The Night Zoo

The Night Zoo makes a welcome return to Spare Parts Puppet Theatre for the summer holidays. Written and directed by Michael Barlow this beautiful tale about the imaginings of a lonely little girl, make lovely change from the frantic pace of most school holiday offerings.

Featuring very likeable performances from Sarah Nelson and Ben Mortley, we meet two very special characters, a lost dog and a little girl who feels forgotten and overlooked.

In a dreamlike experience, we venture magically to the night zoo, where we meet a variety of fascinating puppet creatures, including energetic penguins, gentle giraffes and an elephant with an interesting present. There is lots of gentle humour, it is visually lovely and the action moves smoothly. The music, composed by Lee Buddle, is comforting and clever.

A wonderful opportunity to awaken the imaginations of children with this beautifully told story, with a reassuring ending.

Kimberley Shaw

Photography: Michael Barlow