The Selfish Giant

Published Thursday 15 December 2005 at 11:25 by Jon Holliday

The infectious enthusiasm of the three performers in this festive season entertainment aimed at three to six year olds, proves irresistible.

The trio interacts, sings, dances and plays instruments, establishing instant rapport with their young audience seated around them in a circle. Such intimacy evokes plenty of active response, particularly in the songs with actions. Phil Clark has adapted the Oscar Wilde fairytale with sensitivity - a difficult task to say the least - and his staging has captured much of the enchantment of the original.

Rhiannon Meades and Ben Harrison represent the children banished from the lush garden of the self-centred trombonist giant, played with commendable bluster by Nick Wayland-Evans.

Eventually the twosome manage to dispel his winter blues, helped by the somewhat long delayed return of Spring to his garden. The highly colourful setting by Tina Reeves is dominated by umbrellas, masses of them, large and small, providing not only an unusual orchard but a ceiling of delight. The music and songs of Lucy Rivers are consistently appealing. For some fortunate youngsters, this will be their first experience of live theatre. It should prove a memorably exciting production indeed.