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With the wintery weather now drawing in and the excited anticipation of Christmas starting to bubble, we arrived at Cast Theatre in Doncaster in high spirits. We had been invited to the first showing of Whiskers First Winter performed by Odd Dolls Puppetry. The show is largely performed without spoken word, using music, lighting and some low-key sound effects to retell the story. This makes the show perfect for all ages, although it is largely aimed at children age 2-6 years, and it is suitable for deaf children: creating inclusive shows is part of the Odd Dolls and Cast Theatre’s values.
In our group we had 2 children age 4 and 5 and as soon as the studio doors opened they raced in! Children need to remove their shoes and sit on small round cushions on the floor at the foot of the stage. The stage itself is a beautifully lit, soft and fluffy, winter forest scene. Adults sit on tiered rows behind the children but don’t worry there is flexibility to move about during the performance if necessary.
Leaving his snuggly cave and mama bear behind, Whiskers, a curious little cub, creeps out into the cold. The delicate puppet with his adorable face is enchanting. We are taken on a journey across an icy lake, sculpting shapes with misty breath and to see Whiskers play with his hilarious animal friends.
The children in the audience were captivated so we all enjoyed 50 minutes of calm escapism. We also loved the opportunity to meet the puppets and puppeteers for a short while afterwards. This happens after every performance. We spent a further hour drawing and colouring in the dedicated space outside the studio where there are a few activities set out so you can extend your visit. What a lovely touch! With tickets only £7.50 off peak or £8.50 peak, it really is a super way to spend the afternoon. Whiskers First Winter and the whole experience gets a huge thumbs up from us.
Whiskers First Winter is running through to 29th December. Book Tickets online here: https://castindoncaster.com/whats-on/whiskers-first-winter/
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