Stick Man – Live on Stage

The first day of the first ever Great Yorkshire Fringe was kicked off with a bang - or rather a “Zip! Boing! Whee!” - by Scamp Theatre, setting a high standard for the rest to follow with their vibrant children’s tale Stick Man - Live On Stage. Separated from his Stick Lady Love and their three Stick Children after an ill-fated jog one spring morning, Stick Man spins from one adventure to the next as he meets a delightful range of characters, each more weird and wonderful than the last.

Scamp Theatre have assembled a bright and beautiful show, using bare essentials and buckets of imagination to take us on Stick Man’s long journey back to his family tree.

There is a real joy in the use of everyday items to create a variety of costumes and landscapes for Stick Man’s epic journey; mittens become antlers, umbrellas create crashing waves and shoals of tinfoil fish bring the depths of the seabed onto the stage. Whilst at first glance there appears to be little to it, save the branches behind a raised wooden platform, props spring out of concealed spots and every inch of the space is used - including amongst the audience - to bring the story to life. The small ensemble is exemplary in their timing, using carefully choreographed and synchronised movements to create sequences that move seamlessly from one location to the next. Oliver Grant is immediately lovable as Stick Man, whilst Nancy Trotter Landry zips between multiple characters with admirable speed and enjoyable pizazz. Alex Tosh excels as The Musician, providing a booming narration over the megaphone as well as spectacular live musical accompaniments to Benji Bower’s score; the sweeping range of percussive instruments creates a variety of onomatopoeic sound effects that suit this fantastically cartoonish world down to the ground. Stick Man Live! fuses puppets and performers in a way that is both easy to follow and opens up opportunities for expressive physicality - watching Grant react to Trotter Landry’s examination of the Stick Man puppet with her teeth was one such particularly entertaining and imaginative moment.

Scamp Theatre have assembled a bright and beautiful show, using bare essentials and buckets of imagination to take us on Stick Man’s long journey back to his family tree. With several catchy songs and plenty of moments to join in, Stick Man Live! is a real crowd pleaser that has set the Great Yorkshire Fringe off to a fantastic start.