"Beasts & Beauties" by Lace Market Youth Theatre

Nottingham Lace Market Theatre

Seven stories from Europe adapted by Carol Ann Duffy. The stories are the basis of some of the best known fairy tales but are steeped in much darker roots.

From a down trodden girl despised by her step sisters who goes on to marry a Prince by way of a sneaky hedgehog who cheats a hare to win a race through a young girl who's on her way to visit her Grandma in the woods but falls foul of a wolf to a goat that dispenses gold through its' backside.

This collection is great fun and the young people who perform these tales ooze confidence and take on the voices, accents and physicality of their roles wonderfully.

Directed by Sarah Ogando, she keeps the action flowing through the song "Lavender Blue", changing some of the words to match the playlets' stories, which makes each one flow seamlessly from one to the next.

Max Bromley is the lighting designer for this show and Jack Harris is responsible for the sound.

As you’d expect the costumes are fabulous. Marie Morehen, Doreen Hunt and Jean Newton provide these. I especially love the costume for The Beast (Megan Murphy) and Mr and Mrs Hedgehog (Freddie Stevenson and brother Archie Stevenson). The former spectacular and flashy, the latter very simple but so effective.

21 young actors from the Youth section of the Lace Market Theatre provide an enchanting show which blends thrills, comedy, romance and loyalty. What makes it more challenging for these actors is that they are nearly all on stage at the same time all the way through, keeping character throughout, swelling the ensemble and playing various characters all the way through.

Great enthusiasm, plenty of energy and I can see several leading actors for the future in this group, and they're in the right place to grow their talents at the Lace Market Theatre.

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