Richard Wilcocks writes:
Urwin Watt (U Watt?) begins the show with
an energetic warm-up, as the children are still coming into the HEART Café,
already bubbling. He looks like the sort of person who could fix everybody and
everything, prancing up and down, eyes glittering with what we hope is good
humour, leather belt loaded with interesting tools. So what might happen? Any
time traveling involved? The door of the structure in the corner which brings
Tardis to mind - for some parents anyway - is apparently locked, and can be
opened only when the right buttons are pressed. There is a countdown, with
five minutes to go. Long minutes, giving time for a steel colander to be worn by
volunteers, which might bring electrical strikes and cause explosions, not to
worry…
There’s someone in there! You can tell by
the noises. It turns out to be Stokely Pilgrim, teleported from Brazil, whose
naval uniform signifies some kind of rank but who spends his time in an engine
room stoking a ship’s furnace (cue for child to make an arch with his arms and
become its entrance) and inviting people, all of them “sir” and “madam” in
spite of the fact that some just about come up to his knee, to think about what
the world would be like without stories.
It’s obvious to nearly everybody: “Richard
the Third!” they shout en masse. “Mermaids!” shouts a lone voice. A king in
waiting is found – no matter about the gender – and a story about how the crown
came to be broken is found. It seems that it fell off the king’s head when he
(she) sneezed. That’s what the kings tells us, before ordering everybody to go
to the castle on the hill immediately, or else their heads will roll.
Urwin Watt (U Watt?) begins the show with
an energetic warm-up, as the children are still coming into the HEART Café,
already bubbling. He looks like the sort of person who could fix everybody and
everything, prancing up and down, eyes glittering with what we hope is good
humour, leather belt loaded with interesting tools. So what might happen? Any
time traveling involved? The door of the structure in the corner which brings
Tardis to mind - for some parents anyway - is apparently locked, and can be
opened only when the right buttons are pressed. There is a countdown, with
five minutes to go. Long minutes, giving time for a steel colander to be worn by
volunteers, which might bring electrical strikes and cause explosions, not to
worry…
There’s someone in there! You can tell by
the noises. It turns out to be Stokely Pilgrim, teleported from Brazil, whose
naval uniform signifies some kind of rank but who spends his time in an engine
room stoking a ship’s furnace (cue for child to make an arch with his arms and
become its entrance) and inviting people, all of them “sir” and “madam” in
spite of the fact that some just about come up to his knee, to think about what
the world would be like without stories.
Not much fun, of course. Soon, aided by an
Urwin who is now called ‘Mother’,
he is addressing a gang of pirates (Ha – haaarr!) and then a sea full of
sharks. Invisible bottles are picked up and hurled into the water, all of them
containing stories to be found. “Do mermaids, do mermaids!” nags one of the
tinier participants, dancing in and out of the action. The ship’s bell clangs loudly. A broken
crown is brought out. Who could that belong to? Could it be…
It’s obvious to nearly everybody: “Richard
the Third!” they shout en masse. “Mermaids!” shouts a lone voice. A king in
waiting is found – no matter about the gender – and a story about how the crown
came to be broken is found. It seems that it fell off the king’s head when he
(she) sneezed. That’s what the kings tells us, before ordering everybody to go
to the castle on the hill immediately, or else their heads will roll.
And so the show continues, some of its
elements constant, but with plenty which is unique to this particular
performance, a tune with improvisation. Alive and Kicking Theatre Company Leeds
has worked in primary schools, more recently in Kirkgate Market (just the sort
of thing to revive the place), but to my knowledge does not do cafés very
often. They’ll be doing this one again soon. It was terrific! My only criticism
is that they didn’t get around to the mermaids.
To book Alive and Kicking ring John Mee at
0113 265 8631
www.aliveand kickingtheatrecompany.co.uk
And here is a photo of the performance the following day (14 March) sent by Liz Fox:
And here is a photo of the performance the following day (14 March) sent by Liz Fox:
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