Goldilocks

Goldilocks and the three bears have been transported (via many cultures) into a world with a Deep South, Mississippi-style soundtrack. Percussive melodies are beaten out as we are introduced to Goldilocks by her puppeteers.

All around, children's eyes light up and squeals of excitement ring as she is waltzed onto the stage, stopping to tickle the audience along the way. Fantastically adept Little Angel puppeteers seamlessly shift the scenes and move the story on at a fair clip, ensuring small attention spans are held in a tight grasp.

The bears (cleverly constructed from wooden slats, drawers and velvet) decide to leave the house and go for a stroll as they allow their - no, not porridge, but pizza, to cool. Goldilocks cannot resist the aroma of the pizza (who can?!) and enters the house to devour and generally cause upset. Leaving trails of her golden hair all over the brilliantly conceived house she weaves her way up to bed.

What shines about this production is its innocence; there's nothing remotely sinister, the puppeteers are warm and friendly, with lit up beaming faces, and the audience are made to feel included.

The Little Angel theatre is a jewel of children's theatre in north London and we came away having enjoyed ourselves immensely. However, we were slightly confused as to why this classic bedtime story needed to be so heavily modified.