Ben Rowe

This review is from 2017; ‘Tiddler & Other Terrific Tales’ returns for 2022. This adaptation of a medley of Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler kids' stories for ages three-plus is a delight from start to finish. Taking a seat in an auditorium of toddlers and school trips might fill you with horror, but the cast has the entire audience captivated from the moment the lights dim. The performance includes dramatisations of four books: 'Tiddler', 'Monkey Puzzle', 'The Smartest Giant in Town' and 'A Squash and a Squeeze'. The three-strong cast are all great – hugely animated, dancing through well-choreographed set pieces on the simple but cleverly-used set. Props endlessly appear as if from Mary Poppins' handbag and are all utilised in hilarious ways. The show is full of memorable jingles with some lovely three part harmonies, some with live instrumentation: saxophone and harmonica great, unmiked ukulele and clarinet less so (they were barely audible). The actors put on an array of excellent voices for the multiple live characters and hand held puppets and in quieter moments make use of some great mime. It is great to hear a room of children laughing hysterically, all totally mesmerised by the action on stage and all four stories do just that. So head along and join in the fun.

Who doesn't love a great pizza? Nobody, that's who. And the people of E17 are suddenly spoiled for choice when it comes to the doughy delights. A couple of years ago, if you wanted a pizza in Walthamstow your options were limited to bog standard takeaways offering lacklustre deep pan jobs. The Spar in Walthamstow village was the exception, upping the local pizza game with their homemade pizza whipped up by the folks at Eat 17 restaurant next door.   A photo posted by eat 17 (@weareeat17) on Jan 5, 2017 at 10:26am PST   Then the arrival of the Pizza Express chain kickstarted a Walthamstow pizza revolution – Sodo joined the area a year ago, followed by a second branch of the local Nuovo Mondragone on Hoe Street. At the Rose & Crown, Peppe also launched a pop-up wood-fired oven supplying the area with yet more Italian grub.         A photo posted by Sodo Pizza Café (@sodopizzacafe) on Feb 6, 2017 at 3:56am PST   And so it continues. Yard Sale Pizza is the latest addition to Walthamstow opening on Hoe Street on February 20, following success at branches in Clapton and Finsbury Park. And next on the horizon is the formerly uninviting Dog and Duck on Chingford Road, promising 'Sourdough Saloon' pizza when it reopens. So take your pick for your pizza fix next time you head to the end of the Victoria line. Hungry for more? The world's best pizza place has opened in Stoke Newington. If you can't get a table there, check out London's best pizza restaurants.