Reviewed by Rosemary Knight
On Sunday afternoon, I took my three year old grandson, Oliver, to The Lowry theatre in Salford, Manchester to watch the Full House Theatre production of The Elves and the Shoemaker. The performance was in the cosy Aldridge Studio, at The Lowry, and was filled with small children and their carers. What I really like about the Studio is that it is small and welcoming so youngsters do not feel uncomfortable in a large space. It really is a perfect venue for this type of show aimed at little ones.
The show begins with an elderly retired shoemaker, Geoffrey, wandering around his garden, clutching a piece of fine leather and trying to remember how to make a pair of shoes for his wife’s birthday. Two elves visit him and help him to recall his past, using a little bit of magic along the way to enable him to make his wife’s lovely shoes. They help him to remember when they had visited him many years earlier when he was a young man. There is a lot of music, singing, dancing, puppetry and silliness in this performance. One highlight was when the elves were bringing out various shoes and miming to the actual voices of real shoppers. The adults in the audience found this hilarious.
This is a re-telling of the classic fairytale with an unusual twist. The audience can see how silly and forgetful the old shoemaker is, but he is so funny and seeing him recreate his past memories was heart-warming. Watching this performance with my young grandson was quite magical.
This is a lovely treat for little ones.
Rating: 4/5
Full House Theatre are touring with The Elves and the Shoemaker until 24 June 2017, for more information and tour dates visit fullhouse.org.uk.
For other shows at The Lowry in Manchester visit www.thelowry.com.
The Lowry, Pier 8, Salford Quays, Manchester, M50 3AZ | 0843 208 6000