Review: Zig Zags to Earth
A compelling play with a strong educational message at its heart
Review: The Box of Delights
The finest Christmas box imaginable, and the go-to for a seasonal show. If you can get in.
Review: Salomé
Dramatically this is the most creative response I’ve seen live. Here, a director’s reach should exceed their grasp, or what’s a production for.
Review: Breathe
A beautifully designed and performed story that is delightful, meaningful and entertaining.
Published August 16, 2024 August 16, 2024 by Jo Tomalin
Review: Bark Bark
Imaginative and creative show with gravitas, heart and a slightly mysterious edge - totally engrossing!
Published August 15, 2024 August 17, 2024 by Jo Tomalin
Review: The Bookbinder
A bewitching hour in the company of a master storyteller
Review: Lobster Bisque
Go and see this innovative traditional farce of clown, puppetry, burlesque and so much more, you will not be disappointed!
Review: Mnemonic
Mnemonic is treasurable, eloquent, a rare passport. It remembers what hope, connectedness and peace smelt like. It’s worth remembering that.
Review: Tom’s Midnight Garden
An absolutely first-rate ensemble and they tell the story with all the wide-eyed wonder of a real enchantment, beyond Christmas, beyond, perhaps time. A gem.
Published December 11, 2023 December 12, 2023 by Simon Jenner
Review: Manual
Unique creative and very entertaining!
Published September 24, 2023 September 24, 2023 by Jo Tomalin
Review: Merveilles
Utterly charming theatrical storytelling!
Published September 23, 2023 September 23, 2023 by Jo Tomalin
Review: Dimanche
Sensational, Dystopian Portrait of a Changing World
Review: Bill’s 44th
Relatable. Joyous. Everyone needs a Bill in their life!
Review: Shadow Kingdom
A Sweet, Funny and Gorgeous Kingdom You Won’t Want to Leave
Review: La Petite Gerda
Imaginative retelling of Snow Queen story with beautifully sung songs, excellent acting and creative storytelling.
Published August 11, 2023 August 11, 2023 by Jo Tomalin
Review: Casting the Runes
It is difficult not to be hooked by Box Tale Soup’s charming vision of M.R. James’ work.
Review: Green Fingers
Delightful, fun, musical stories with puppetry about being different.
Published August 8, 2023 August 9, 2023 by Jo Tomalin
Review: Moby Dick
It's hard to distinguish puppet from human in a spectacular retelling of Moby Dick.
Review: Manic
A new solo show that combines puppetry, spoken word and theatre to bring an honest look at sex and trauma to Brighton Fringe 2023
Review: No I.D.
The celebration of acceptance and being wholly comfortable in your own body for the first time in your life transmits to everyone. It should make you more comfortable, knowing how Tatenda Shamiso radiates the joy of his, bestowing a kind of benediction. A quietly groundbreaking show.
Review: Quality Street
Don’t miss this exquisite confection. After this production, there’s possibly no return to the original. It’s a rethinking paying homage to both the sentiment, which it never upstages, and the brand and its factory-workers the comedy gave its name to.
Review: Django in Pain
Poignant, charming and meaningful play that is imaginative and vibrant in vision and message.
Published January 10, 2023 January 10, 2023 by Jo Tomalin
Review: James and the Giant Peach
With memorable music and ensemble singing added to a first-rate BLT production, there’s no better Christmas show in town.
Published December 15, 2022 December 15, 2022 by Simon Jenner
Review: Mother Goose
This is more than panto: it’s an affirmation of something that panto here welcomes in, in our time uniquely invoking layers as only Elizabethan/Jacobean drama can.
Review: Space Hippo
Blockbuster shadow puppetry show that is full of fun and has a hippo sized heart
Review: The Man Who Planted Trees
Charming story, masterful storytelling, entertaining and enlightening show imaginatively brought to life with beautiful sets, props and puppets.
Published August 19, 2022 August 21, 2022 by Jo Tomalin
Review: A Very Old Man With Enormous Wings
Imaginative production of a magical realism story with intrigue, drama and subtle humour that people of all ages can enjoy together.
Published August 6, 2022 August 7, 2022 by Jo Tomalin
Review: Mary, Chris, Mars
Imaginative - and will appeal to families with an interest in space, astronauts and object/shadow puppetry.
Published August 5, 2022 August 6, 2022 by Jo Tomalin
Review: Astra
There’s nothing remotely like it and Foyle’s team have broken through to the stars.
Review: The Wrong Planet
There’s a great act struggling out of this blissfully baggy monster.
Review: Finding Grace
A fascinating "tragi-comic solo performance about a writer who is looking for ‘Grace’.
Published March 15, 2022 March 15, 2022 by Paul Levy
Review: The Tempest
Café Voltaire in ruffs invokes a magical Tempest.
Review: The Adventures of Sleepyhead
A charming theatrical performance of someone who thinks that by becoming a grown up, they lose their dreams.
Review: RAT
Sophisticated music and artistic shadow puppetry!
Published August 26, 2021 August 26, 2021 by Jo Tomalin
Review: The Man Who Planted Trees
A must-see performance of a moving and timely story told by two men and a dog- an inventive treat for adults as well as kids
Review: The Twits
A summer must-see to charge you up for the autumn, and taking on the real twits ahead.
Review: The Winter’s Tale
A production showing the company’s unique slant on Shakespeare
Review: More Grimm Tales
A rollicking production with razored timing, musical cues and ad-libs worked in to half-second slots. A must-see.
Review: Du Iz Tak?
An adaptation of Carson Ellis's popular children's book
Review: Frankenstein
Imaginative, Exquisitely Haunting and Moving - Visual Storytelling at its best!
Published October 27, 2020 October 28, 2020 by Jo Tomalin
Review: Beauty and the Beast
Nothing so convincing has been done with this legend. It deserves many revivals.
Review: Siddhartha’s Stone
An intriguing visual take on the Herman Hesse book of the same name.
Review: Shoe Lady
Katherine Parkinson inhabits that breaking through the office crust asphyxiating us
Review: A Christmas Carol
The most original, potent and uplifting Christmas Carol I’ve ever seen
Review: As You Like It
For Lucy Phelps and Sophie Khan Levy above all, this is a joyful As You Like It.
Published November 24, 2019 November 25, 2019 by Simon Jenner
Review: Fulfilment
Energetic cast, provocative story with puppetry
Review: Celeste’s Circus
A quant and lovely trip to the circus for little ones that take big ones along for the ride
Review: The Castle
Well-rehearsed ensemble, mysterious Kafka story
Published August 14, 2019 August 16, 2019 by Jo Tomalin
Review: Great Grimm Tales
A beautifully made and entertaining show of physical storytelling.
Review: Troll
Entertaining, meaningful storytelling with superb innovative shadow play!
Published August 11, 2019 August 11, 2019 by Jo Tomalin
Review: Moonbird
A sweet gentle show about encouraging difference for Deaf and hearing children, and older family members too
Review: Gilgamesh and Me
A breathtaking ensemble physical piece full of inventiveness and heart
Published August 5, 2019 August 10, 2019 by Paul Levy
Review: Boulder
Visually arresting puppetry work slightly lacking narrative drive.
Review: Madagascar The Musical
Highly Recommended for monkeys and lemurs of all ages – quite apart from lions, zebras, hippos and giraffes.
Review: Paradiso
Superior puppetry skills in a Carry On Care Home scenario
Review: The Man Who Planted Trees
Charming, imaginative, entertaining storytelling and puppetry show, extremely well performed - thoughtful, moving story, with a noble message!
Review: Penguinpig
Charming, attractive, well thought out puppetry show set to lovely music, that will appeal to young children and accompanying grown ups!
Published August 20, 2018 August 20, 2018 by Jo Tomalin
Review: Henry
Blind Summit tear up the puppetry rulebook… again
Review: Backup
Highly innovative climate change narrative that draws you into a dramatic movement piece which then delivers a massive knock out blow.
Review: Darlings
Well written and acted contemporary play about 20 somethings is relatable, informative, entertaining and pulls on the heart-strings, the best kind of theatre!
Published August 13, 2018 August 15, 2018 by Jo Tomalin