All the hallmarks of an Oily Cart production for children are present in this new interactive, multi-sensory adventure for three- to six-year-olds, with a clever combination of storytelling, music and design creating a fun theatrical experience.
Little girl Alice is searching for her mischievous dog who literally runs rings around her, using a motorbike, boat and hot air balloon to always keep one step ahead. On her journey she seeks the help of a variety of characters - milkman, sea captain, alien mice on the moon - as well as the youngsters and grown-ups in the audience.
Writer/director Tim Webb and designer Claire de Loon have cleverly used a ‘ring’ motif throughout the piece, ranging from the shape and sound of the bell on Alice’s bicycle to the spinning weather vane above, symbolising the movement of the moon, earth and sun.
Seated around a special revolving set we see the story played out on different scales with characters alternately portrayed by hand-crafted puppets and enthusiastic members of the cast. Not only have the puppets and the vehicles they ride been brilliantly made out of recycled materials, but so have several of the instruments made by Jamie Linwood, which are played on a percussion tricycle. As always, Max Reinhardt’s music gives a vital poetry and atmosphere to the proceedings.
Occasionally the pace of the narrative slows down a little too much, but from start to finish Ring a Ding Ding remains a visual treat which involves its eager audience in every step of the storytelling process.
Production information can change over the run of the show.
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