REVIEW | I Believe In Unicorns, Apollo Theatre

Reviews

1 Aug

`Danyah Miller in I Believe In Unicorns. Credit: Roy Baron`

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Reviewer - Penny

*Disclaimer: Gifted tickets in return for an honest review

Content Warning: Themes of war time, war recovery, destruction, fire, mild threat to books

Michael Morpurgo is probably best known for the wonderful War Horse, a novel that has been successfully adapted for radio, stage and screen. But as well as this, the former Children’s Laureate has a huge catalogue of novels to his name and has sold more than 35 million books worldwide.

Like War Horse Morpurgo’s 2005 story, I Believe in Unicorns, is set against the backdrop and turmoil of war in Europe. Its central character is Tomas, an eight year old boy who hates books and hates school – can the Unicorn Lady in his local library change his mind?

I Believe In Unicorns has been adapted for the stage by Danyah Miller and Dani Parr. Miller also performs the piece whilst Parr directs.

Before the performance, Miller comes into the audience and chats to children and their parents about what they’re reading and their favourite books. Once she takes to the stage she is able to instantly grab attention by referring to some of the books the children have just told her about. She strikes a perfect balance between storytelling and audience interaction, keeping everybody engaged and stimulated by getting them involved in the story rather than expecting small children to keep quiet and just watch and listen. It’s incredibly effective, the young audience is mesmerised.

The set, designed by Kate Bunce, is deceptively simple. Stacks of books and a couple of step-ladders dress the stage, seemingly placed at random. But as the action unfolds, these books open up to reveal all sorts of secrets – drawing excited gasps from the children who are delighted by the seemingly magical revelations. Excellent use of lighting (Will Evans), sound (Martin Thompson) and projection (Arnim Friess) takes us away from the “library” and into a wider world of hills, mountains and oceans, even taking us to the moon.

Miller is a wonderful storyteller. She easily draws us into the story of Tomas and the Unicorn Lady with a warm and intimate delivery and a marvellous physicality that sees her running up ladders and jumping over stacks of books. The audience interaction is such that everybody feels included (even the naughty adults) and Miller uses various devices to completely win over the children. She isn’t just standing on stage telling stories, she’s also listening to her audience and making them feel a part of the play.

As well as telling Tomas’ story and talking about the importance of storytelling, the play also includes much more serious subject matter, looking at the devastation of war and touching on censorship with the burning of books. It’s a very sudden change in tone but the quality of the writing and delivery means that it is conveyed to this young audience in a very sensitive way but without shying away from the truth.

Early in the play, Miller tells us that books open up whole new worlds. This is very true of I Believe in Unicorns – it is a love letter to books and stories, celebrating the power of the storyteller’s imagination and the importance of keeping stories alive. Advertised as suitable for children aged 6+ it is a wonderful hour of theatre for any child – and adult – who loves a good story.

I Believe in Unicorns runs at the Apollo Theatre (Shaftesbury Lane) until Saturday 12th August. For the performance schedule and to book tickets, visit the theatre’s website here.