rossi - show us how to keep the kids involved and the pace just right. We are enchanted by their interplay, buy into the whole door that keeps the noise out and the snow that becomes snowballs and falls out of every piece of scenery. The setting is charming but also functional with the tree, the light, the previously mentioned door and the suitcase brought on by the returning Mr Green mined like a Shakespearean sonnet for laughs and effects. It needs the effects and the staging but does not simply depend upon them.
The pace of the show was right and young and old became aware of each nuance as served up as both performers demonstrated consummate skill in their approach to the piece. The slapstick was enough, the storyline worked and the interaction enough and at the right times to keep the kids onboard and the parents less worried about snow ball fights in August.
As a production this ticked enough of the boxes to make it a hit transfer from London that makes the Fringe such a delight when you find something of this quality and value. The down side for me were slight but were present. It comes in whether this is, as an example of its genre one of the best examples of children's theatre and I would have to say that my opinion is that it is great but I have seen better. The quality of the performers notwithstanding and the structure being so good there were times when I felt the kids were being directed rather than fully engaged. Risks are taken every time you try and involve children as the stop button can be hard to find and the authority each actor possesses onstage is impressive but the children became ancillary to the story rather than integral to its telling. The use of someone in the audience who is part of the production is for me quite difficult. You either go for it or you don't.
Now, as a student I was involved in a student Rectorial election with Ming Campbell of the Liberal Democrats and Jeffrey Archer of the Tories. I did a double take upon entering. Carlo and Patrick can argue over who looks like whom but they certainly were far more entertaining than the debates I attended with their look-alikes back in the day. I was engaged and I was entertained. It was a piece of entertainment that was unapologetic about being about nothing in particular apart maybe from compromise. I left feeling glad I had gone to see it but as I have said it had something about the way that other children's companies are going that was missing. A great show that hit 4 stars for me but not the top spot. Mind you, you will go to much worse and pay much more for something your kids would enjoy less than this!’
Fringe Review
‘I wish I was a kid again then I could have joined in the snowball-slinging 50 minutes of sheer delight that was Snow Play without drawing undue attention.
Lyngo Theatre's winter family show is aimed at younger children between three and eight years old (and their parents), although unaccompanied adults will have a good time too.
It played to sell out audiences in London last year and it's easy to see why it's perfect for the Christmas slot in Poole Lighthouse's studio space.
Italian theatre practitioner Marcello Chiarenza has crafted a wonderful piece incorporating physical comedy, circus skills and mime and Carlo Capelli's music sounds like sleigh bells.
The story of sun-loving Mr Green's retum from holiday to find Mr White squatting in his house, gradually filling it with snow, is simple to follow and absolutely enchanting to watch as battle commences for possession of the property.
Tall and icicle thin, Frank Wurzinger plays Mr White with an unhurried, otherworldly innocence that contrasts beautifully with Andrew Irvine's frenetic, arm-whirling Mr Green.
Their physical difference - Wurzinger towers head and shoulders over the stockier Irvine - works well, making Mr Green's attempts to evict Mr White physically very funny.
But Snow Play is less about watching and more about taking part.
"Snow" is liberally distributed among the audience - later to be returned as snowballs - parents are called into service on stage and youngsters invited to help build snow men and sweep up snowfall.
This is just snow much fun.’ The Stage
‘A truly magical winter show, great fun for all ages.’ Bournemouth Echo
COMMENTS
‘Whole family thoroughly enjoyed the performance. Thank you.’
‘An excellent show – beautifully simple and crystal clear without being patronising – thank you!’
‘We (me and my 4 year old) saw Fish's Wishes at Poole Lighthouse on Sat 5th Nov. What a fantastic show, what a fabulous set, how wonderfully presented. It was brilliant "little peoples' theatre" and we drove home via the beach to listen to the shore. With performances like this to see my young daughter will soon catch the theatre bug, THANK YOU, LUCY and ALICE’
COMMENTS
‘Absolutely brilliant. It was a pleasure to watch and to see our children so involved/engrossed.’
‘Excellent. Very professional, sensitive and perfect for age group. Kept my son’s attention (3-4 year old). He didn’t move a muscle.’
‘I liked all of it but I liked it best when the water sprayed into Percy’s mouth!’
‘Very good. Very original. One of the best shows we have seen at the Polka Theatre.’
‘FANTASTIC. Took 2 and a half year old twins and they were captured throughout performance.’
‘Absolutely fantastic. I think I enjoyed it as much as my three year old niece who loved it.’
REVIEWS
‘When the sun has got its timing spot-on for the holiday weekend, it's tempting to think outdoors, but this afternoon show, by Lyngo Theatre, is well worth an hour of family time.
Aimed at the over fives, it's an eccentric wander through the place where dreams come from a place on the other side of the mirror where the Dust Man sources all the topsy-turvy, back-to-front and inside-out ideas that make perfect sense when we're asleep. To begin with Dusty (Patrick Lynch) appears affably shambolic: but his tricksy routine with a picture frame - it's an invisible window in an invisible wall - leads his giggling audience into understanding that his dream world is on the "other side" of ours. Best of all, in a kind of Alice Through the Looking Glass moment, he invites a little girl to climb through his frame and into his make-believe.
Thereafter Lynch whisks us into an increasingly surreal, poetic realm where phones ring at awkward times - it's his boss checking up on him - clocks always strike nine, and the night shift means the Dust Man watching us nodding off. There's a genuine understanding, in this inventive collaboration between Lynch and his Italian associates, of children's night-fears as well as their ability to send imagination into total, rewarding freefall. The visual imagery - magical special effects, deft puppetry - is beautifully contrived while the lively music and Lynch's flair for clowning with an air of mystery in it, make for an intriguing, even reassuring, dreamtime that's also a celebration of theatre itself.’ The Glasgow Herald
COMMENTS
‘We thought the show was very good. We enjoyed it lots and thought it was well done.’
‘Most enjoyable.’
‘Loved it – ingenious and very entertaining – even for the adults.’
COMMENTS
Went to see you last Sunday in the Riverbank theatre Newbridge. Thoroughly enjoyed your production of Hansel and Gretel. Everything was great set design, acting, humour and storyline. Excellent ten out of ten
Looking forward to seeing you again. FB
‘My favourite part of the performance was when human witch eater got pushed in the lava hot oven. Also I really liked it when they threw the lights to each other because it looked like magic!’
‘The actors who played Hansel and Gretel were amazing! My favourite part of the show was at the end when Hansel and Gretel pushed the nasty witch headfirst into the red, hot fire. Also we liked the way the actors changed their voice to become different characters. We really enjoyed our trip to the theatre and hope to go again someday!’
‘The performance was amazing because it was really funny. My favourite bit was when Hansel sneaked up on the horrible witch and pushed her head first into the red hot oven!’
‘The stage looked beautiful as the lights looked like stars. My favourite bit was when Hansel pushed the horrible witch headfirst into the blistering, hot oven! Also I liked the way the actors changed their body and voices to become different characters. That was very clever!’
‘It was quite a curious setting at the start with the dark gloomy lighting but we were all amazed when the lights slowly started to glimmer. Through the show there were a number of humorous and joyful songs that made us the audience feel both calm and exhilarated. The scenery and props were few throughout the play but very inventive helped our imaginations.
Surprisingly there were only 2 actors to perform 6 fascinating characters. Our favourite was Hansel because of his joke about the “fat” sheep.
Overall we really enjoyed this entertaining show and recommend others to go see it!’
‘We all enjoyed the play very much. It was a very interesting, clever version of the story. The best parts, of many, were the clever way the witches were `put in the oven`, the way the cast moved their beds around and the bird that flew. It is amazing that 2 actors can perform all the roles and make it look so good. Well done to both of them. As a class we give it a score out of 10 out of 10.’
‘Today I went to the theatre to see Hansel and Gretel. It was fantastic I really want to go again because it was the best theatre trip in the world. The bit I like best is the bit when they were licking the ice cream off the roof and when Hansel made the bird fly. I really loved it. PS can we come again?’
‘Your act was great. I loved it and the whole class loved it. I hope the next one is great, just like the one we just watched. I hope it is funny and enjoyable. The first one was fantastic and all of us heard you. The bit that I liked best was the bit when the mum locked them out because I like horrible stuff. I loved meeting you. Thank you.’
‘Thank you for inviting us to see 'Hansel and Gretel' this morning. It was fabulous. We all loved the performance, especially the bit where Hansel ate the ice cream from the roof of the house and when Hansel made the bird fly. Many of us found the play very funny in places… We were very impressed with it all.’
‘To Marcello, Patrick, Carlo, Elena and Emilia This is to say a huge THANK YOU for completely engaging our children at the performance on Saturday - it was absolutely delightful. Wishing you continued success with your future productions; I shall keep an eye on your website and am happy to recommend the experience to family and friends. Regards, Anne’
REVIEWS
If you were to boil the essence of Hansel and Gretel down to its bones - poverty, child abandonment and cannibalism - it would make for an unlikely children’s show.
But from this most grim of Grimm’s fairy tales, Lyngo Theatre have created a captivating show.
A two-hander, Francesca Anderson plays Gretel, the step-mother and one of the witches, while her colleague Adam Jessop plays the woodcutter father and the other witch.
The changes in character are well handled, so that even younger audience members could keep track of who is being portrayed.
The lighting is atmospheric and the stage is filled with rustic-looking props that are used to great effect throughout - whether it’s in bed at the family home, lost in the woods or the climactic scenes with the witches.
The show is billed as being for ages four and over, and there were certainly a few very young children in the opening day’s audience. The attention of our two, who are at the very bottom of that scale, wandered occasionally, but the engaging songs and imaginative staging soon brought them right back.
And when the children stumble on a house made of sweets and encounter the witches – Anthrax and Listeria – our boys are riveted. Comic rather than threatening, Anderson and Jessop are clearly having a ball with the characters.
This is no panto, but the actors do break the fourth wall occasionally, notably when the witches sing about the ‘sweet little children’ and prowl the audience.
If you’re looking for a suitable alternative to panto for younger children, this is a worthy choice. It entertains without patronising its younger patrons, but there is something for everyone to enjoy in this lovingly staged show.
Until December 30.
https://www.portsmouth.co.uk/whats-on/arts-and-entertainment/hansel-and-gretel-at-the-spring-havant-review-a-worthy-alternative-to-panto-1-8749249
Concentrated Christmas production with forceful impact.
A cut-down, two-person version of well-known folk-tales like Hansel and Gretel isn't normally my idea of fun. It makes economic sense for a small-scale venue like the Met, but the doubling and other strategies needed when the same two actors are playing multiple parts and trying to impress as a range of characters each, easily threatens to short-change young viewers as writer, director and performers struggle with the imposed limitations.
But Lyngo Theatre, whose expert way with theatre for the young is evident in their work, has devised a way to make maximum impact with limited means; so much that the two-hander format becomes a virtue.
It helps focus in a show aimed at 4+, as actors Amy Michaels and Robin Brockway become guides through the story; not as narrators but by quick character changes. A couple of alterations in elements of costume and a change of stance move Brockway between Hansel and his good-natured but unassertive father.
More noticeably, because the contrast's greater, Michaels' bright and lively Gretel physically sags and vocally deepens into a stepmother whose manner any child would recognise as chilly-going-on-freezing. Both actors later function as owners of the sweetly luring sweetie-house, she with a trail of flame-red hair, he under a sort of Davy Crockett hat needing a severe trim.
Scenery's limited, but economically used; principally a couple of mobile seats with front coverings used as beds. Hansel and Gretel lie together as brother and sister; the parents' bed-talk is colder with a sense of estrangement provided as the 'beds' wheel at angles to each other, joined only narrowly at the head.
Hansel recurrently calls himself stupid when his plans fail. It's clear where the low self-esteem comes from, as their Stepmother repeatedly uses the term about the children. Dark though the setting is, it's this constant step-parental put-down that marks the children's real deprivation. A contrastingly hopeful light comes with a few moments of humour, but mostly through the resilience and resourcefulness shown, first by Hansel with his tracking devices, then Gretel as enforced Witches' skivvy, in asserting their active roles in the story. www.reviewsgate.com
COMMENTS
‘My daughter, Isobel, was lost in the sky and doesn't seem to have come back to earth yet!’
COMMENTS
‘We loved it. Jampacked full of creativity and ideas. Fantastic physicality and beautiful clowning.’
‘Felt the theme of friendship was cleverly dealt with through exploration of sharing, caring and also playing. The objects of rubbish were transformed into objects of fun and/beauty and the audience were involved in that process.’
‘A handmade gift given from the heart, It is indeed the thought that counts. The children in our group from ages 2.5 to 8 had a great time and are still talking about bits they remember. Thanks’
‘Fantastic!’
REVIEWS
'A charming spectacle.. a great kids show.. the dynamic duo mastered the art of clowning brilliantly... Their knockabout antics had their intended audience hooting with laughter, jumping up and down in their seats and clapping along to music by Cialdo Capelli. the perfect level of humour for children to thoroughly relish. It was evident that each and every child was left utterly mesmerised by the performance, some claiming that they would give it "50 Billion out of 5"! ' www.whatsonstage.com
‘Theatrically inventive, sublime acting.’ Birmingham Post
REVIEWS
‘Suitable for even the shortest attention spans.’ The New York Times
Seasonal adjustments and the joy of being alive.
It's not only the police who're getting younger; it's theatre audiences too. Lyngo Theatre's piece is far from alone in its 1-3 age range. Neither the formalities of theatre nor a progressive story are appropriate for its near-infant audiences, who sit on a circle of cushions with their accompanying adults.
In itself it provides social interaction, safe with a parent or relative but engaging cooperatively with others. Even in a nursery performance, there's the gain of being guided through individual participation in a group experience. And events don't have to bounce along. There's interest enough in a single state of being. Objects hold a fascination, and as the piece proceeds through the seasons, taking day and night into account, there are plenty of opportunities to experience birds, flowers, butterflies, grass and puddles formed by mirrors.
Proceeding gently (there's never a blackout) audience members have the chance to blow autumnal leaves away, make rain sounds and birdsong, fly wire-attached feather butterflies and plant grass. Some may hardly have experienced the turning of the seasons, and the changes will still fascinate experienced 3-year olds.
Patrick Lynch guides audience members; even his few comments aimed at adults don't exclude the young, but seek a complicity, binding everyone into involvement as the performers (Elena Marini also contributing atmospheric violin music) co-create the wide world in their circle.
While the petals, grass and ingenious little tubes creating birdsong focus attention, most important is the company's ability to work at a pace and with a simple directness that gains genuine responses and involvement from very young people; there's none of that terrible incomprehension and boredom which too often comes from ill-thought through audience participation - the very young are never taken for granted.
Egg and Spoon resonates with its audiences because it views the world as the fascinating series of phenomena it appears in early years. There's nothing to frighten, everything to enjoy, right up to the final moment when (without a spoon in sight) the egg hatches and a new chick emerges to greet the audience, and the world. www.reviewsgate.com
UNDER FIVES THEATRE REVIEW Egg And Spoon
There have been books written about the impact and transformative power of children's theatre, and years ago I had some involvement with Waterford Arts For All Children's Theatre, but in Garter Lane, at a morning show, I was transported to a magical place. The acclaimed UK Lyngo Theatre performed their interactive show Egg And Spoon for the Under 5s (accompanied by an adult). The simplicity of the setting belied the levels of preparation for a magical circle, a stage cloth that looked like a yellow clay floor, with small hession cushions shaping the circle. Two actors, Percy and April, welcomed the audience and blew white puff balls into the sky. Soft tinkly, glockenspiel music played, and it was gentle, welcoming and exciting. There was an arch of leaves and lights, and the story was to create a Garden, over four seasons and experience the gifts of nature, and to share a whole year in forty-five minutes.
The actors distributed the props, bags of the voices of birds, spring rolls of cloth containing beds of flowers wrapped in a cloth of sleep. There were two butterflies on twisty wires. Hands made the sounds of rain, and shiny discs were handed out for puddles, along with bags of grass, but the prop of props were two-sided blankets, yellow for daylight and dark with stars for night. There were moon cushions, sunshine cushions and fluffy cloud cushions, and an umbrella that kept one person dry and allowed rain to fall on the other. I was captivated and felt part of an exploration, a journey in theatre and makebelieve.
In a nest Birdy lived in a pulsating, lighted shell, waiting for Spring to return. There was a beautifully constructed tree where branches and leaves slotted in so well, and the children could blow the leaves from the branches, and play 'splash' in the circular puddles. There was a time to dream under a nighttime blanket and dream about floppy cloth fish with floppy tails. There was snow in winter, and the gentle creation of fluffy white motes created such a magical effect.
Then it was flowers for breakfast, butterflies to take on walks, and cherry blossoms to float in the wonderment. Then Birdy hatched and went around the circle greeting the audience,
I believed it all and felt rejuvenated, and at peace with the world and the world of theatre. The actors were: Adam Jessop and Zoe Greenfield.
Garter Lane has an impressive brochure listing events for the Bealtaine Festival as have the Library Service in Waterford.
COMMENTS
Brought Dottie to see Egg and Spoon, a magical play for under 5's by Lyngo yesterday. Each elemen cleverly produced and engaged the kids throughout. Dottie loved the interaction with Percy and April. Looking forward to their return !!
We watched Egg and Spoon in Birmingham at Touchbase Pears today and it was just wonderful - the best children's theatre we've seen!
We saw egg and spoon at the Sherman theatre back in April and it was incredible.
Saw it in Garter Lane and it was captivating, imaginative, interactive and magical. There was a caring, gentle approach that reassured adults/parents and fascinated children. It brought back memories of Arts For All Children’s Theatre.
Had another lovely trip, this time to see Egg and Spoon. Highly recommended, even my 6 year old thoroughly enjoyed himself (as did hubby!)
We will definitely be back to see more of your productions!
Absolutely incredible performance today of 'egg and spoon' it was a totally immersive theatre experience- my 3 year old was mesmerized and cannot stop talking about it! (And throwing around the 'cherry blossoms' that I must keep in my pocket) I cannot recommend it highly enough- thank you!
What a magical show Egg and Spoon is! Thank you for such an engaging piece of theatre for young children and their parents. FB
I saw your 11.30 performance of “Egg and Spoon” at ***** to-day with my grandson, Sam, who is 4.
We both loved it. I worked in the industry and think that this is easily the best production I have ever seen for the Low to the Ground age group and I’ve been watching theatre for children for 50 years. The setting is perfect with appropriate music and lighting for the age group. The props are imaginative and fascinated the children. The dialogue is delightful. People bang on about stimulating the imagination of children. You do it in spades. It takes such care and talent and time to produce such apparently simple theatre for children. (personal email)
REVIEWS
Top-class theatre for the very young.
I've been undergoing a crash course in Lyngoistics over recent weeks. Discovering that, out of four Lyngo productions on view, the three playing a season in the Unicorn's Clore auditorium share a common setting, with children and adults sitting in a large single-row circle around the action in which they are invited to participate.
What fine-tuning designates this show for 2-4s, while What a Wonderful World, here last week, extends to 5s it's hard to say. Circus is more free-form, while Wonderful World develops more through a story; that apart they cover much the same ground. Literally.
With a mum and a dad from the audience each briefly helping, and Airlie Scott's latecomer being roped-in throughout as Auntie, this is certainly a family show. There's plenty of opportunities for 2-4s to involve themselves, whether it's helping keep a moon-balloon aloft, leading sheep round the space or helping turn a full-stage sized cloth into an ocean, its waves tossing various sea creatures.
All this under the guidance of Patrick Lynch's red-coated ringmaster Col Tom Thumb, encouraging involvement through questions and suggestions, building the scene element by element. His symbol of authority, a ringmaster's whip, soon turns into a buzzing fly, following the butterflies that have fluttered around, along with numerous other natural breeds recreated with theatrical ingenuity.
This piece's freer form means that the organisation element in Lynch's description of Lyngo's three productions as 'organised chaos' is tested, but wins out, while allowing space for imaginative creativity and play - something parents find themselves helping with. True, the way several sheep get carried around means it's good they're not real (one or two would need strong ears).
But with individual prompts from some parents, there's a high level of child involvement and the delight in imaginative participation seen in Lyngo's companion shows, all of them more play than 'a play' to young audiences. They're a spontaneous-seeming source of interaction with the natural world and its seasons, and with the family home - things of which young audience members are becoming increasingly aware. This is theatre that works through, and enhances, young audiences' understanding. www.reviewsgate.com
REVIEWS
Italy's Lyngo Theatre knows the score when it comes to producing theatre for the very young (from age two).
An audience of such tender years has no truck with fourth wall realism, or, indeed, any attempt to put space between performer and watcher. Small children are expected to enter into the play world and take a hands-on approach to props, set, even actors, who in turn should be prepared to step over supine toddlers with thumbs in their mouths.
Thus, Lyngo's third show in a trilogy of early years work - a creation story - is mostly interactive, with music, songs and judicious use of intriguing goody bags, soft pillows, mirrors and miles of hessian to roll about on.
Patrick Lynch, of CBeebies' Razzledazzle fame, and Emilia Brodie, with her violin and alto recorder, play Mr Armstrong and Necessity, Mother of Invention, respectively. Mindful of the selective attention of their infant audience, their dialogue is interspersed with jolly invitations - to chase stars, throw snowballs and pop bubble wrap. Activities are accompanied by composer Carlo Cialdo Capelli's sweet ostinato overlaid with message-affirming lyrics. Various witty asides are thrown in to keep parents and carers occupied - snatches of old hippy speak and pseudo science give a tongue in cheek impression. Startlingly out of place references to, for example, multicellular organisms make grown-ups smile as they fondly watch their infants busy placing velvet starfish on a glassy pond.
When you're only two the world - and the theatre – is wonderful enough without all the verbiage. The Stage
Life as an awfully big adventure
They grow up quickly, Lyngo Theatre's audiences. Last week at the Unicorn Egg & Spoon took a simple approach to life for 1-3s. But Wonderful World, for 2-5s, introduces the Collective Unconscious of people's dreams. And if you're old enough to notice that the Unconscious is a large pillow-case, stuffed with dreams of cotton-wool, you'll be an accompanying adult, and well aware of the importance of dreams, and the notion of a Collective Unconscious.
It's apt, therefore, that the audience's participation in Wonderful World should often be shared by young children and adults - at one point the young people blowing on the leaves their adults drop, creating a windswept autumnal fall.
The usual, embarrassing idea of "audience participation", by the way, is entirely inappropriate for this joint venture, in which adults help children develop their wonderful world, nature created and celebrated by a series of theatrical tricks (the hand-held birdsong devices an especial treat) made 'real' by interaction with young people's perceptions and experiences of the world around.
As the audience places rocks, and a dream-train of children is formed (a sleeper, naturally), their new companions waving them goodbye with handkerchiefs; as dream-fish are shared, a pond created from a mirror and surrounding rocks, the care put into the detail of this new-created world, down to an audience-created wood-fire crackle, becomes the point: treat the world well and it will treat you well.
Nature's cruelty isn't on display; there's plenty of time for that later in life. The clue to what it's all about is there for adults as Patrick Lynch looks for Copenhagen on the soft-ball globe he's about to pass round for everyone to hug (what would be sentimental in adult drama is entirely - well, natural, here). For the young people though, it's not a theme, but an experience
Phrases thrown out for adults (they feel included too) include "emotional baggage" - for the train-trip. This show provides the best form of such luggage, and the careful respect given to the young audience-members is reflected in the concentration with which they become involved in making this Wonderful World.’ www.reviewsgate.com
COMMENTS
What A Wonderful World. This morning we built a better world for tomorrow with #lyngotheatre at @lighthousepoole. It was one of the most beautiful and relevant pieces of children’s theatre we have been too. Utterly charming.
‘Just got back from seeing "What a Wonderful World" at the Egg in Bath & wanted to congratulate & thank you! It was a magical experience for both the kids & for us to watch them! My friend's daughter (3) was particularly taken with the violin playing; brilliant! A great introduction to the theatre! Keep up the good work!’
‘We have just got back from seeing your show in Bath. Thank you for a wonderful experience - your show is so creative, stimulating imagination and leaving memories to talk about for weeks afterwards. The hands on involvement, ideas and music draw the children into the show in a very special, safe and exciting way. Thank you so much - and we look forward to the next show!’
‘Hello, just wanted to quickly say how much my children ( and I ) enjoyed what a wonderful world this afternoon at the Egg. They talked none stop about it all the way home, an amazing, interactive experience which I hope they will remember for a long time. Looking forward to your next visit to the Egg. Thanks once again’
‘Dear Patrick, I just wanted to drop you a quick note to say how much my 3 year old son and I enjoy your shows. We've seen a few of them, the most recent one being What A Wonderful World at the Artsdepot, we've also seen Circus Minimus (twice) and Egg and Spoon.
Ok, let’s put the youngster aside for the moment. I'm 36 years old, but lose about 30 of those years when I come to your shows. I feel like I know how Alice In Wonderland felt when she falls down that rabbit hole. With the risk of sounding like a weirdo (I can't be the only to have said this....can I?) I confess: I come to your shows as much as for me, as I do for my child. Goodness, I feel so much lighter now.
You've got it spot on with the kids. I take my son to a lot of shows, and they don't always get it right. To get on their level without being a patronising git is something you do extremely well. Your sense of humour is appealing to both kids and adults. The way it is in Shrek or Toy Story. I do think kids shows have got to have SOME kind of appeal to adults. It's easier to share the enthusiasm about the show with the kids afterwards.
I also don't get that gritting under your teeth "I've been doing this for too long and the kids are starting to get to me" sort of vibe. (I've seen this with other performers. Us parents recognise this straight away - it's how we feel a lot of the time). Each show is as fresh as a lettuce, like you've entered this magical world for the first time.
I love that it's interactive, not only with the performers but that the parents and children can interact together as well.
Keep up the good work, no-one else is doing what you do. It's unique. I hope this is making you rich, but I suspect not, in which case please don't ever stop what you are doing, it will be a big loss for all children (big and small) everywhere. Best wishes and regards. Sharada’
‘I wanted to say a huge thank you to you for organising the ticket for us to see What a Wonderful World today. The children were totally captivated by the show - they didn't stop talking about throwing snowballs and catching stars all the way home! It is a magical show - I can't belive it is not finished yet - it was outstanding.
The staff and parents helpers all thought it was fantastic as well and they all took Lyric kids brochures. The teacher that I am working with is already talking about taking the kids to see something else!
REVIEWS
‘Puss in Boots' is such a strong story, beautifully told here by the mercurial, talented Patrick Lynch, that one wonders why it doesn’t get more outings. With an utterly captivating, face-licking, tail-wagging cat puppet that morphs into the miracle-working, talking and booted feline, this show ticks all the boxes for fine children’s theatre.
‘We get rose petals, mirrors, water, flour, fruit, vegetables, darts shaped like roses and an arguably superfluous but rather delightful flamingo puppet as Felix, the miller’s youngest son, and his cat set out to seek their fortune. The narrative is warm, witty and compelling. Lynch develops the tale partly as storyteller and partly by hopping adeptly, and sometimes hilariously, in and out of roles. Catching the fish for the king, for example, is great fun
Marcello Chiarenza’s set is neat and, presumably, readily transportable on tour: a wedge-shaped mini-stage that allows Lynch to descend into a trap, climb away into the upstage space behind it and open and close flaps at the front.
The final moralising minute falls flat and the piece should really end when it reaches the words “happily ever after”. But that’s a pretty minor gripe about an engaging and enjoyable show. https://www.thestage.co.uk/reviews/2015/puss-boots/
Putting on stage Puss in Boots, with its clever talking cat, king and court in their carriages, beautiful princess and ogre in his castle, is a pretty ambitious undertaking. Don’t expect pantomime spectacle from Lyngo Theatre but do expect theatre magic and you won’t be disappointed.
Aimed at 4- to 8-year-olds, this is a delightful retelling that seemed to totally captivate the packed school audience with whom I saw it.The theatre was full of excited chatter and there was a great whoop as the lights went down.
I don’t know what they were expecting but they loved what they got. That was just one actor (Patrick Lynch) relying on talent, imagination, the clever design by Marcello Chiarenza and Elena Marini, Carlo Cialdo Capelli’s music and rich warm lighting to bring the familiar story to life.
The simple setting could fit almost any sized venue. It is a sloped rostrum with a backcloth behind it but it is fitted out with trap doors and drawers that can provide a lake to jump into, an oven to bake bread in and a ramp down which to chase mice or roll the riches of the lands that belong to the ogre—and a hideaway behind which more props can be appear from.
When Lynch appears, coming up from that hideaway preceded by flourish of music and light, he starts telling the tale of the hard-up miller with three sons, fitting in a flour-dusted description of how flour gets milled and is turned into bread complete with grain grinding and a fiery-fuelled oven for baking.
Continuing the story with how the eldest son was left the mill, the next his dad’s donkeys and Felix, the youngest, just a cat, Lynch then becomes Felix, with the cat a glove puppet with bright eyes and a lively red tongue. Puss not only understands what Felix says but can communicate back, this soon setting things in motion with a plan to make Felix’s fortune, though at first he will have to go hungry unless he is prepared to eat mice.
Lynch creates close rapport with his audience; they are with him every inch of the way. Even when he is absent for several moments doing something out of sight, the atmosphere remains one of concentration, helped by well matched music.
Lynch handles everything except light and sound cues (and a smoke effect that is part of the lighting plot). He is puppeteer, prop man and storyteller as well as playing both Puss and Felix and dealing with lots of other things while still giving a delightful performance. A show that has been very carefully planned is excellently executed.
This Puss in Boots lasts just under an hour, well within the youngsters’ attention span, and its performance style made it just as enjoyable for accompanying adults. Lynch and his Lyngo team make shows worth catching if they are all as good as this one.
It was clear from a Q & A at the end that the satisfied audience had also been fascinated by the way effects had been achieved. It had been an excellent introduction to theatre for those who were seeing their first show—and there were quite a number of them for this was one of Polka’s Curtain-Up!Performances.
This is a scheme, privately sponsored, that allows schools that could not otherwise afford to do so, to bring parties of pupils entirely for free (and with help for transport costs too when it is needed). Schools have to meet certain criteria but in tough times it is a splendid initiative. http://www.britishtheatreguide.info/reviews/puss-in-boots-polka-theatre-11612
By Emily Oldfield
A one-man show telling the story of Puss in Boots came to the stage of Hulme’s Z-arts Centre last weekend. Presented by Lyngo Theatre, the performance formed part of a weekend of events within Manchester Children’s Book Festival’s 2017 programme.
The classic tale of a cat who realises he can walk and presents himself to the king was, in this version, seen from the point of view of the owner of the cat – played with great energy by Cbeebies’ Patrick Lynch. There was also a free art cart before and after performances allowing the young people to interpret what they see.
Initial focus on Lynch’s character, a mill worker, allowed the young audience to look to him also as narrator, a welcome source of storytelling. The use of a single raised and sloped area as a stage was particularly notable, increasing the intensity and visibility of the opening scene in which the miller is floundering around in the flour – to great comic effect for the children.
Lynch has mastered the art of keeping his comedy silly and family-friendly, rather than farcical. The sloped stage allowed his body to slip and slide and he worked with this movement throughout the performance to keep things animated but never excessive.
Other examples of where movement was used to keep attention on the stage – showing key awareness in keeping a young audience occupied – was when Lynch became the arms of a windmill and also doubled-up as puppet master, managing to control a mouse, dog and cat all at once for an entertaining ensemble of animals. For a one-man show, it certainly was animated and the absence of other actors did not detract from the fun.
The introduction of cat as a puppet was potentially symbolic as it suggested to the children that it isn’t size or stature that makes people significant in life. Rather, it is their eagerness to get involved and their enthusiasm. Conveying moralistic potential in this way – not overtly, but through the suggestions behind actions on stage – meant that enjoyment was not compromised either.
There were nothing but smiles as Lynch clambered around the stage, rolling various fruits down it in an attempt to claim ownership of the land and the attention of a princess. Even his naming of individual items – potatoes, lemons and the rest – ensured there was an easy-to-follow aspect for youngest members of the audience. It was recommended that the show was suitable for ages 4+ and even the younger children seemed to enjoy themselves.
Even more significant, was that adults also appeared well-occupied, as the miller’s dialogue was both extensive and expressive, telling a full story alongside the actions. One parent said: “Our whole family really enjoyed it. We found it simple yet admirably effective and we loved how the single actor engaged with the audience at various points yet still presented a full production to us.
“I have to say that, originally, I had my doubts, but they were completely blown away by this performance. There were no children attempting to get out of their seats, which seems to be the case when watching so many ‘family-friendly’ plays nowadays. It’s been part of a really fun programme of events from Manchester Children’s Book Festival. We went to the family fun day on Saturday and loved the arts network area in particular!”
As the play unfolded, the use of its staging and effects became more apparent, the use of darkness allowing the stage lighting to be intensified, for example when the ogre is introduced. In this sense, it allowed the light to convey movement and character and keep the play very much one-man.
An aspect of the play deserving particular praise was the versatility of the stage, upon which a number of trap doors were opened in order to introduce new settings: one even became a hole into the river into which Lynch tries to disappear! At first it seemed this method of introducing new settings may have been too subtle, but the audience did seem very much engaged by it. The use of clothing and the situations they conveyed was also effective without being too overt; from dusty mill-clothes to the uniform of attempting to be the Marquis.
In all, an admirable and highly animated re-telling of the classic Puss In Boots tale which also explores the morals behind authority and symbolism in a subtle way to children, whilst remaining well-balanced and enjoyable.
http://www.humanityhallows.co.uk/manchester-childrens-book-festival-and-lyngo-theatre-bring-puss-in-boots-to-z-arts/
Review: Puss in Boots – Polka Theatre, Wimbledon
We took our recently-turned 6 year old to Puss in Boots yesterday at the Polka Theatre in Wimbledon.
This one-man production performed by Patrick Lynch (C-Beebies), presented by Lyngo Theatre and written by Marcello Chiarenza is children’s theatre and the Polka at its best.
The classic tale was simply but very effectively staged and kept the audience (this performance was for all ages) entertained. In fact there were times that the young audience participated in response to what they were watching which was most satisfying. The music was also excellently arranged, creating the atmosphere and encouraged the imagination..
Patrick Lynch moves from character to character effortlessly and convincingly and does not falter during the 50 minute duration of the play. A star performance and a performer truly engaged with his young audience.
From explanation to how wheat becomes flour, very warm overall and funny at times this is a script delivering on many levels to both young and old.
The play runs until 28 June 2015 and is well worth a visit.
Rating: 5 stars
http://www.boardroommum.com/review-puss-in-boots-polka-theatre-wimbledon/
REVIEWS
“Lyngo Theatre have managed to create a piece which is visually stunning while also retaining a sense of fun, play and interaction which is so important when performing to a young audience. Appealing to both children and adults alike, [this] is a challenging, unique and excellently executed production." The Reviews Hub
"We took our recently-turned 6 year old to [watch it at] the Polka Theatre in Wimbledon. This one-man production performed by Patrick Lynch (C-Beebies) is children’s theatre at its best.” Unknown Audience Member, BoardroomMum.com
“The classic tale was simply but very effectively staged and kept the audience entertained. In fact there were times that the young audience participated in response to what they were watching which was most satisfying. The music was also excellently arranged, creating the atmosphere and encouraged the imagination.” Unknown Audience Member, BoardroomMum.com
“Patrick Lynch moves from character to character effortlessly and convincingly and does not falter during the 50 minute duration of the play. A star performance and a performer truly engaged with his young audience!” Unknown Audience Member, BoardroomMum.com
http://www.wyeside.co.uk/events/1514/the-curious-adventures-of-pinocchio-%28lyngo-theatre%29
We had such an amazing time last year with Lyngo Theatre at Jack and The Beanstalk, (read our review here) that we were looking forward to this year’s The Curious Adventures of Pinocchio.
The Curious Adventures of Pinocchio is an excellent retelling of the story of Pinocchio. Artistic Director, Patrick Lynch doesn’t disappoint with his unique style of story telling. This master storyteller was able to put together the entire production on his own. The children were captivated from the minute he appeared onstage and started the narration. At every corner of the theatre, I could hear children laughing or asking when would Pinocchio’s nose grow longer haha…
As expected, the props that accompanied his master retelling of the story were simple yet effective. Amidst dusty old books, the magic starts and the story of Pinocchio comes alive on stage. Patrick was able not only to hold the attention of the young audience, he made them laugh gleefully at his playful antics and his curious magical props.
My favourite part must have been when Pinocchio crushes all those ice cream cones (oops! I mean Pinocchio’s long nose) bit by bit by bit after he learns not to lie again.
Wey was spellbound throughout the entire hour. Although there were no actors, and many of the characters in the story that Patrick spoke of were left to imagination only, I could see he was truly absorbed in the story unfolding onstage. At one point, he even exclaimed out loud, “Oh no, this story is tragic…” I was quite surprised at his choice of words because it showed that he was emotionally invested and had empathy for the characters of the story. Therein lies the mastery of Lyngo Theatre’s story telling.
https://sayshappymums.wordpress.com/2017/07/31/review-the-curious-adventures-of-pinocchio-25-july-6-aug-2017/
I have never been to any Lyngo theatre before hence I do not know what to expect of it. I knew it was a one-man show and one scene backdrop show and I had my skepticism how is it possible to keep entertain the audience especially kids for almost 1 hour, but Patrick Lynch who is also the artistic director of Lyngo Theatre did just that.
There are lots of imagination involved which is superb for my older kids .Though the recommendations was for 5 year old and above, my 4 year old was wildly entertained and was glued to the actor and the stage for a good one hour. However due to his age he will not be able to fully understand the entire story and make full use of his imaginations unlike the older kids.
While many has read the story of Pinocchio how many has read the original Pinochhio story entitled The adventures of Pinocchio by an Italian author Carlo Collodi. Lyngo Theatre interpretation stay true to its original story which may not be familiar to many however it is quite easy to follow.
It was a simple setup a table full of books and a story teller/actor who played all the characters in the original Pinocchio story. It started with woodcarver Gepetto obtaining a block of wood which was carved into a wooden puppet called Pinocchio. At the very beginning the audience was introduce with a little bit of magic where they saw the wooden block moved much to the delight of kids. Patrick has used the elements such as books to portray dialogues or swapping of simple props like the sunglasses to differentiate the speech of the blind cat and the cunning fox.
The use of ice cream cone to signify Pinocchio long nose when he lied and Patrick crushes the long stack of cones to signify the curse was gone was simply ingenious. He also uses the pages from the books to mimic sea waves which i thought really fuels the imaginations of the younger audience. As the back drop was black, many effects were done using gold, silver foils, feathers, bubbles and water.
The audience was literally brought on an adventure with Pinocchio as he skipped school, got tricked by the cat and fox , healed by the turquoise fairy, turned into a donkey, saved by the tuna, and ultimately became a real boy which was the original story written in 1883.
At the end of the show, Patrick spent 10 minutes to whoever who is curious about any “magical” effect that were used during the show. He also explained the use of books as props as we lived in the day and age of technology where tablets and smartphones dominate over books. He hoped through this production, Lyngo Theatre can bring back the appreciation of books and bring back the magic of theatre. We also had the opportunity to take a photo with Patrick as a memory of our very magical afternoon with him.
As an adult watching this for the first time, I am amazed at the power of theatre production. It doesn’t have to be a one with many backdrop changes, musical effects or a huge cast to make one successful production. Thank you ACT 3 International for bringing such world class productions to the fortunate children in Singapore. It is only showing till end of this week, do bring your children to uncover the simple magic of children theatre productions.
http://www.mypreciouzkids.com/act3-international-presents-the-curious-adventures-of-pinocchio-by-lyngo-theate/
REVIEWS
We saw the performance at Lighthouse, Poole's Centre for the Arts, in the intimate setting of the Sherling Studio.
The show is aimed at children aged 6-11. Homer? For children? I was intrigued to see how this would work, and awaited the start of the performance with a mixture of curiosity and anticipation.
As soon as the lights went down, and Lynch took to the stage I could see that we were in for a rare treat.
A story that could have been extremely heavy going for an audience of children on their Easter holidays, seemed to captivate them and they sat engrossed in what was unfolding before their eyes. The visual element of the performance really helped with this, as we followed Ulysses on his classic journey, both aided and hindered by the gods.
Despite the lack of an interval, there was no fidgeting, instead, you felt like you were witnessing something very special indeed.
Skillfully re-telling this epic tale, whilst at the same time using props, and also operating lighting and cameras to great effect, Lynch ensured we were truly drawn into the story.
A real feast for the eyes, we were able to watch Lynch operating the props that were creating the visual telling of the story on the big screen. Sounds complicated, and it's very difficult to explain, but I can assure you the result was magical.
Despite being aimed at children, I think that many adults would enjoy this show. I came away feeling that I had witnessed the most original creative performance I'd seen in a long time.
My seven-year-old's verdict? "Amazing!" And trust me, seven-year-olds can be hard to please.
www.familiesonline.co.uk/local/east-dorset/in-the-know/review---there-and-back-again-an-odyssey
The story of the Odyssey …
It’s all smoke and mirrors … really they’re both used … and sand, and water, and models, and silk cloth, and puppets and rocks and bones, and an undulating screen, and narrative and face close-ups and even hair dryers, all set to an atmospheric soundtrack. It takes its title from the more modern odyssey, by J.R.R. Tolkien … but it is the Greek myth.
Patrick Lynch (from CBeebies) is narrating, with a long table with lights and video cameras on one side of the playing area, and a loose floating sheet as a screen on the other. Foot switches were used to operate and shift between cameras. Backgrounds and skies slotted effortlessly into place behind the sand. Rocks were added. Puppets were moved into place. Falling sand created islands. Water swirled. The actor’s eye became the Cyclops in extreme close up. His mouth became the Cyclops feeding. The camera on his face revolved through 360 degrees.
I was lost in admiration. I used to do talks on teaching with video, and my equipment set up on speaking tours was a video player, an overhead projector and an audio player. Eventually a laptop replaced the OHP projector, but I still needed two screens. Then I added DVD to demonstrate that for classroom language teaching, video is better than DVD (you can isolate single frames on a professional video machine, and advance one at a time … you can’t do that with DVD). And I had to give the talk too. It was nothing to the amount of technology and equipment used here to great artistic effect.
Here our actor, Parick Lynch, had the widest multi-tasking task I’ve seen. The projected film showed what he was doing with his hands and the camera, and if it had simply been recorded and shown at the Tate Modern as a video art installation, it would have garnered massive praise. But here it was all being created in front of us and filmed live, whilst doing a splendid narration.
The story of the Odyssey was cut and constructed extremely well too. I took a 13, 11 and 6 year old with me, and all were entranced. The six year old never fidgeted and remained enthralled. I’ll add that I would have been equally entranced if I had gone on my own just to watch.
Most remarkably this was the first show in the tour that Patrick Lynch had done. It could run off and on at half terms and Saturdays for years. It was a clear introduction to the story too.
The word unique is over-used, so I’ll say it only once … it is a unique and richly rewarding theatrical experience. It is half-term, I’d gone expecting a normal kiddy show (I don’t usually review those at all), but this was much more than that.
Comments? Well, it was watch rather than “participate” but on the way in a kid was saying “We won’t have to DO anything, will we?” A heartfelt cry from a boy who had clearly seen (and been dragged into participating) in a lot of children’s theatre. My three were relieved too.
Highly recommended. It’s on tour.
https://peterviney.wordpress.com/stage/thee-and-back-again-an-odyssey/
In There and Back Again storyteller, actor and puppeteer Patrick Lynch presents an hour-long version of the Odyssey. The Homeric saga is told through a mixture of sophisticated technology and the very simplest means.
With sand, lumps of stone, crude ceramics and folds of cloth, he presents his protagonist and fashions the places and oceans of his travels.
He begins talking directly to the audience, inviting them to feed him information as he tells them it is a story about going home. Turning away he switches on a camera and, projected upstage on a loosely hung cloth, we see his finger draw a route in sand and then clear it to reveal the word HOME and then HOMER before, wiping off more sand, he picks up a book.
Coming back to face the audience, he holds it up and it spills sand, and more sand; like a story pouring forth, it goes on doing so. Where does it come from? It is extraordinarily simple but looks fascinating; a little bit of theatricality that grips the audience. From now on the theatre full of school parties is entirely with him.
On a table top with cameras set up around it, he acts out Odysseus’s adventures, first filling in the background of the hero trying to get out of going to Troy, then of thinking up the Wooden Horse to get the Greeks victory even before he embarks on the voyage going home with all its dangers.
Crudely decorated pottery and lumps of stone become a village or a palace as they move in front of a camera. Blue cloth waves swamp the returning Greek ships, rudimentary representations but the action obvious. Only his vessel sails on.
When it is wrecked a tiny bearded head appears: Odysseus struggling for survival who looks down at two tiny feet as he is stretched out, beached on a sand strip; on camera they can look life-size, the camera angle helps imagination make them real, gives the audience Odysseus’s gaze. When Odysseus blinds the Cyclops, it is a close up of Lynch’s own mouth that shows his pain.
Sometimes, while Lynch arranges items for a new scene, the image will freeze-frame, but he never seems to lose his rapport with the audience, helped by his continued narrative, Carlo Cialdo Capelli’s music, careful timing and by the children’s own imaginative investment.
At the schools’ performance I saw, the children clearly loved it, both those who already knew the story and those for whom it was a new one. Questions after suggested they were also fascinated by its means of execution: not just “was that real blood?” of the killings on Ithaca but how the pottery was made and how the pictures happen.
Lynch explained how other people helped him put the show together, including interactive programming which gives him push-button control for 87 different cues that change camera, lighting or music. There was also one audience complaint: that the rocks and whirlpool weren’t included. It’s not the only incident that is missing, but you can’t fit Homer’s long saga into just one hour.
Aftershow Q & A sessions not only satisfy the curiosity of youngsters, they also set out to actively encourage them to be creative, suggesting how they can use simple materials and their own webcams to tell their own stories, whether privately or with their teachers.
https://www.britishtheatreguide.info/reviews/there-and-back-14394
At around 3000 years old, Homer’s the Iliad and the Odyssey stand proud amongst the world’s most ancient surviving literature. Greek gods, battles, love and revenge rage through the epic poems that verge on 28,000 lines of Ancient Greek. Translated into often impenetrable flowery prose or verse, these great works make for chewy bedtime reading let alone a quick story for the kids.
Lyngo Theatre’s There and Back Again - An Odyssey has chewed away at this epic for us and made it accessible to anyone aged 6 to 100. The old and new come together through live object and puppet theatre that is projected onto the big screen. Far from distancing us from the original story, the physical presence of image and sound bring us closer to the old oral tradition of narration that existed long before Homer. Everything is intentionally bigger on screen – the toy Trojan Horse projects tall and majestic and Patrick Lynch leers menacingly into the lens as the Cyclops approaching a trapped Ulysses.
Face half lit, Lynch is a master storyteller who peels back the Odyssey to its core tale of a man, Ulysses, who just wants to get back home. Tiny walnut boats glide and churn through swathes of fabric sea, pages weave across the screen as waves, and Action Man presses his toes into new lands. Carlo Cialdo Capelli’s evocative piano score accompanies and sweeps us through the fear, drama and curiosity.
At the end, awestruck children crowd around as did generations of kids when the old travelling storytellers came from village to village. Lynch continues in his dramatic role as one child pipes up, “How did you make the blood?”. The storyteller has a glint in his eye, “Why, from children of course! But only the youngest will do!”. A ripple of excitement and giggling sets in and every face, young and old, lights up.
Addya Panayiotou
www.puppetcentre.org.uk/animations-online/reviews/there-and-back-again-odyssey/
COMMENTS
My 7 year old daughter and I saw a Lyngo production of the Odyssey at the Cornerstone in Didcot today. Other than an initial “when are they going to start acting”, she and I were mesmerised for the next hour. Never have a pair of Action Man legs been used to such dramatic effect.
We came to see 'There and back again: an odyssey' in Stafford this week and loved it. I was so impressed with your innovative and clever storytelling, and the kids (7 and 10) were both inspired to try to create something themselves. Thanks for coming to Stafford!
We ALL loved this production. There and Back Again - an Odyssey. Can thoroughly recommend! Strange & wonderful.
Loved the ingenious quirkiness of There And Back Again, the Ulysses odyssey told by Patrick Lynch using projected miniature puppetry.
Just come out of ‘There And Back Again’. Unusual and absolutely superb. My seven-year-old says it is the best show he has ever seen with puppets in it (The Muppets are gutted!)
COMMENTS
We had such a good time this afternoon watching #jackandthebeanstalk, it was fabulous! The whole family loved it!
We had a brilliant time watching your production of Jack In The Beanstalk. It was wonderful to see such a high quality production and performance aimed at young children. Thank you
We saw Tom Thumb last year, and Jack and the Beanstalk in Leeds on Sunday. Both beautiful, enchanting and engaging. Would recommend to anyone whether they had children or not.
We saw this in Manchester a few weeks ago. My four year old was mesmerised.
Just seen 'Jack and the Beanstalk' at Theatr Mwldan in Cardigan and we thoroughly enjoyed it! Thank you. Very innovative and clever theatre and exactly the right level for three generations of our family, including my youngest who is three! I will be looking out for you coming back. Thank you.
Just watched Jack and the Beanstalk. What an incredible performance. We'll be back to watch egg and spoon!
Size 106..... the giants shoe!
Fantastic performance as ever Patrick at Colchester Arts Centre today. Can’t wait to see you again there soon.
We took our 3 year old son to see Jack and the Bean Stalk today. It was just magical! My son, my husband and myself were transfixed! And my son hasn’t stopped talking about it since!
My son and I have just been to see Jack and the Beanstalk. Absolutely brilliant! The only thing he didn’t like was when it ended.
Went to see Jack and the Beanstalk today in the Pavillion Theatre in Dun Laoighre. What a wonderful show. You had the adults and children enthralled by your wonderful storytelling and humour. A highly recommended show for all. Thank you for a most enjoyable afternoon.
I went to see Jack and the beanstalk in Ipswich with my 4 year old son today he loved it thank you so much it's a wonderful show xx
Fantastic and magical show this evening. Kids loved it and were mesmerised. Jack and the Beanstalk will be remembered.
Saw Jack & Beanstalk today at Arlington Arts with my (almost) 5yr old grandson. A wonderful show, very visual & not too scary. All the children around us were thoroughly enjoying show. Grandson can sometimes find things like this overwhelming, but was roaring with laughter
My son & I both really enjoyed Jack and the Beanstalk at Arlington Arts today. The props were inventive & very clever, my 5 yr old was impressed how many characters could be played by one person & said it was the best Jack and the Beanstalk he’d ever seen.
REVIEWS
Just when I thought that every last fairy tale had been made into a theatre production, I’m surprised yet again that there’s yet one more! Yep, Jack and the Beanstalk is a classic fairy tale which we’ve yet seen on stage until now.
Together with Lyngo Theatre, Act 3 International brings this Giant of a fairy tale to stage at the National Library Black Box Theatre
Everyone knows the classic story about Jack who sells his cow, Milky White, for 5 magic beans that grew and grew overnight to reach a land above the clouds where the Giants live. Now join LYNGO‘s fun storytelling and hilarious exploration of the land of Giants and expect lots of fun surprises and squeals of laughter!
We had so much fun at today’s stage performance. The kids were all riveted to what was happening onstage. The set was simple as with the storyline that remained unchanged from the familiar, and yet every bit captivating with the well timed lighting cues and music.
The wonderful acting and performance by just one very energetic engaging actor drew laughter from every corner of the theatre. That is the children’s theatre success of Lyngo ~ One man, all the laughter.
The audience interaction was superb even without asking for anyone to come onstage or purposefully baiting the audience to participate. The atmosphere was so relaxed at the Black Box Theatre this afternoon that the children felt so at ease to shout out their thoughts right from where they sat at every possible moment. Watch for the really Enormous boot, tiny house, snow and showers of silver and gold and some squirts of ‘milk’ for the front seats! A really good show that wastes nothing!
Backstage Workshop Tour
If anything, don’t miss the Backstage Workshop Tour. There are limited spaces and tickets available for this and it’s really really worth doing!
At the backstage workshop, you get the Meet and Greet to meet the man behind the amazing performance. But what’s most precious about this 30 minute workshop is that your kids get to explore theatre behind the scenes.
The children are encouraged to think how each scene is achieved, how and why a prop is made in that way, what lightings are used and why and what they noticed about the music used! I learnt that there were 45 different lighting cues for this short 50minute production! Wow!
Watch this mini-video of parts of the Backstage tour that we so enjoyed and loved!
As a parent interested in the Arts and wanting to cultivate the same love for Arts in my little one, I found this workshop really great creative fun. The kids were given every opportunity to interact with the actor, with the props and with what they had just watched, to explore and imagine.
I could see it really helped Wey put his creative thoughts in place as he thought through the play he just watched and how each scene was achieved.
The discussion was highly interactive as the kids were told and taught how things were done. Everyone even the adults had fun!
As the show ended, I couldn’t help but to ask the kiddos what they thought about Jack’s actions, was it right or wrong? Although the fairy tale doesn’t quite give a sense of Jack doing any wrong, and seems to celebrate the fact that he killed the Giant, my take home discussion for Wey was to check out his moral compass despite the fair tale’s presentation.
I was quite pleased that Wey’s immediate response was that Jack was not right to steal (not just once but actually thrice!) from the Giant. Wey said to me “Mama, being poor doesn’t mean he can steal from the Giant. And because he didn’t work hard for what he stole, he used it up so quickly and had to go back to steal again!” Wow!! Thank you, Wey! So we’re good in that department! hahah! Phew! So, there you have it, a great take home lesson and teaching opportunity for the kids too!
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Don’t miss this great fun opportunity to meet theatre in a fun innovative way with
LYNGO, a UK based Children’s Theatre company. Their shows have delighted children for over 10 years, with their inventive use of beautifully designed and handmade ‘theatre toys’ with a genuine approach to playing and interacting with their audience.
Lyngo Theatre: Jack and the Beanstalk review
The Young Londoner reviews Jack and the Beanstalk performed by Lyngo Theatre.
Jack and the Beanstalk is a classic fairy tale where Jack has to sell the family’s only source of food and income (Daisy the cow!) for 5 magic beans which end up taking Jack on a journey into a magical land of giants and gold laying hens.
In case you were wondering what the ingredients for a great show were, the Lyngo theatre have them: a great storyteller and performance artist, lots of magical flying paraphernalia such as gold dust, fake snow, sprays of water and a very large shoe.
This one man show is performed by CBeebies Patrick Lynch where he comes into his own as a storyteller and magic maker. Although the show is ideal for children over 3 years of age, our two year olds were captivated (for the majority of the performance) – it helps having a clear booming voice to bring you back into the story if you get distracted (and toddlers get distracted a lot!)
There’s also miniature houses, funny imaginary cows and the matriarch that is the giant’s mother. Jack and the Beanstalk is touring throughout the UK and upcoming dates can be found here.
CHILDREN'S THEATRE IN KILKENNY REVIEW Jack And The Beanstalk
Patrick Lynch of Lyngo Theatre brought magic, wonderment and such an immersive sense of theatre with a variation on the classic tale, Jack and the Beanstalk, to the Watergate Theatre Kilkenny. This was aimed at three-year-olds and upwards, and their 'giants', and I sat with several school groups and loved the whole experience. To hear and see young children enter a semi-darkened theatre was a special buzz. The adventure was beginning as a man came onstage, knocked over a few props, and removed dustsheets from chairs, buckets, and other items and blew away the white dust of the ages. He dusted off a book, and a seat, and got white powder on the seat of his pants. The audience was enthralled and laughed. Opening the book and beginning the story, that might have been forgotten, but for storytellers, writers and performers.
There was a large soft boot, left by the giant, and you got an idea of the end before the journey into the imagination began. There was no cow, Milky White, just a cowbell, and frothy milk that hung in the air like snowflakes, just floating on the attic of dreams, where giants lived.
The selling of the cow and the business of the five magic beans was such glorious makebelieve, fun, and a one-legged milking stool cracked me up. The attic became the giant's house on top of the beanstalk, and Jack found a bag of silver that fell to earth like rain.
Too quickly, all the money was spent, and Jack ventured up the beanstalk and found an imaginary hen who laid a golden egg that spilt out golden pieces. The giant was a megaphone in the mist, and to Mysterioso opera music, Jack plucked lights out of the sky - the notes of a magic harp, and escaped the angry giant who lost his boot and crashed to earth, allowing all to 'live happily ever after'.
Once again, Lyngo Theatre reawakened my sense of wonder in theatre.
COMMENTS
We took our 26 month old grandson to see Heart of Winter at the point theatre Eastleigh and it was fantastic. Beautifully performed with an amazing set. We feared he may be a little young as recommended 3+ but absolutely not - he was mesmerised. Thank you for spreading the festive cheer one and all. Recommend seeing this lovely story on stage
Just seen #heartofwinter at The Point. Was brilliant. Recommend it. Had a lovely Christmas feel. Amazing performance and felt involved.
Magical time at The Heart of Christmas in Eastleigh tonight (it’s on til the 24th so plenty of time if you want to go!). We took 3.5yr old Tris and he loved it— at The Point.
Was at Westport Town Hall this afternoon with 3 of my grandchildren and they really enjoyed it.
The story brilliantly told by wonderful actor and actress and very interactive held their attention throughout.
Went to watch The heart of winter at the Queens Hall, Newtownards. It was a lovely story, well acted out with such minimal props and we enjoyed every minute of it. It was so nice seeing you interact with the kids and the kids running to grab the snow! Beautiful for all the family.
Just been to see Heart of Winter in The Alley theatre Strabane. It was just encanting! We all loved it, kids and grown ups alike! Thank you.
Enthralling performance of Heart of Winter in Siamsa Tire yesterday- brought four 4-6year olds and they were transfixed. So creative and interactive.
Thank you for a fabulous performance this evening. I highly recommend the Heart of Winrer show.! Beautiful.
LYNGO THEATRE wowed me in Watergate Kilkenny with their latest magical children’s play HEART OF WINTER. With hundreds of wonderful children I was swept along like a snowflake into a snowball and then a puppet snowman wowed all An umbrella made rain and drops fell on me.
REVIEWS
Liam Murphy
Munster Express
CHILDREN'S THEATRE REVIEW Heart Of Winter
Lyngo Theatre has a well-deserved reputation and international acclaim for being one of the most creative and imaginative children's theatre companies. During the year, I saw Egg & Spoon in Garter Lane and Jack And The Beanstock in Watergate Kilkenny, so it was such a pleasure to see the latest seasonal production, Heart Of Winter. A two-hander by Patrick Lynch playing the role of the father of a young girl, Sally (Francesca Anderson). Christmas was coming, but Sally cannot sleep as the weather was too hot. It hadn't rained in ages and father sells umbrellas. There is no prospect of snow and Christmas trees are shrivelling in the heat.
Sally tries to tell a snowy, wintery bedtime story that becomes her dream of seeking out the last tiny snowflake in a desolate land that has lost it's Winter.
Before the show, as young children gathered, there was such anticipation, such a buzz of going to see a show in a theatre, and I was carried along on that expectant surge. Oh, that I could recapture that sense of wonder again, but Lyngo reached out to me and drew me into the heart of makebelieve, and I believed. Flowers wilted and shed their petals, a sunflower bowed with exhaustion, and father made wonders with a series of imaginative umbrellas. The story was told with lots of imaginative and believable props, as a pillow became a small fluffy cloud, and a duvet cover was a billowing, dancing, expanding cloud.
Bit by bit, little things began to turn good. An umbrella rained water down on the audience. The last snowflake floated in and grew into a snowball, and then a puppet snow child and later a snowman.
There was a warm glow at the heart of this play as children from the audience turned a mattress into a field of snow, and decorated windows and a Christmas tree. The cheers were an ovation, and the children brought the magic back to schools and families.
