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Prepare the foot fuel device, the Star Seekers are GO! Cue the stamping of dozens of little feet, manically intent on helping to launch a rocket. So many family shows claim to be interactive but encourage little more than a bit of clapping. But the Wardrobe Ensemble has placed the children at the very heart of this brilliantly involving show, which trusts in the kids to help the story soar.
Alph, Betty and Gammo need our help. Their Space Station energy fuel drive thing (the details aren’t important, ok?) has malfunctioned and they need three glowing orbs to save the day! They’ll just have to whizz into space, find a new planet, avoid a giant supernova, and – yep – calm down a seriously weepy black hole.
The Star Seekers jets into London following a successful Edinburgh run last year and the three-astronaut-strong cast have hit their stride. The mission is led by Ben Vardy’s Alph, who encourages the children to dream up barmy plot twists, join in with the surreal songs and pelt the stage with paper asteroids. Jack Drewry and Jesse Meadows provide sparky support and all three actors, as well as director Helen Middleton, treat the children as absolute equals.
The young ’uns (it’s for ages three-upwards) initially seem unsure of themselves but the manic energy of the cast eventually ripples through the audience. The children shout out their suggestions and conjure up chilli-flavoured aliens and planets made of coins, broccoli and shoelaces. They let their imaginations roam free – right to the stinky, cheesy outer planets and back.