Tag Archives: Emma Gradwell

Mama G’s Story Time Roadshow
★★★★★

Lion & Unicorn Theatre

Mama G’s Story Time Roadshow

Mama G’s Story Time Roadshow

Lion & Unicorn Theatre

Reviewed – 21st May 2019

★★★★★

 

“Mama G is the perfect host for these charming stories. She is sensationally endearing, sparkly and witty.”

 

As soon as Mama G burst onto the stage to the sound of RuPaul’s “Call me Mother” – or in this case “Call me Mama”, the adult members of the audience were immediately on board with where the evening’s proceedings were likely to be headed.

Mama G’s Story Time Roadshow (ably directed by Amée Smith and produced by Petite Pantos) is what I would imagine Jackanory Live! might be – if Jackanory had ever had a Pantomime Dame telling stories about Bette Midler songs and having a job in a second hand furniture store. There is a comfortable looking chair and a full bookcase, but no time for sitting down during this story time.

Mama G has been telling stories to children and their families since 2018, and now through the Road Show to anybody who would care to listen. The narration is very much a physical performance and the animated delivery makes it all the more captivating. All of the original stories are written by Robert Pearce, who is the Diana Prince to Mama G’s Wonder Woman – you will never see them both in the same room at the same time.

It is not simple to deliver a performance that has the young ones and the adults equally in stitches, as most of the jokes go whooshing overhead, but Mama G manages it impeccably. The show is filled with sparkling stories of love and inclusion about being who you are, loving who you want and learning never to be afraid of that – no matter what others may think. It uses the traditional art of storytelling to introduce children to the world that you want them to grow up in – a world filled with acceptance, empathy – and a bit of twerking.

Mama G is the perfect host for these charming stories. She is sensationally endearing, sparkly and witty. The show is perfectly suited for all audiences and we as a family adored it. Now – Everybody say Love!

 

Reviewed by Emma Gradwell

Photography courtesy Petite Pantos

 

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Mama G’s Story Time Roadshow

Lion & Unicorn Theatre until 26th May

 

Last ten shows reviewed at this venue:
Feel | ★★★★★ | March 2018
Feel/More | ★★★★ | March 2018
The Seagull | ★★½ | June 2018
How to Make me Happy | ★★★★★ | July 2018
Hummingbird | ★★★ | August 2018
In the Wake of | ★★★ | August 2018
The German Girls | ★★★ | August 2018
The Cut | ★★ | November 2018
BackPAGE | ★★½ | February 2019
Like You Hate Me | ★★★ | April 2019

 

Click here to see more of our latest reviews on thespyinthestalls.com

 

Tom Gates

Tom Gates
★★★★

Richmond Theatre & UK Tour

Tom Gates

Tom Gates

Richmond Theatre & UK Tour

Reviewed – 20th March 2019

★★★★

 

“a joyous piece of children’s theatre – and is sure to bring a smile to old and new fans alike”

 

For any family with junior school age children, Liz Pichon’s Tom Gates books have become a familiar and popular addition to our bookshelves. Liz has now written and illustrated fifteen books in the series, and when I mentioned to my ten year old son that Tom Gates was to be ‘Live on Stage’, he was very excited to see how that would work. Director, Neal Foster and Author, Liz Pichon agreed that rather than base the show on one of her many books, they would create a brand new story, and so in a first for the Birmingham Stage Company, they worked together to do just that.

The story starts in the classroom: Tom has got three sad faces on the class achievement chart. If he gets four, he will not be allowed to go on the class outing to the local biscuit factory. At home, his grandparents (the Fossils) have decided to renew their wedding vows, and preparations are in full swing.

Jackie Trousdale’s set is mainly comprised of six drop down screens that have Liz’s very stylised doodles projected onto them. These go up and down as the scenes change with amazing effect. Doors and windows appear and disappear in the blink of an eye, and the rain cloud that follows sister, Delia around constantly is very amusing. My favourite scenes involved Dad (Daniel Harkin), driving Tom and his friends around town in his borrowed hot dog van, all down to a clever projected illustration and some impeccably choreographed acting.

The cast work extremely well together, many playing multiple roles to deliver a fun and cohesive script. Matthew Chase proficiently leads the cast as the titular Tom, his signature hairstyle is lifted straight from Liz’s illustrations and is a nice touch. Justin Davies and Ashley Cousins as school friends, Norman and Marcus, really capture their characters – we all knew similar people at school! Amy Hargreaves shines through as sugary classmate Amy and the emotionally charged big sister, Delia.

Some of the funniest scenes involved Ashley Cousins as Granny and Matthew Gordon as Grandad. Grandad teaching Tom to play the spoons and a wedding arch made of Zimmer frames were among the highlights. Look out for the special wedding carriage, it’s very funny and brilliantly designed.

The whole piece is woven with original music by Liz’s husband, Mark Flannery, with lyrics written by Liz herself. The songs are catchy and witty, and bring more fun to the proceedings. Tom Gates – Live on Stage is a joyous piece of children’s theatre – and is sure to bring a smile to old and new fans alike.

Reviewed by Emma Gradwell

Photography by Mark Douet

 


Tom Gates

Richmond Theatre until 24th March then UK Tour continues

 

Previously reviewed at this venue:
Iolanthe | ★★★★ | May 2018
84 Charing Cross Road | ★★★★ | June 2018

 

Click here to see more of our latest reviews on thespyinthestalls.com