"Chicken Licken" A Derby Theatre, Hiccup Theatre and Polka Theatre Production

Derby Studio Theatre.

Chicken Licken is the fable of a little chicken that thinks the world is coming to an end, and runs about warning everyone that the sky is falling on them after a falling acorn from an oak tree hits them on the head. Chicken Licken rushes about, warning other animals that a piece of sky fell and hit them. Chicken Licken gathers Henny-Penny, Ducky-Lucky, Goosey-Loosey, Foxy Loxy and Turkey-Lurkey who all run to find Farmer Brown, to tell him that the sky is falling in. Will they get that far, or will something, or someone stand in their way?

Here is another wonderful piece of Christmas theatre made for a young audience, but is equally entertaining for any age. It has live music, songs and puppetry, and lasts less than an hour, so it can even be fitted in as an addition to a shopping trip with your youngsters.

If you saw last year's "The Three Billy Goats Gruff", this production is from the same theatre group who brought you that show, so entertainment value and quality is guaranteed.

All performances include integrated BSL, creative captions and integrated audio description, so is fully inclusive.

Phillipa Russell is Chicken Licken, Sarah Brigham plays Goosey Loosey in the performance I saw as Laura Crow was unfortunately ill. Laura Goulden is Henny Penny, Brooklyn Melvin is Ducky Lucky and Ivan Stott doubles up as Foxy Loxy and Turkey Lurkey. All excellent actors in their own right and all know how to hold the attention of a young audience.

What I enjoy seeing is that interaction that the young crowd have with the characters in this story and that is aided by the actors, in character, coming out into the audience to allow the kids to familiarise them with the characters, as well as getting to know a little about their audience. This is a great idea, and also very clever as it also breaks down any fears from sensitive youngsters before the action starts. Some children may not be quite as brave and fearless as others and seeing adult size chickens burst forth from the chicken house might just unnerve some, so straight away that barrier is crossed and the audience feel at home with human size birds and animals.

The puppet for Foxy is rather wonderful and in a lovely shade of red with a tail that could double as a feather boa, and very eye-catching for younger eyes. there are also smaller puppets that are seen in shadow form as well as a rather cute Chicken Licken puppet which reminded me a bit of a mini Orville, ( don't worry if you're not as old as I am, and can't remember who Orville was), but in an orange and brown hue as opposed to white and green.

The live music was performed by Ivan with the rest of the cast either singing and/or signing. The majority of the songs were original, as far as I could tell, apart from the very apt "There Ain't Nobody Here But Us Chickens", but they all were incredibly catchy and fun.

There's a large screen where the words of the songs and the story was displayed, covering all areas.

The set was, as usual, very well thought out and constructed and also really colourful, again making everything about this production attractive to young theatre goers.

Theatre for young children is incredibly important, and it's important that groups who specialise in this, like Hiccup Theatre and Polka Theatre are kept going and supported.

"Chicken Licken" is at the Derby Theatre Studio until Saturday 4 January 2025.