Review –
Reviewed at The Crucible, Sheffield by Michelle Rawlins.
Tutti Frutti have been creating children’s theatre for over 30 years and the fact they are still enthralling the youngest of crowds is testament to their ability to captivate little people with the most imaginative and creative of shows.
Their latest production, Jack Frost and the search for Winter, is as magical as it’s thoughtful, as the energetic cast of three take their audience on a journey to find the lost season as well as gently explain why our planet is under so much pressure.
Jack, a mischievous and lovable young boy, who normally comes into his own as the coldest season appears, realises this year he has lost special powers to turn the landscape into a carpet of glistening white.
Instead of freezing, the snow begins to melt and with it comes the underlying message about climate change, which is weaved into the production in a subtle manner that doesn’t feel too complex for such a young audience. Old Man Winter explains the glaciers are melting, the temperature is rising and schoolgirl, Annika (Sophie Golby) shows how we are wasting energy in the simplest of ways, including turning on cosy lamps unnecessarily.
Entwined into the storyline, written by poet and playwright, Joseph Coelho, is everything you would expect from this award-winning Leeds based company. The creative team have worked hard with the small, but incredibly talented, cast, to ensure there isn’t a single moment when they aren’t either singing, dancing, playing instruments or performing acrobats, courtesy of Jack Frost himself, performed beautifully by Luca Moscardini.
Annika’s mum (Michaela Murphy) is not only representative of a sector of a generation who can probably learn a lot from those who are more environmentally aware, but shows how little changes, such as turning the lights off when you leave a room, is a step in the right direction.
Multitalented Murphy also took on a myriad of roles, effectively and seamlessly moving from one character to another, as the story moved from one part of the globe to another in the search for winter.
This truly delightful and intimate hour-long show, which eventually comes to its rightful end, is performed in the round, and the simple set, compromising of moveable boxes, lights and a doorway, is small but perfectly formed. It allows for those watching to capture every moment and feel as though the cast are performing just for them.
If you are looking for a gorgeous little show for your little ones this festive season, you can’t go far wrong with this enchanting retelling of one of the most magical stories of winter.
Tickets available here
Touring until December 31 2023