Ian Waller and his son enjoys a hugely enjoyable night of theatre at Pound Arts
Deep in the woods, stories are being told and legends created. It’s a place where the fables of Little Red Riding Hood and her namesake Robin are intertwined and brought to life with songs, comedy, just a smidgen of scariness and a whole load of audience participation.
Wild, Wild Woods is a wonderful new production – yesterday saw its opening night – aimed at children six years and older, and it will have the grown-ups joining in as well. Taking place at Pound Arts in Corsham – a cracking venue and so worth a visit – it’s a perfect pre-Christmas treat that will have you chatting about the story all the way home.
Lil Red and her friends are living a good old life in the woods, that is, until the wolves come along. They’re a horrible lot, those wolves, and in no time Red and her friends have to run off and take on a new life as bandits – albeit the very merriest type – in the woods. Fortunately, goods friends, bravery and a fair amount of ingenuity are readily available so when the time comes to take on the biggest, baddest wolf of them all, they are well prepared.
Wild, Wild Wood comes from the imagination of Scratchworks Theatre Company and its down to its three principal players, Laura Doble, Alice Higgonson-Clark and Sian Keen, plus the excellent assistance of Jack Dean, to bring it all together. It’s their energy and creativity that make this show a success. I love the imagination that turns coat hangers into bows, brown and orange clothes that become a warming campfire, a newspaper into a goose and, my favourite, the cheese grater wolves.
Then there’s the silly songs, all accompanied by multi-instrumentalist Jack on guitar, banjo and piano (although not at the same time…), with plenty of chances for the audience to join in.
Talking of the audience joining in, for a few lucky members, there’s even the chance to accompany the cast on stage and take part in the action. I say lucky, for this reviewer being selected as the ‘lucky’ adult – and given the nickname Fuzzy Ian – to take part in an archery competition, was clearly hugely hilarious for my youngest who filmed the whole thing and hasn’t stopped calling me Fuzzy ever since! Actually, it was great fun and I loved every minute.
OK, the show isn’t perfect. For me it was just a wee bit too long, the plot slightly confusing (my youngest helped me out with the challenging bits…) and at times it was a little bit like a Year 7 drama lesson. But then this was opening nights and no doubt the rough spots will soon be ironed out and the whole thing become a little smoohter.
As it was, the Wild, Wild Woods is a huge amount of fun with a grateful audience clearly enjoying the whole caboodle.
Wild, Wild Woods run at the Pound Arts in Corsham until 24 December 2022. For more information and to buy tickets, go to poundarts.org.uk/event-category/family/