Room on the Broom, Lyric Theatre Review

Written by Jenna for Theatre and Tonic

Disclaimer: Gifted tickets in exchange for an honest review

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A slick, fast-paced and fun adaptation of Julia Donaldson’s much-loved tale.

A simple yet effective moonlit set upon the stage of the beautiful Lyric Theatre met lots of excited little faces as the audience made their way into the auditorium for the show. Opening with the cast members as campers spotting a witch flying on a broom overhead, they set the scene for what promises to be a magical adventure.

We all know the words (especially if, like me, you have read this book to your children countless times!) “The witch had a cat, and a very tall hat, and long ginger hair which she wore in a plait. How the cat purred and how the witch grinned as they sat on their broomstick and flew through the wind”. Using song, dance, puppetry and special effects, the 4 hard-working cast members use plenty of energy and characterisation to bring the story of a kind witch and her growing number of animal companions to life.

The witch and the cat, played by Amy Harris and Nadia Shash, explores the dynamics of how a friendship can change when new people come along. It gives children a sweet message that there is always room for new friends, whilst still valuing old ones. My daughter and I particularly enjoyed the arrival of the dog, portrayed brilliantly in puppet form by Dan Armstrong. The characters of the bird and the frog, again using clever puppetry, are very much changed from the book but fun and friendly nonetheless. The Dragon, played by Joe Lindley, reimagined as a Welsh chip-lover, is a hilarious if rather unthreatening villain. The characters do stray somewhat from the source material but allow the actors to continue with the upbeat pace and energy of the show, without frightening any sensitive little ones.

From the get-go, this production aims to grab the attention of the young audience and keep it. This results in a panto-meets-childrens-tv mix of humour, slapstick and silliness which certainly delighted the children, but also felt quite chaotic at times. Towards the end of the 60-minute production, there was a noticeable amount of noise from perhaps overstimulated children. Anyone who is a fan of the short film of the book with its calming and twinkly aesthetic may find this show a little too hectic. While the lighting design was effective, I felt the sound effects and songs could have added a more magical feel to the production and perhaps offered some more relaxed moments. I also felt underwhelmed by the climax of the show, when ”a truly magnificent broom” rises from the witch’s cauldron. A more effective use of sound, lighting and stage effects could have made this a real ‘wow’ moment.

Overall there is plenty to enjoy about Room on the Broom and it is an excellent way to introduce young children to the theatre. If you are looking for an energetic hour of colourful characters, singalong songs and playful puppetry then I recommend Room on the Broom for a morning of family fun at the theatre.

At Lyric Theatre until 5 January 2025

★★★