Durham Fringe Festival 2024
Captain Zak’s Space Pirate Problems
Stories Alive
Genre: Children's Theatre
Venue: Vane Tempest at Dunhelm House, Durham
Festival: Durham Fringe Festival
Low Down
“Captain Zak Space Pirate needs your help! He’s lost in a broken-down spaceship and only with your help answering questions, solving puzzles, and singing songs can we survive the bubble attack!” Eden Ballantyne from Stories Alives hold the attention and mamages to get the entire audience up and dancing in this engaging and educational hour.
Review
“Captain Zak” is an interactive children’s theatre show that brings the story of a space pirate to life with energy and charm. As Captain Zak, Eden Ballantyne leaps onto the stage and introduces himself, setting the tone for an engaging and educational performance. In this futuristic world, the Amazon Corporation delivers unnecessary items across the galaxy, prompting Zak to jump ship, steal one, and become a pirate. What follows is a fun and interactive experience that captivates its young audience from start to finish.
This style of “who wants to help me” theatre, pioneered by companies like the legendary Spotlites Theatre Company, involves the audience in solving problems and puzzles. Captain Zak encourages the children to participate, fostering a sense of involvement and excitement. The show effectively incorporates positive messages about recycling, tidying up, and being safe around electric wires, all without feeling preachy.
Eden Ballantyne commands the stage with warmth and charm, ensuring that the children are fully engaged throughout. The use of funny sound effects and plenty of laughs keeps the atmosphere light and enjoyable. The ship’s computer, reminiscent of Holly from “Red Dwarf,” adds an extra layer of humor for the adults in the audience.
Several strengths make this show particularly effective. It engages children without patronizing them, blending comedy with a simple, clear narrative about a good-hearted pirate. The show subtly critiques big, planet-harming corporations and introduces moral concepts like recycling in a practical, hands-on manner. The children learn about gravity and math as they eagerly volunteer to help get the rocket into space, demonstrating the show’s grounding in sound pedagogy. The shared imagination of a rocket in space is successfully created, making the experience memorable for the young audience.
A standout feature of the show is its reliance on real physical sets and props, avoiding the use of digital technology and projections. This approach provides a refreshing change from the screen-dominated experiences many children are accustomed to, and it’s appreciated by the “grown-ups” as well. The show is pitch-perfectly paced, knowing its audience well and designed to entertain, engage, and educate in equal measure. Captain Zak’s adventure succeeds in every aspect of its endeavor.
While the show is impressive, there are a few areas that could benefit from improvement. The visuals in the instruction manual, which plays a significant role in the show, are sometimes small, black and white, and hard to see. Making these visuals larger and adding color would enhance accessibility. Additionally, some parts of the show, like the disco segment, could be tightened with clearer choreography to make the performance even more polished.
In summary, “Captain Zak” is a delightful and family entertainment and educational experience that fully engages its young audience. With a few minor adjustments, it has the potential to be even more impactful. This space pirate adventure is a must-see for children and adults alike, providing a perfect blend of entertainment and education. We are in the safe hands of a highly skilled performer who also happens to be a space pirate as well!
