Danny the Champion of the World

Published Wednesday 11 October 2006 at 14:50 by Victor Hallett

Phil Clark’s production must be the most enjoyable children’s play currently on tour. Not only that but adults will find that it’s one of the most enjoyable productions for any age currently on tour.

The plot may not be complex - young Danny helps his dad’s poaching endeavours, saves the pheasants from nasty Mr Hazell’s shooting party, and makes his caravan home safe from the council - but it is gloriously satisfying and wonderfully staged.

Sean Crowley’s design is magnificent, a spectacularly rotating caravan, cars of all sizes coming and going at will, atmospheric woods and fabulous feathered creations. Some of these are chickens, given glorious voice and life by the cast doubling as an onstage band, and some are pheasants, who perform brilliantly in the second half.

There were times before the interval when there seemed too much exposition for some of its young audience but the public meeting that opens the second half had everyone joining in and by the time we were needed as beaters we were all on our feet, joining in with a will.

Iain Ridley is a convincing and winning Danny. He has a real son/father rapport with Dafydd Emyr’s godlike Dad. Nick Wayland-Evans is wonderfully hateful as Mr Hazell. As for Nia Davies, I don’t know whether to compliment her on her robust Dr Spencer or on her chicken and baby noises.

I had a wonderful time but so, much more importantly, did the very young audience exposed to the absolute magic of live theatre.