Theatr Iolo |
| Theatr Iolo-Under the Carpet , LYCEUM STUDIO, EDINBURGH , June 11, 2009 |
At a children's theatre festival, the audience is often almost as entertaining as the shows; and the younger they are, the less they are likely to be constrained by the grown-up idea that audiences are only there to watch. Theatr Iolo of Wales's latest show Under the Carpet, for example, in Edinburgh until Monday as part of the Bank of Scotland Imaginate Festival, is actually based on stories told to the company by nursery school children in the three to five age-range for which it's designed. From an adult point of view, the situation it describes is not too interesting. Nonno and Lol are a kind of Vladimir and Estragon of nursery theatre. Beautifully played by Stephen Hickman and Jak Poore; they have lived together for a long time, and annoy one another a bit. But they join together in searching for the stories they find hidden around their house – in the cupboard, under the table, on the ironing board, in the button box. Their timing and performance style is subtly perfect, full of unobtrusive skill. And the response of the little children to their quiet physical comedy of fallouts, surprises, and small reconciliations is simply a joy to hear; roars of laughter, little helpful comments, gasps of surprise, and deep, throaty chuckles of recognition. |
Reviewed by: THE SCOTSMAN Published Date: 30 May 2009 By Joyce McMillan |
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