I must admit that I have not read the book the play is based on but my 10-year old companion has and he is very excited to see this stage version. He is certainly not the only one as large numbers of young people bring their grown-ups into the rapidly filling auditorium, looking forward to the show a great deal. All I know about the book is that it’s about Andy and Terry writing a book, which ties in well with what the show’s flyer tells me, which is that “there’s just one problem” with the show… “they (Andy and Terry) forgot to write it!”

For me, this sounds like a very meta-theatrical approach, which becomes evident from the very beginning as Val, the Stage Manager (Elle Wootton), takes centre stage to remind us to turn off our phones, and then gives ‘sound cue one’ to start the show.

The audience enjoys seeing Andy (Ryan Dulieu) and Terry (Damien Avery) experience the shock of realising that what they think is a rehearsal, is actually the show itself. Despite having no script, no props and no costumes, they are encouraged by Val – who believes that “the show must go on” – to use the theatre’s box of props and costumes to make things up as they go along.

It is obvious that the characters know they are in a play; they know the audience is there to be entertained and they know that the workings of the theatre are visible. This makes for a cleverly-constructed framework within which to stage the play, and the actors use it to their, and our, advantage by making us complicit in making the show a co-construction between actors and audience. We are encouraged to bring our “imaginary forces” to bear and to join in the fun.

Much fun does ensue, with energetic and creative performances from all cast members as they help us to use our imaginations to fill in any gaps in the plot. Dulieu and Avery spark well off each other, pitching their performances at exactly the right level to engage the young audience and their grown-ups. They both have great comic timing, helping their characters to generate plenty of laughs.

They each bring slightly different types of energy to their roles, with Avery frenetic and child-like, while Dulieu is more pragmatic and focused. They shine in their interactions with each other as they continue to drive the show forwards.

Wootton also shines as she takes on a number of roles for which other actors (Cate Blanchett and Russell Crowe for example) have become suddenly unavailable. I especially enjoy her performance as the seductive mermaid that turns out to be far more dangerous than she first appears.

A range of creative stories unfold, including flying cats, an invasion of monkeys and a giant gorilla, meaning that there’s something here for everyone: singing, movement, audience participation, over-the-top creations and lots of laughs.

The cast uses a range of techniques including shadow puppetry, extra-large props and cleverly-constructed costumes to great effect as the action moves briskly on.

My companion proclaims that the props are “on point”; in fact he declares they are so good that they are “over point” (better than excellent), with the enormous gorilla, super finger and the 2d-3d converter especially appreciated. My companion enjoys working out how some of the effects are created, and this doesn’t stop him from being amused and delighted at the results.

This is a clever and engaging story that has all of the young audience members entertained all the way through. It is refreshing to see imagination being encouraged and this pays dividends in terms of audience engagement and enjoyment. My 10-year old companion proclaims it is an extremely good, very enjoyable show and demands that I tell everyone this. I am happy to agree with him. 

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