The atmosphere inside Curve Theatre this afternoon was magical, with children eagerly awaiting the performance of Charlie Cook’s Favourite Book in the main auditorium.
The musical is based on the original book written by Julia Donaldson and illustrated by Axel Scheffler, and has been adapted for the stage by Barb Jungr and Samantha Lane.
With one member of the cast missing today, the duo of Charlie Cook, played by Pierre Hanson-Hohnson and mum, played by Georgie Samuels, had to work twice as hard to make the show work, and they managed it incredibly well.
The show opens with Charlie Cook, who loves books, especially if they are about pirates. One book leads to another, which leads to another, and so on. The musical really captures the essence of the wonder of reading, allowing imaginations to run free.
The transition from one book to the next, and one puppet to the next, by Hanson-Hohnson and Samuels was smooth, keeping the children – and adults – entertained throughout.
The stage set was almost as if it had been plucked from the book, we especially liked the attention to detail on the armchair cover, and the puppets were just incredible – Poppy’s favourites were the dragon (especially the roar!) and the frog, and of course, the book eating crocodile.
There are moments for the children to join in, and Poppy particularly enjoyed the songs – I caught her tapping to the rhythm and rocking to them, completely in her element.
This wasn’t a relaxed performance, but we were made to feel completely at ease before, during and after the show, it was a lovely welcoming atmosphere during the whole of our visit. The show was also BSL interpreted.
Although recommended for ages 3+, this musical can appeal to any age, and 18-year-old Poppy, who is autistic and has a learning disability, was thoroughly entertained throughout. Charlie Cook’s Favourite Book is an absolute delight from start to finish.
★★★★
Tickets £10-£18
Limited tickets available
There are two further performances of the show on Wednesday, October 23 at 10.30am and 1.30pm. There is a relaxed performance at the later showing. Curve’s website notes the relaxed performance includes additional lighting in the theatre space, gentler sound effects, and a friendly attitude to noise and movement.
