Little Angel Theatre Studios

Another year, another Julia Donaldson adaptation premieres at the Little Angel – and why not? Theatre and author have spend the last few decades churning out a steady supply of pure delight for the little ones, often in concert. A Squash and a Squeeze is notable as Donaldson’s first ever kids’s book, and also her first with redoubtable illustrator Axel Scheffler. It details the escapades of an old lady who bemoans the lack of space in her house until a wise man comes up with a novel solution that involves filling her house with animals. It’s adapted by Barb Jungr and Samantha Lane, and aimed at ages three to eight.

This review is from September 2022. Little Angel’s Travelling Miniature Circus returns for 2025. It’s a bit of a weird autumn for kids’ shows in London: while most theatres across the capital are at least superficially back to normal post-pandemic, both the Polka and the Unicorn are still dark following the traditional summer break, and neither will have any substantial new programming until November.  The reasons are probably more complicated than one might think, but whatever the case, of the ‘big three’ dedicated children’s theatres, it’s just the doughty Little Angel kicking off the season, with two new shows: The King of Nothing, a sassy take on The Emperor’s New Clothes aimed at older primary school kids, and Little Angel Theatre’s Miniature Travelling Circus, aimed at younger ones and pre-schoolers (ages three-to-six).  In essence, the Travelling Circus is a very winning spin on traditional kids’ party entertainment. It’s co-created by director Miranda Pitcher and performer Lizzie Wort, who takes on the role of George, sweetly prim and proper ringmaster of what she explains is a once glorious circus now fallen on hard times We’re treated to a series of old-school party tricks – audience participation! collapsing wands! (puppet) rabbits out of hats – and a succession of turns from the various puppet animals in the circus, who range from some ‘fleas’ to a farty dog (‘Smelly Dog’).  It’s a tough one to judge in some ways: trust me, I have been to a lot of kids’ parties...