"Three Billy Goats Gruff" Derby Theatre, Hiccup Theatre and Polka Theatre Production

Derby Studio Theatre.

There is everything that you'd want in this wonderful story for children from three years to ninety-three years.

The three Billy Goats are off on an adventure but that means that they have to cross the bridge that is guarded by a troll; not one of those internet nasties,  but a nasty all the same. The troll states that they will be trespassing on to his land and that they can't cross, but our intrepid trio have other ideas about that!

This show is all about inclusivity with creative captioning (Ben Glover), Creative Audio Description (Ben Wilson) and BSL by all the actors. The BSL Consultant is Donna Mullings.

The original songs are all performed live by members of the cast and have been written by Ivan Stott who is also the Sound Designer. Can I just say that I love the song sung by Baby Billy Goat especially, but all the songs are infuriatingly catchy.

I've always loved puppetry within a play, especially children's theatre because it's so relatable to certain ages, especially the young people in this afternoon.

The five actors all play various roles. Before we even get into the story telling they play different roles to explain how the checkpoint works and who is allowed through the barrier, making the story easy for the young audience members to grasp.

Big Billy Goat is played by Caroline Parker, Middle Billy Goat is played by Alex Nowak,  Baby Billy Goat is played by Esme Sears and Ivan Stott and Laura Goulden play The Troll in a way that emphases the size difference between the goats and the Troll, and done simply but very effectively. That is the thing about this production, the simplicity and effectiveness should mean that parents should have no need to explain anything to their children, as it's all been done for them by Hiccup Theatre perfectly and in a way that the children will readily and easily understand.

This production is fully inclusive with audio description as well as BSL, which is done during the story telling and not, as some productions for young people do, at the side of the stage, meaning that the young eyes are diverted away from what is going on centre stage.

Written and Directed by Sarah Brigham. Even though I know, and have read the story to my children on many occasions, there is a fresh and modern injection to this tale. It's a story that includes moralistic values and acceptance of people who may not look and act in the same way as you may do, and told in this way makes it digestible for young eyes and ears. I have always held a belief that theatre should be educational as well as entertaining, especially to the young, and this production is both, thanks to some clever writing.

The Set Design is by Rachana Jadhav. Now, again this may look simple to start with, but as the play unfolds we get a gorgeous fairy-tale style bridge complete with has a river that leads to a wonderful green pasture that covers the stage and a back scene that makes you want to run through the green meadows. I don't want to give too much away but just look at how this is accomplished when you go and see it.

Tim Heyward's costumes are simple with the three goats distinguished by a colour scheme.

John Barber's puppets are designed beautifully with Toby The Troll and Mother Troll and a really cute looking Baby Billy Goat with the biggest eyes. The puppetry is executed well, and the reason why I can say that confidently is because I watched the puppets and not the operator.

Ele Munn is the Lighting Designer. Simplicity is the key, and that was the key to this production's successful lighting of the story.

Produced by Nur Khairiyah Ramil and Stuart Allen.

Ably and smoothly stage managed by Daniel Ellis, Moby Renshaw and Anthony Fearnley.

If I'd got a youngster who needed entertaining for an hour, I can't think of anything better than taking them to the theatre to see something like this. It takes massive talent to be able to keep a youngster's attention, whether they be blind, deaf, disabled in any way, or for that matter without any disability, but this fully inclusive show will keep their interest. That, for me, was shown by how well the kids behaved this afternoon, as well as their interaction with the actors even before the show started.

As  I said to start, the show is perfect for three to ninety-three year olds, and thankfully, I come into that age bracket - somewhere. 

"Three Billy Goats Gruff" is at Derby Studio Theatre until Sunday 31 December.