The Princess and the Pea

Presented by Unity Theatre Liverpool in association with Action Transport Theatre
Directed by Nina Hajiyianni
Written by Kevin Dyer
Till 9th January 2016

Reviewed by Colin Serjent
Photograph by Brian Roberts

This is not a traditional Christmas production, never mind a pantomime, especially when it features a character, a refugee, who has swam ashore on the Island of Meane after her boat capsized at sea.

As the programme stated 'In newly adapting this traditional fairy tale we want to tell an important story and in doing so, connect audiences with something meaningful. In respect of this the production relates to the global refugee crisis.'

Many thumbs up from me for the Unity Theatre having the enterprise of featuring this political element.

The refugee, played by Josie Cerise, encounters the oppressive Queen Meane (Keddy Sutton), who, along with many of her subjects, are as mean as can be! They refuse to feed her with any food or support her with any other form of help.

Within the intimate setting of the ground floor performance space, and watched by a multitude of primary school kids, the four person cast excel in their roles, which also includes a Prince (Duncan Cameron) and The Pea, Graham Hicks, dressed in a circular green pea suit.

Also worth a special mention is the impressive stage design created by two students from the Liverpool Institute of Performing Arts (LIPA), Victoria Saville and Molly Lacey Davies, and the music of Patrick Dineen, which includes a number of rousing song routines.

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