March 14th marked the exciting opening of Little Angel Theatre’s production of Where the Bugaboo Lives, running until the 2nd May. Adapted from the classic children’s book by Sean Taylor, the story of a brother and sister comes to life in this beautifully crafted puppet show. Charming and engaging, Roberta Livingstone and Jessica Manu (performing on alternate nights) take us through a tale of talking flowers, dancing ghouls and, of course, the infamous Bugaboo.
Yesterday I had the pleasure of watching the show – broadcast via Zoom - and thoroughly enjoyed myself, despite not being in quite the right age category (5-11)! Parents will be pleased to learn that the matinees are all over by 5pm, so no need for any late nights.
The most exciting part? You can choose what happens!
Indeed, Samantha Lane (the director) takes audience interaction to another level through Zoom polls, which pop up on screen and are very simple to use, allowing the viewer to decide what course of action the characters take. This approach echoes the original choose-your-own-story book and we feel truly part of the narrative.
I unfortunately didn’t see Jessica Manu perform but Roberta Livingston as the narrator was delightful and very creative. I particularly enjoyed her use of different voices for each monster and was impressed with how she carried the story and maintained energy, despite being the only actor.
Not only was the acting high quality but the set was absolutely stunning. Ellie Mills, the designer, with the help of her associate designers, Jessica Shead and Ruby Saide, did a fantastic job of painting the backdrops for each scene and putting together the huge number of puppets, all needed for the different plot routes. Combined with clever lighting from Sherry Coenen, the show is really visually appealing.
Where the Bugaboo Lives offers a light-hearted and wholesome source of entertainment, perfected by a touch of humour with lines like, ‘I’m the oldest I’ve ever been!’ If you are looking for something to tide the kids over until the end of lockdown, visit https://littleangeltheatre.com/online-shows-and-activities/watch/where-the-bugaboo-lives-zoom/ for more details. The story teaches creative thinking, listening skills and, most importantly in this day and age, teamwork. To quote the narrator, ‘two heads really work better than one’.
