Edinburgh Fringe 2024
Miss English’s Holiday by Action Theatre (Italy)
Action Theatre (Italy)
Genre: Children's Theatre, Puppetry
Venue: theSpaceUK
Festival: Edinburgh Fringe
Low Down
Action Theatre (Italy) have crafted a charming, gently educational show for younger children that more than pleased the adults in the audience as well. Rooted in a clear and simple narrative, teacher Miss English wants to go on a well deserved holiday and Platypus wants to go with her, and continue his language lessons! What unfolds is a trip to the sea side, a few lessons along the way, plenty of join-in songs, clownish humour and splendid puppetry.
Review
Hailing from Turin in Italy, Action Theatre, led by Lecoq-trained Rupert Raison, is one of Italy’s leading English Teaching Theatre companies. The company specialises in masks, puppets, physical theatre, songs and comedy and this is one of two shows they have brought to the Fringe, the other being The Italians in England, which is for grown-ups (Over 12s).
This delightful show strikes a near perfect balance between education and entertainment, ensuring that the young audience is not only engaged but also learning throughout the performance.
The narrative centres on a playful and charmingly mischievous Platypus and Miss English, the teacher. With the lessons over and holiday time upon them, the stage is set for a joyous and lighthearted adventure. Miss English, our host, captivates the audience with her uplifting songs, delivered in a refined voice that lends an operatic quality to the show. Despite this sophistication, the music remains accessible and inviting to the young viewers, who eagerly join in singing along. As did this reviewer (well, humming under his breath and wishing he could shed 50 years).
One of the show’s standout features is its effective use of a simple yet engaging narrative device, which is ensuring our natural curiousity is awake and valued: why is Platypus crying? What colours stand out when the rainbow umbrella stops spinning? Too many children’s shows mimic TV and tyoung ones sit passively, being fed the show’s content. Not so here. At regular intervals, our input is invited and the audience happily leans forward and leans in to contribute. It’s never too much, never does it overburden the narrative, but we are made to feel our presence is necessary to the whole experience. Then theatre becomes a welcomed, shared experience, a collaboration. Action Theatre Italy (Italy) clearly hold this as a core value in children’s musical theatre.
This “find-out show” keeps the young audience on their toes, eager to take the trip to the seaside, to share Miss English’s holiday. The element of suspense, combined with Platypus’s mischievous antics, adds depth to the storytelling, capturing the attention of both children and adults alike.
The show also incorporates moments of gentle reflection. For instance, as Miss English prepares for her holiday, the question arises: can she really go alone? This subtle subplot adds a layer of emotional complexity, making the performance more layered. Miss English wants a holiday alone. But can she truly enjoy it if she ignores a cry for inclusion? Do we sometimes have to compromise and in the end, what we give up then pays us back and enriches is further down the line? The blend of humor, inquiry, and soft educational elements ensures a well-rounded and satisfying theatrical experience.
The production’s craftsmanship is evident in its inventive scenes and episodes. At the heart of the show is the puppetry, executed with meticulous attention to detail. The puppets’ movements and expressions bring Platypus and the other characters to life in a way that is both believable and endearing. The simple, unfussy artistry in the design and control of the puppets enhances the overall experience adds to the quality feel of the show.
This softer colour palette is refreshing at the Fringe, it creates a calm and authentic basis for the often emergent energy in music and drama., Recording the songs with real instruments might also provide a further, richer auditory experience, complementing the organic feel of the puppetry. The basic music was the only element in the show that felt a bit artificial and television-style and this jarred a little.
The seaside setting, complete with seagulls, ice cream, and the lively atmosphere of the shore, is vividly brought to life, clearly delighted the audience. Even the reimagined Punch and Judy show, redeemed authentically from its darker origins, adds to the overall charm.
So, Action Theatre has crafted an inventive and beautiful piece of children’s theatre that is a hidden gem at the Fringe. It deserves a wider audience, and I highly recommend it for children and their families alike. The engaging storytelling, combined with humor and gentle education, ensures that this show is a standout piece of children’s musical theatre that is both entertaining and enriching.
