December sees Boo to a Goose Theatre return to tour Devon libraries with their festive children’s show: Christmas Past and Present. A multi-sensory performance containing many of their trademark ingredients – we are greeted on entry with aromas and fragrances of gingerbread and spices, which evoke the spirit of the season, and there is plenty of interactivity between cast and children. The young audiences are invited into the home of a strangely familiar elderly couple who share a childlike enthusiasm for Christmas and appear to keep reindeer in their stable! The children join them in well loved Christmas songs, ringing little bells to accompany their singing, and help decorate their tree and listen to their stories. Supported by Arts Council England and The Book Trust, each child is given a book to take home at the end of the show.

This is the company’s second successful Arts Council award. Their summer show, The Magic Garden, saw them placed in the top ten funded UK family attractions #NationalLotteryDays: Ten Great Days Out. A great achievement but not surprising when you witness how the audience of spellbound children are caught up in the magic of it all and are as much a part of the show as the performers, watering flowers, planting seeds, and thoroughly engaged for the whole performance.

With a background in education and nurture, as well as years of theatre making, it’s no wonder Boo to a Goose Theatre have triumphed again. Now they have settled here, I’m sure we will be seeing a lot more of them in the South West.

Exeter Daily