Let’s face it…you can’t go wrong with Julia Donaldson. Her books are found in pretty much every household where young children reside. Tales like The Gruffalo, The Highway Rat, Zog, Tabby McTat and The Scarecrow’s Wedding have been delighting young people and adults for over 25 years.
One of the most beloved of her books is Stick Man and now this wonderful story of an anthropomorphic wooden stick who becomes separated from his family home has been turned into an award-winning stage show by Freckle Productions.
This production is beautifully done, it stays very true to the book, keeping the misadventures of our hero very simple yet wonderfully creative. Just three actors take to the stage in a fully immersive adaptation but using minimal props and some very catchy songs.
They take you on Stick Man’s journey from getting lost in the park, chewed on by a dog, taken to a nest by a swan, being swept out to sea and being used as a bat on a beach and onto to his final adventure when he meets the big man in a red suit, who helps Stick Man get home to the family tree.
We went along with a four-year-old and an eight-year-old, both big fans of the book and both clutching their own Stick Man toys. They loved every second, taking part in the audience participation sections – the naughty dog chases Stick Man through the audience and catching the beach ball. They got swept along in the magic of the story, even reciting some of the most memorable lines word for word.
For young children, where this might be their very first time going to a theatre, it’s a brilliant introduction – nothing is too loud or too in your face. It runs for around 55-60 minutes, with no interval and you can take your own snacks in as well, it’s all very relaxed. Bringing a mix of puppetry, live music, dance and fun – it’s a lovely, gentle story that plays wonderfully to the audience of all ages.
Even as adults, who have read the story countless number of times – we found ourselves rooting for Stick Man to get back to the “…family tree and his Stick Lady Love and their stick children three.”
With the Christmas-themed ending, it’s a perfect alternative to some of the bolder, brighter, louder pantomimes, and it plays at The Stables in Milton Keynes until 4 January, with various performance times to suit younger audiences. Don’t miss out, this really is a delightful, heart-warming production that will fill you with joy.
Book here: https://stables.org/event/freckle-theatre-stick-man
