What do you get if you cross a witch and her cat with a west end production? Last week, we were invited to see the classic children’s tale, Room On the Broom, at the Lyric Theatre in London and it was enchanting.
Both the kids, especially Miss A, are a fan of Julia Donaldson’s books and we were all excited to see it brought to life on stage. To be honest, I was a bit unsure how they were going to make the story last an entire hour but they weaved it together with music and dialogue so you almost forgot it was a book to start with.
The Lyric theatre itself is a great experience with a massive glitter ball chandelier and gold gilted ceilings. We had seats in the stalls so were close to the action and they provided booster seats so all the children could see clearly.
The stage production was by Tall Stories, who have adapted the Gruffalo and others too and did it with a mix of acting and puppets. There are only four actors, two of which play the witch and cat while the others take on two characters each.
The set was simple but engaging and there was a lot of movement and interaction. J was a bit worried about the scary dragon which they managed to make it imposing, without terrifying the children and added some humour into his character too.
It is cleverly done and one of the best stage shows we have seen. It was an hour long without an interval but they were captivated for the entire time. Tickets start at £17.50 each but I liked that not only are you getting the stage show but the whole west end theatre experience to inspire them.
Afterwards, we were lucky enough to be invited to a tea party and to meet the characters, which they both enjoyed. Miss A loved showing off her witch outfit she had worn for the occasion. We came away with the soundtrack which is surprisingly catchy and I have been bopping round the kitchen singing ‘Is there roo-oom on the broo-oom?’ ever since!
Disclosure: We were provided with press tickets to write an honest review of the production.
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