Howard Assembly Room, Leeds – Saturday 5th May 2018
Reviewed By Dawn Smallwood
3.5***
Tutti Frutti, a national touring theatre company, focuses on productions specifically for children and families and is reputed for their creative imagination. A lot of their work is based on traditional stories but also contemporary ones. Their latest production, Keepy Uppy, directed by Wendy Harris, has been brought to the Howard Assembly Room in Leeds for two performances and also marks the beginning of a UK Tour.
Written by Evan Placey, Keepy Uppy is about Joey (Danny Childs) who is football mad and his life revolves around the beautiful game. The passion is also shared by his mother (Eden Dominique) and their daily routine includes an imaginary game from getting up to going to school. Football fever is not affected when both Joey and his Mum face setbacks along the way and that they are determined as ever to reach the cup final.
With the FIFA World Cup happening next month it is a perfect opportunity to bring this exciting production to many children and families. The spirit of the beautiful game begins before when there is a considerable number of children sat at the front, dressed in their football gear, and waiting for “kick-off”.
Joey and his Mum share the wonders of football to the audience with imaginative and passionate energy; slick movements including the use of a football to co-ordinate such moves and poetry and catchy rhythmic narration which is set to live music by Dom Sales. One must admire the versatile and creative staging, courtesy of Kate Bunce. The space and lighting is used effectively with the props for a variety of things and how the use of chalk is drawn to create different ones. The fast-paced interaction between the mother and son is good and it successfully keeps the children, particularly those sat on the floor at the front, engaged and entertained.
There is a carnival atmosphere with music and dance during the latter half of the performance with flags representing the many countries that play the game. This would include countries that have qualified to play at the forthcoming World Cup. Keepy Uppy with an excellent cast is no doubt an entertaining and colourful show especially for the children who are transfixed from kick off to “shoot” and ultimately the “final whistle”. It certainly celebrates the beautiful game