21 Nov 2005
Time has told! This simple tale of a boy lost on an island has proved a total hit. On the very first performance of KENSUKE’S KINGDOM the children sat transfixed by the adventure. One of the teachers, who has seen nine BSC productions, said this was her favourite show! You might think I would be unconditionally delighted by this news, but despite my pleasure, I also wonder if I have any idea of how to produce a show! After all, this production has no songs, no magic, no special effects, no audience participation, no puppets – nothing in fact that one would normally seek to hold the children’s attention. It is relying purely on the art of story-telling. It is a chastening lesson that all you really need is a great story – and I should have known that Michael Morpurgo knew what he was doing when he created this story. Stuart Paterson has done a brilliant job in transferring it to the stage and the creative team behind the show have produced some extraordinary work! It is as pure as children’s theatre could be and I am delighted that it has all come together so well. If you see the show, please post your comments. We’d love to know what you think of it!