Turn on the Light is a sweet 45-minute show, suitable for young audiences, I would say probably best for 3–8 year olds. Written by Peter Wilson and puppeteer Kenny King, it tells the story of Tim, a young boy who is supposed to be going to sleep, but is scared of the monsters under his bed.

It’s a solo show with Kenny doing all the puppeteering and also playing Tim’s carer himself. Kenny insists to Tim there are no monsters but when he leaves, one by one, the cat, a cheeky mouse, a singing frog and a sparkly spider come out.

The kid next to me is raring to go from the beginning, whispering, “Turn off the light! Turn off the light!” He’s ready to be frightened, to laugh and engage. There isn’t much room for kids to interact though, with only a bit of direct address. But while some in the audience are itching to be involved, others sit quietly with their hands in their laps, watching the night unfold.  

Each creature is introduced as though it could be a monster, only to be revealed for what it really is. The first is the sassy, beautifully fluffy cat Mister Tiddles. He makes a fuss under the bed and then leaps all over it, full of energy when it’s supposed to be the quiet night-time. There is a particularly delightful moment of puppeteering when Kenny (as the carer) pulls the reluctant Mister Tiddles from under the bed. Mister Tiddles has to be put outside after this, and sadly we don’t see him again. I wonder if he could have come back later, perhaps at the window?

Mister Tiddles sets the tone for these night creatures — energetic, busy, doing whatever they like. This is their daytime, and they’re just getting on with their business. It’s a twist on the normal monster-under-the-bed story of ‘there’s nothing there’. Through a delightful array of nocturnal friends, and excellent puppeteering from Kenny, we learn along with Tim that there are creatures in the night, but they’re nothing to be afraid of. 

There’s a few inconsistencies: I don’t know why the cat and mouse don’t speak, but the frog and the spider do. The few songs that come in later on, while each enjoyable, also feel a bit random.

But overall it’s a delightful and soothing way to spend 45 minutes. Rather than rark them up, Turn on the Light calms the kids around me, and a peaceful mood settles over the theatre.

When we leave, chatter from the kids shows they enjoyed it, with one girl declaring loudly, “That was very good.” Walking across the stage to reach the exit, many take the opportunity to have quick peek under the bed — just to check. Satisfied there’s no actual monsters after all, they go on with their days. And perhaps will sleep better tonight.  

Copyright © in the review belongs to the reviewer