Theatre for children is no small undertaking. Nick Hammond applauds a new play in a renowned Northampton theatre…
I love the Royal & Derngate Theatre at Northampton. It’s a real, old-fashioned, traditional theatre; tiny, intimate and somehow, magical. During the long, leisurely afternoons of the festive break, we took the opportunity to show it off to the kids – a great chance for them to experience live theatre in all it’s glory and pretty much on their doorstep.
The production was Merlin – a swashbuckling take on the legend of King Arthur and his court of Camelot, with a hefty wedge of liberty taken with the original, well-known plot.
Directed by Liam Steel and written by Ella Hickson, it’s a dark and at times (particularly for younger ones) scary twist on the theme of good and bad magic and the loyalty of friends, with songs and laughter thrown in for good measure.
My two girls, now ten and seven respectively, thoroughly enjoyed it from start to finish – particularly the judicious use of pyrotechnics and an excellent main stage setting reminiscent of an old-fashioned galleried library.
Young Prince Arthur is torn between his family duties and his friends, magic-dabbling Merlin and Princess Gwen. Villains, talking trees and cast members performing multiple roles all coalesce in a story-telling with a modern twist which was just long enough at two hours to tell a quick-fire tale and short enough to avoid the adults desperately longing to decamp to the bar.
This isn’t a West End production – not yet, anyway – but it’s provincial theatre doing what it does best; providing an entry point to a lifetime of magical escapism that theatre can offer.
Bravo to all the cast, who didn’t miss a beat – particular mentions to James Clay as Arthur, Francesca Zoutewell as Gwen and Fergus O’Donnell as King Uther and just about everything else.
It’s no easy task to take on the mammoth project of a touring play these days, particularly when it’s aimed at an audience of children weaned on the CGI mega-buck magic of the Harry Potter movies.
Bravo to this production then, in conjunction with Nuffield, and bravo again to the lovely little Royal. It continues to defy economics, accountants and when you’re safely ensconced in its dark, ornate interior, even time itself. Long may it continue.
For more information about productions at the Royal & Derngate Theatre, visit the website.
