Seven Arts, Leeds – Thursday 13th June 2019
Reviewed By Dawn Smallwood
4****
Tutti Frutti is reputed for delivering successful imaginative and creative children’s theatre whether it’s based on a traditional story or a contemporary imaginative retelling. More so is inclusivity as this unique production is told by three performers through words, movement, dance and British Sign Language.
Written by Brendan Murray, an award winning writer, Yellow is the Colour of Sunshine, is about two friends, Yoshi (Connor Bryson) and Hani (Phoebe Stapleton) whose differences could not be any more contrasting. They play and learn to communicate their feelings in all circumstances through the good and the bad times. They are supported and mentored by the Sky, Kite and Magpie which are portrayed by Holly Irving.
Emotional intelligence is very important in a child’s development and this play takes this in account and how those variable behaviours link on stage. The children’s play is imaginatively projected in a way that there is something for everyone to learn and think whether one is a child or an adult.
Kate Bunce’s simple staging in an intimate space is lightly colourful and the costumes and props blend in nicely. Set to variable music, sounds (Christella Litras) and lighting (Sara Burns) and under the direction of Wendy Harris, the play is energetically and reflectively told with a passionate performance from Bryson, Stapleton and Irving.
There is a lot of storytelling packed in the one act play, approximately 45 minutes, and it has been received well by the family friendly audience. The colours yellow, blue and green are figuratively connected to growth, learning, positivity and optimism and Yellow is the Colour of Sunshine physically echoes this with an inclusively beautiful performance.
Touring until July 2019