Review: The Tiger Who Came To Tea at Warwick Arts Centre

[dutchman]

The Tiger Who Came To Tea, Warwick Arts Centre, Coventry, until December 31.



ANYONE familiar with the book written by Judith Kerr more than 40 years ago, will feel instantly at home with this production.

It sticks faithfully to the original story and the set and costumes are based closely on Kerr’s illustrations in the book.

The simple tale is of a little girl called Sophie and her mother, who receive an unexpected visit from a friendly tiger who eats all of their food and even drinks daddy’s beer!

The stage version adds song and dance to the retelling... sometimes with the audience up on their feet joining in. It also sees the addition of some slapstick humour and magical moments that leave the young theatregoers in awe.

The cast – Abbey Norman, Jenanne Redman and Alan Atkins – are excellent and their performances energetic and perfectly pitched for the young audience. The Tiger played by Atkins isn’t at all threatening, despite being more than 6ft.

The 55-minute show flies by and there’s no time for anyone to get bored or fidgety. It is aimed at children aged three years plus and my three-year-old daughter thought it was wonderful, as did her seven-year-old sister.

Review by Mark Radford