It was pleasing to see that the membership of the Phoenix Youth Theatre has increased over the last 12 months to the point that they were able to provide two teams to stage this Lewis Carroll classic, adapted by director Kate Ross. Those in the group age from 4 to 14 years and therefore this adaptation consisting of two approx. 30-minute acts was most suitable.

Providing a strong thread throughout the story is of course Alice played in the team I watched, by Sophia Shakespeare, who with her sister Mathilda (Seren Williams – who later played the Duchess) both spoke up well. When Alice falls asleep we meet four enchanting butterflies whilst she slumbers. In her dreams Alice meets a wide selection of characters, including the Cheshire Cat played by Sophia Lawrence who magically reduces Alice in size so that she can enter the rabbit hole. Both Sophia and Emelia Mayo, who played Caterpillar, were full of character. Alice meets the White Rabbit (Maggie Britton), Dodo (Connie Parry) and Lory (Mirabelle Gouello), the sleepy Dormouse (Lily Rylatt) and the March Hare (Eleri Bateman) who all gave good support.

Paisley Comri-Bowcott, made a great impression as the somewhat forceful Mad Hatter, full of personality and this was matched by Isla Harrison as the bossy Queen of Hearts. All is observed well by Tweedledum and Tweedledee (Sofia Barter and Keira Beard) and Knave played by Amelie Jones. As Act 1 concludes, the Queen announces that someone has stolen her tarts and of course the culprit will lose their head – meanwhile Alice can’t wait to get home. (Co-incidentally tarts were available for the audience during the interval which was very welcome!)

In Act 2, the Queen tries to find out who has stolen the tarts and whilst the Queen’s soldiers paint the roses red, interviews are conducted and inspections are made to identify any jam that may have been splattered on the culprit! This provided some amusing moments in addition to the mystery of a black box (a 3G mobile phone) and the butterflies eventually escort Alice home.

I recognised the clever reuse of a previous set, which had been beautifully repainted for Alice’s home and the rabbit hole. This was an enchanting production, very well dressed, which can only have added to the confidence of the youngsters as they make their way forward in the magical world of theatre.

Bruce Wyatt (NODA)

Some may have heard of ‘Fantastic Mr Fox’ as an American animation film or Disney movie, but it is more likely known as an adaptation of a Roald Dahl’s classic children‘s story. Whilst the story actually features a lot of scheming and violence, the Phoenix Youth Theatre’s production by director Ellen Dorsett is quite charmingly innocent given the group’s youngsters are all between 7 and 14 years of age.
With a cast of 23, many of which had lines to say, it is impossible to comment on them all here, never the less they all contributed in many ways. The fixed set depicting a countryside scene on two levels was excellent in construction and well painted and during the opening whilst the youngsters played games the three main farmers in the story were introduced: ‘Boggis’ (Lottie Lockwood), ‘Bunce’ (Millie Welch) and ‘Bean’ (Iris Williams). All three spoke up well with good characterisation.

We are soon introduced to Mr and Mrs Fox and their four young cubs. ‘Mrs Fox’ was played by Sophia Shakespeare with a warm motherly feel whilst ‘Mr Fox’ played by Amelie Kempshall was played with great confidence and spoke up exceedingly well – one to watch for the future. All four ‘small foxes’ (Paisley Comri-Bowcott, Hywel Jones, Arwen Jones and Archie Corbin) were all good.

The three farmers were determined to eradicate the fox family and after failing to dig them out of their home with shovels, resorted to mechanical means and the ride-on tractor created for the scene was very impressive. The fox family escape by digging their way out further and seek revenge by looting the farmers of their chickens, cider and other produce which they offer to the other animals. I was impressed by Gethin Jones as ‘Rat’ for his clarity and also ‘Mrs Bean’ ( Rose Davis) and Keira Beard (‘Mabel’) who gave great support.

The costumes and make-up were superb and although there were some moments when first night continuity lapsed – well hey most were no older than 11 years of age – this was an overall delightful production which the audience and I enjoyed.

Bruce Wyatt (NODA)