The Royal Court, London – 18 – 25 July 2015. Reviewed by Claire Roderick
The intimate Jerwood Theatre Upstairs is an ideal space for Primetime – a series of short plays written by primary children aged 8-11 and directed by Debbie Hannan. Sitting on fluffy purple mats around the stage, the audience is involved immediately, high fiving the cast and trying out their musical instruments.
The cast – Kate Adler, Heather Dutton, Kezrena James, Joshua Miles, Ronak Patani and Linden Walcott-Burton – throw themselves into their multiple roles with gusto, and look like they are having as much fun as the audience. Their physical comedy and dance skills, and their interaction with the children were fantastic.
Music and dance are used cleverly to introduce each new play as you are taken on a rollercoaster ride through tales of a pauper king who lives in a hole and steals from Alan Sugar, an outer space rap battle for the ultimate prize – a barbecued chicken wing, a bigoted English lady who wants everyone to be the same, a mad scientist and his very special delivery, an evil megalomaniac who sends everyone over 20 back in time, a Scottish wizard with an umbrella fetish, and a monster-turned-human fighting for monster rights.
There are some huge shifts in tone between plays. Most had me giggling, but during “Lost” – a surprisingly effective spinetingler – some younger children were beginning to cling to their parents. The writer knows his audience though, and threw in a few gags just where they were needed. Before making us all jump out of our skins.
Of course it is obvious that these plays were written by children. If you want sophisticated drama, you’re in the wrong place! But that is the appeal of this show, because it reminds us how children see the world. Among the insane characters and poo and fart jokes (at which us adults were laughing loudest) are deeply moralistic stories about honesty, friendship, diversity and acceptance.
But I’m a grown-up, what do I know. Walking out of the theatre surrounded by children talking non-stop I can tell you that it was “Ace. Awesome. Cool.”
And apparently someone is going to write a play like that one, but with giant robots.
A wonderful feel-good family show for the Summer holidays – and anyone inspired by what they see can book one of the free family writing workshops led by a Royal Court writer on 24th and 25th July.