Philip Pullman's 'The Firework-Maker's Daughter' Transcends Page to Delight Young Audiences in Thrilling Stage Adaptation
Lee Lyford's new stage production of Philip Pullman's fairytale is an unmissable spectacle for children aged 6-12. With a stellar cast, vibrant set design, and ingenious puppetry, this show is an epic adventure that will leave young viewers on the edge of their seats.
The story follows Lila, whose dream is to become a firework-maker like her dad, but he's not keen on it. When his secret is revealed, Lila embarks on a thrilling journey, scaling volcanoes and facing pirates along the way, with the help of her friend Chulak and Hamlet, the king's white elephant.
Lyford and his team have pulled out all the stops to bring this imaginative tale to life. Anisha Fields' set is cleverly adapted to transform from Lila's workshop to a river, jungle, and even the side of a volcano, with minimal props but maximum visual impact. The fireworks display is nothing short of breathtaking, with cocktail umbrellas, tiny lights dancing on fingers, and a finale that will leave you gasping.
The puppetry is another standout feature, with Hulking Hamlet controlled by two cast members within, and intricate shadow puppets parading across a lampshade. Jonathan Chan's lighting and Elena Peña's sound design bring real peril to the story, conjuring up the fire fiend in a spine-tingling sequence that left our young critic Artie visibly shaken.
The cast of five takes on multiple roles with aplomb, with standout performances from Rose-Marie Christian as Lila, Tika Mu'tamir as the plucky heroine, and Jonathan Chan as cheeky Chulak. Jude Christian adds comedic flair to Pullman's vivid language in a hilarious pirate scene that had Artie giggling uncontrollably.
If this production has one area for improvement, it's the clearer setup for Lila's quest and a bit more exploration of her lessons in love and risk-taking. However, who cares about those details when you're having this much fun? Artie left the theatre creating fireworks with his fingers, practicing "mouth noises" from the actors, and planning an explosive future career – proof that 'The Firework-Maker's Daughter' is a triumph for young audiences.
In short, don't miss this spectacular stage adaptation of Philip Pullman's beloved fairytale. With its vibrant visuals, ingenious puppetry, and energetic cast, it's an epic adventure that will captivate children aged 6-12 and leave them begging for more.
Lee Lyford's new stage production of Philip Pullman's fairytale is an unmissable spectacle for children aged 6-12. With a stellar cast, vibrant set design, and ingenious puppetry, this show is an epic adventure that will leave young viewers on the edge of their seats.
The story follows Lila, whose dream is to become a firework-maker like her dad, but he's not keen on it. When his secret is revealed, Lila embarks on a thrilling journey, scaling volcanoes and facing pirates along the way, with the help of her friend Chulak and Hamlet, the king's white elephant.
Lyford and his team have pulled out all the stops to bring this imaginative tale to life. Anisha Fields' set is cleverly adapted to transform from Lila's workshop to a river, jungle, and even the side of a volcano, with minimal props but maximum visual impact. The fireworks display is nothing short of breathtaking, with cocktail umbrellas, tiny lights dancing on fingers, and a finale that will leave you gasping.
The puppetry is another standout feature, with Hulking Hamlet controlled by two cast members within, and intricate shadow puppets parading across a lampshade. Jonathan Chan's lighting and Elena Peña's sound design bring real peril to the story, conjuring up the fire fiend in a spine-tingling sequence that left our young critic Artie visibly shaken.
The cast of five takes on multiple roles with aplomb, with standout performances from Rose-Marie Christian as Lila, Tika Mu'tamir as the plucky heroine, and Jonathan Chan as cheeky Chulak. Jude Christian adds comedic flair to Pullman's vivid language in a hilarious pirate scene that had Artie giggling uncontrollably.
If this production has one area for improvement, it's the clearer setup for Lila's quest and a bit more exploration of her lessons in love and risk-taking. However, who cares about those details when you're having this much fun? Artie left the theatre creating fireworks with his fingers, practicing "mouth noises" from the actors, and planning an explosive future career – proof that 'The Firework-Maker's Daughter' is a triumph for young audiences.
In short, don't miss this spectacular stage adaptation of Philip Pullman's beloved fairytale. With its vibrant visuals, ingenious puppetry, and energetic cast, it's an epic adventure that will captivate children aged 6-12 and leave them begging for more.
! I gotta say, I'm loving how they've brought this story to life with all the cool special effects and puppetry – it's like a real-life firework explosion on stage 
. The cast is super talented too, especially that one kid who played Chulak 
. What really got me though was when they started talking about taking risks and trying new things... it felt so relevant for kids our age (and let's be honest, some of us not-so-kids too 
). Anyway, if your little ones are into fantasy adventures, you gotta check this out – trust me, you won't regret it 
with my fave kiddos! The set design was SO COOL 
, especially that volcano prop, and the fireworks display? WOW 
! And can we talk about the puppetry?! Hulking Hamlet is literally the most ADORABLE thing I've ever seen 
. The cast was incredible too, esp Rose-Marie Christian as Lila - she's so talented! 
Can't wait to take my little ones again 
and the cast is amazing, esp rose-marie christian as lilas she's soooo good at playing lilas 
but the only thing i'm not loving is how u gotta try 2 remember whos who cuz there r like so many characters 
still tho its def worth it 10/10 would go see it again ASAP 
! The special effects were insane, especially the fireworks display - I'm not even kidding when I say I felt like I was right there in the story 
, with a stellar cast, vibrant set design, and ingenious puppetry that had me on the edge of my seat 
And the puppetry? Mind-blowing! I loved how they used Hulking Hamlet to create this massive, lifelike elephant that seemed to come alive on stage 
.
rose-marie christian as lila is literally perfection, i'm low-key jealous of her talent lol. overall, it's an unmissable spectacle for kids aged 6-12, trust me u won't regret it!!! 
. I need to see this in person ASAP, it's already on my bucket list 
Maybe if it had more build-up, I'd be fully invested in her journey. 
- the puppetry in this stage adaptation is insane! 
Artie would've been totally blown away by that fireworks display 
And that fireworks display? Whoa! My kids would freak out, they'd be mesmerized by it just like Artie in the review...