The Gruffalo, Theatre Royal Brighton, New Road, Aug 25 (From The Argus)

The Gruffalo, Theatre Royal Brighton, New Road, Aug 25

5:02pm Thursday 26th August 2010 in

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Last year, The Gruffalo was voted Britain’s favourite bedtime story and Tall Stories’ adaption of the book is almost as popular. The show has been performed more than 4,000 times, and has been to Brighton before, but the Theatre Royal Brighton was still packed out as a new generation comes to love Julia Donaldson’s classic tale.

What’s wonderful about the adaptation is that the company makes no attempt to copy the creatures Axel Scheffler drew so adeptly, but creates brand new personas for them. I think many of the characterisations go above the children’s heads – the cheery, Cockney wide-boy fox with his Madness-like song is a case in point, but the kids all seemed to like the Latin American snake.

The RAF officer owl was a little bit lost compared with the other two, but there was some sterling work (and quick costume changes) from David Garrud, who portrayed all the predators.

Of course, all the kids were waiting for the Gruffalo and the extremely tall Scott Armstrong was the perfect size for the fearsome beast, but not too scary for the youngest members of the audience.

Alex Tregear was an endearing and energetic mouse and had the satisfaction of knowing there was a roomful of prompters if she ever forgot her lines.

It’s never easy to adapt a popular book but this version captured the spirit of the text superbly.