Theatre Production: You’ve Got Dragons, Taking Flight Theatre
Venue: Arena Theatre, Wulfruna Street, Wolverhampton, WV1 1SE
On Saturday 14th April 2018 we went to the Arena Theatre in Wolverhampton to watch You’ve Got Dragons. The performance is a stage adaptation of Kathryn Caves children’s story book of the same name.
The theatre was bright and bold in design and looked very new and clean. We hadn’t been here before to view anything, so were happy to see what a nice venue it was and although it was a small venue (seating only 150 people) it was perfect for a more intimate show and performance and we will definitely be going back again.
When we entered the foyer we were pleased to find a play area for children (a part of the show) . A miniature version of what was on the stage, for the children to play in and get familiar with what they were about to see. Great for audiences who may have visual impairments or be on the autistic spectrum as it allowed you to really get to know the set. They even had boards out for each character in the show, so you could get familiar with them too, see who they were playing, feel the material of the outfits that they were going to be wearing.
One of the many great things about Taking Flight Theatre is how they make all shows accessible and inclusive for all audience members.
Taking Flight Theatre had a lovely lady in the foyer who explained all about the children’s play area, about the boards and told us about the wonderful work that Taking Flight Theatre do. We thought this was a great touch and the girls really liked her (I’m so sorry I have forgotten your name).
Five minutes before the show started, the doors were opened and we were led to our seats. Children were encouraged to sit on the pretend grass at the front, so me, Matilda and Jemima went and sat down there, where we had a great view and it felt like we were a part of the show.
The production was a beautifully, well portrayed version of Kathryn Caves story book. The story concentrates on a young girl, Benjamina, who has dragons. Dragons being a metaphor in this story for anxiety.
The play depicts the dragons, not as scary but instead as mischievous. With cheeky smiles and childlike movement across the stage. Often making the children (and adults) in the audience laugh.
We follow Benjamina, learning to understand why the dragons are living with her; going to school with her, sitting on the school bus with her and stopping her from going to bed at night. She worries that she has done something bad to make them stay with her, but soon realises that everyone has Dragons, they can come at any time, you just have to find coping strategies and learn to confront them.
It is a fantastic way of showing children (and even adults) through a performance that it is okay to be scared sometimes, it is natural. Everyone at some point will experience anxieties, but with the correct support and the right coping strategies, it can be managed.
Taking Flight Theatre succeeded in creating a performance that captivated not only the children in the audience, but the adults too. BSL and audio description was blended seemlessly into the production.
The cast were fantastic;
Axelina Heagney who played the main character Benjamina, was a perfect choice for the role. Her ability to speak and sign at exactly the same time, so effortlessly and naturally was brilliant. Axelina also greeted everyone when they came into the show and tried teaching people sign language before the show started, which was a nice touch.
Steph Back and William Grint played both the dragons and Ben’s school friends. They both moved around the stage portraying themselves as mischievous dragons incredibly well, communicating only with facial expressions and body gestures.
And finally, Rowan Talbot played the dad, bus driver, postman, teacher and musician. Gosh you sure did a lot! He gave the show humour and played his roles very well. I particularly enjoyed the part where he was riding a bike and had wheels of ribbons (understandably no photos are allowed during the show so I couldn’t capture this, but it was great).
Unfortunately this production has finished in Wolverhampton now, but do have a look on the website for further tour venues and dates, not only for this show but for other shows that Taking Flight Company do.
Hey, if you liked this review or maybe were inspired to try this out because of my post, you can always buy me or the kids a drink or a slice of cake on our next big trip! Just hit the button below, if you want to. 🙂
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