REVIEW: Beatrix Potter and the Tailor of Gloucester at the Everyman Theatre
Celebrating 150 years since the birth of Beatrix Potter, The Everyman Theatre pays tribute to the famous author in a production about her personal favourite book, 'The Tailor of Gloucester', suitably fitting its location here in Gloucestershire.
Portrayed over two time zones, this is the story of how Beatrix came to Painswick in Gloucestershire and was inspired to write the enchanting story about a poor tailor from Gloucester, his cat Simpkin and the mice that live within his humble shop. Commissioned to create a wedding coat for the Mayor, things go slightly wrong when the tailor falls ill and upsets his cat as he inadvertently releases the mice he has been saving! Will the Mayor receive his coat in time? Will anyone help the poor tailor? All is revealed in a story that is based at Harescombe Grange near Painswick, and the City of Gloucester.
This production is suitable for the whole family to enjoy and is sprinkled throughout with comedy elements which are endorsed in particular by The Mayor, Simpkin the cat and Evadne, an acquaintance of Beatrix’s cousin. Madeleine MacMahon is excellent as Beatrix as she enthusiastically tells us how her enchanting story evolved. The children in the audience loved the introduction of the animals in the production and especially the entrance of Simpkin with an exclamation from behind us “ that’s definitely a human cat!’ Simpkin was a bit of a star of the show.
Members of the Everyman's resident Everyvoice choirs, under the direction of Caroline Mander bought a fabulous musical element to the production and children from Janet Marshall Dance Studios performed the dance scenes and busied themselves as the mice and the whole production is depicted throughout with wonderful costumes and scenery.
The Tailor of Gloucester runs until Saturday 6 August. It's suitable for the whole family to enjoy but very young children may find it quite long. The evening performances start earlier than normal at 7pm and the show finishes by about 9pm - so not too late for a family night out with the children.
Photo courtesy of Neil Smith, SOS Film, Photography, Sound.
Explore Gloucestershire
4 August
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