The Smeds and The Smoos

Being a mum and a childminder Julia Donaldson books are a great favourite in this house so when I heard that the Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler book The Smeds and The Smoos was coming to town, I borrowed two of the little girls that I look after and we headed to The Lowry to see the Tall Story Production.

My two girls, both aged four, love the story. If you haven’t read it it’s a Donaldson style Romeo and Juliet, set by a loobular lake on a far off planet under a sqoon. One of my girls was a little nervous that the aliens might look scary on the stage but the characters were played by four talented humans, Dan Armstrong, Althea Burey, Tim Hibberd and Angela Laverick who, dressed up, acted as puppeteers, sang, danced and narrated. As expected it was all super child friendly and the audience of varying ages all seemed to enjoy it all.

The simple but effective set and costumes matched the book and the story flowed with the recognisable dialogue that the children were able to join in with, this was mixed in with some lovely songs and lots of audience participation which kept all of the children involved and interested. At 55 minutes long it was the perfect time too for little ones.

I’m going to hand over the rest of the review to the girls because they’re the important ones today.

I loved Bill best, because he had no hair and white spots and slept in a hole and jumped.

I loved the tickly aliens and the water squirting us, it was good.

It was good I wanted to stay there.

We should tell people where it is so they can go too.

I’m going to be Grandpa Smed, never trust a Smoo.

Never trust a Smed.

Can we go again?

So I think it’s safe to say that they enjoyed it.

It’s the perfect show for families and I highly recommend it.