****

I always enjoy going to Spotlites Theatre Productions shows, they are all specifically written in such a way that almost all the children in the audience get to participate.

Rachel Thomson-King is not only the artistic director but writes specifically for the company. James Cowden is the stage manager and performer, Kieron Riddle is the ASM and performer. In Beauty James and Kieron are joined as performers by Kelly Johnson and Lydia Robinson.

In this production we see the tale of Aurora the sleeping princess is tricked in to pricking her finger and sleeping for 100 years by a rogue Fighter Fairy Guardian. The sleeping planet is invaded by two stowaway space scavengers dragged aground by the Tardis on which they stowed away. The Doctor attracted to the planet by a rift in the space-time continuum valiantly attempts to heal the damage. Time Keeper arrives intent to cause more havoc and destroy the Doctor as is the Exterminator. Counting the above characters you see the four performers have several parts.

The youngsters get invited on stage to learn to fly, scavenge for parts to help the princess escape, and several other things. At one point every child is given paper and pencils to design gismos for the Doctor, they also get the loan of a sonic screwdriver to help free Aurora and defeat the Exterminator.

As my adult opinion may be somewhat jaded I asked five children around me to award the star. We had, 2 x 5 stars, 2 x 4 stars one 3 stars and a dad who asked me to ask Dr Who for an hour and a half back.

****

Sleeping Beauty And The Time Lords

Company: -   Spotlites Theatre Productions

Venue: - Spotlites @ The Merchants Hall

Dates: -  5th  to  31st  August  2009

Times: -  13-30  to  15-15

Fringe Programme Page: -   p16