The Happy Prince

The Happy Prince is an adaptation of the story by Oscar Wilde, and is performed by the fledgling company, Toy Soldier Children's Theatre as their first production.

Very simply staged, in the corner of a small community hall, and lit by a quartet of floor-lights, this is grassroots theatre and would be a great introduction to theatre for children afraid of the dark, overwhelmed by big production or with a short attention span, although at the performance I attended, children were a bit thin on the ground. This is a wonderful opportunity to be close to the action and there is plenty of audience participation to keep everybody focused.

The two cast members are excellent. Maja Liwsyc makes a beautiful Happy Prince, while Gemma Sharp is enchanting and engaging as The Swallow.

Costuming by Kelsey Cross and Jess Ford was beautifully executed (Swallow has a slight Steam-Punk look, with the Prince elegant — both are beautiful) and the simple set pieces were nicely finished and effectively used.

Compositions by Richard Grantham and Wayne Jennings, written especially for this production, enhanced the production nicely.

A short and wonderfully accessible piece of children's theatre that should have wide appeal. This lovely little show, is a gentle treasure and deserves a bigger audience.

Kimberley Shaw

Photographer: Gerran Turner