REVIEW: Stick Man Live at the Theatre Royal Brighton

When you’re used to seeing plays for adults, with their subtle plot lines and twists and turns that keep you guessing, the in-your-face nature of children’s theatre can come as a bit of a shock.

Thankfully, Stick Man Live, performed over two days at the Theatre Royal Brighton this week, was kids’ theatre at its best.

Yes, the acting is over-the-top and the plot’s not exactly difficult to follow, but that’s the point - it’s for kids!

And, unlike some other children’s shows that I’ve seen, Stick Man Live sticks more to the story in the book, so children can recognise what’s going on.

My two-year-old daughter was enthralled throughout, and the only issue came when they threw beachballs into the audience and she didn’t get to catch one (cue a very quick toddler meltdown!).

Stick Man is the incredibly popular book by Julia Donaldson, that follows a stick man in his desperate bid to get home to his ‘family tree’.

The cast of three in this show admirably take on the roles from the book, including dog, swan, little girl, sandcastle-building dad and even Father Christmas.

Despite very few changes to the set and limited music mostly provided by a cast member on stage, Stick Man’s world is very much brought to life.

We enjoyed it just as much as the book (which we read A LOT!).

And at just under an hour long, it was pitched just right.

If and when it comes back to town, it’s a sure-fire win for anyone with young children.

To book other shows at the Theatre Royal Brighton, see http://www.atgtickets.com/venues/theatre-royal-brighton/