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The beautiful setting of Chester’s Grosvenor Park has been turned – temporarily at least – into a bit of a theatrical dump for The Chester Open Park Theatre production of Charles King’s classic children’s story, Stig of the Dump and, what’s more, the result is far from rubbish.
Packed with energy and delivered to the expected superb standard, there is nothing about this that won’t delight children of all ages, with the actors giving their all to get everybody involved from the moment we enter the auditorium.
Barney is staying with his grandparents on the chalk Downs of southern England when he falls over the edge of an old chalk pit and tumbles through the roof of a hidden den. When he looks round he sees Stig, a caveman, with shaggy black hair and bright black eyes.
Stig becomes Barney’s secret friend, not because Barney doesn’t tell anyone, but because no one believes that Stig is real. It may be nearly 50 years since Stig and Barney’s adventures became the much loved tale of friendship that it is today, but its timelessness remains as charming and entertaining as ever, particularly here.
A clever use of props and an imaginative set design all get the full treatment from director Jessica Swale who many will recall did such a fine job with The Secret Garden so that the full In The Round experience is beautifully utilised here.
Yet of course without a good cast there is no play, so rest assured that Stig of the Dump has come armed to the teeth with talent. Anton Cross as Barney has just the right amount of naiveté and charm, whereas Danielle Henry and Johnson Willis as the dastardly Penny and Lenny are simply joyous.
Watch out too for a short but nonetheless memorable stint from Kate Marlais as Sergeant Fishwick, but the highlight – or scene stealer – award has to go to Charlotte Miranda-Smith who, as Barney’s sceptical sister Lou, delivers a showstopper of a speech that will have your hands ringing from the spontaneous applause it creates.
Fast, furious, funny and above all else fun, Stig of the Dump is a triumph of ingenuity that will have kids of four and above enthralled an – hopefully – wanting to rush of and read the book for themselves.
Stig of the Dump
Grosvenor Park, Chester
Various Dates Until August 21
Producer: Storyhouse
Director: Derek Bond
Adapter: Jessica Swale from the novel by Charles King
Cast Includes: Anton Cross, John Seaward, Charlotte Miranda-Smith, Fred Lancaster, Hatty Preston, Ben Tolley, Danielle Henry, Johnson Willis, Katherine Toy, Ian Harris, Kate Marlais
Running Time: 2 hours
PR Rating: ***** Fun, fun FUN!!!
For Tickets and Information: http://www.grosvenorparkopenairtheatre.co.uk/portfolio/stig-of-the-dump