Review: Red Riding Hood at Nottingham Lakeside Arts

On a chilly Saturday in December we took a trip out to Nottingham Lakeside Arts for a festive afternoon outing to see their Christmas play Red Riding Hood, an imaginative retelling of the classic tale from Olivier award-winning writer Mike Kenny.

Just outside the theatre was an interactive digital installation to keep the little ones occupied (and the adults entertained if we’re honest); an animated wintery scene was projected onto the walls next to a small dressing up area and green screen, allowing the children to try on Red Reding Hood’s cloak or Grandma’s shawl and see themselves transported into the festive scene in front of them. This unexpected attraction set the tone for an afternoon to remember.

Lakeside Arts have developed a glowing reputation for their heart-warming, festive family theatre, and this year’s offering didn’t disappoint. We settled in to our seats and looked down over the simple yet charming and quirky wooden set, the small theatre with staged seating offering the advantage of a great view for everyone, even the littlest of audience members.

The show tells the tale of Brigit and her little brother Stephen. Unable to sleep one evening at Grandma’s house, they act out the traditional Little Red Riding Hood story, repurposing toys and other items from around the room as props in their imaginative play, something no doubt familiar to the onlooking children and somewhat nostalgic for the adult audience.

There are plenty of jokes to keep everyone entertained, from taunts about Grandma’s whiskery goodnight kisses to sibling squabbling and scoffing donuts; judging by the hearty chuckles from the children in the audience, they were all well received.

The only tiny criticism of the music and songs throughout the performance, courtesy of Julian Butler - the musical mastermind behind Charlie and Lola - is that they’re perhaps a little too catchy. Some days later and I still can’t get one of the numbers out of my head, but they were very much enjoyed by our young reviewer Mia, who was particularly taken with the talents of female lead Annie Kirkman.   

The delightful production runs for an hour without an intermission, perfect for younger children who might struggle to sit through a longer show. Unfortunately, the weather was a little dismal on our visit, otherwise we’d have enjoyed a wander round the pretty Highfields park or a go on the new adventure playground, but the delicious hot chocolate in the café was more than enough to compensate and a jolly good time was had by all.  

Red Riding Hood runs until Sun 30 December. For more information, please click here.

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This blog was written by Claire Jones, Marketing Assistant at Visit Nottinghamshire.