The Place, London
October 28, 2024
A wonderfully naive show, Speedwell Dance draw their young audience irresistibly into the magic of the story they weave.
Designed for 3 to 8-year-olds, the story of The Mountain Witch is kept simple. A witch responsible for the changing seasons, stops doing so one winter, refusing to bring spring back, and thereby creating a permanent snow world. A child is sent to persuade the witch to return spring, which she eventually does, with the help of the children in the audience.
There are structured opportunities throughout the show for the children to participate, which they did with great enthusiasm. There are ground rules, gently but firmly established at the start by Speedwell artistic director, Rachel Dean. Not a single child overstepped the mark, a huge testament to the skill of the two performers, but in particular Dean.
Dean’s playing of the Witch was suitably otherworldly without being frightening. The child May, was equally well-performed by Aine Reynolds, who co-created the piece.
The scenery is minimal, but effective in conjuring-up the witch’s cave in the snowcapped mountains. A stroke of genius is to have live music for clarinet, flute and cello, composed by Oliver Dover, with the two musicians, Michael Bardon and Joel Stedman sitting in the performance area.
The show has much gentle humour, at which even the adults laughed, and with a run time of an hour, is the ideal length.
My six-year-old granddaughter was immersed throughout, joining in at every opportunity, and even making a new friend. Her verdict, “It was a great show!” Indeed it is.
Speedwell Dance’s tour of The Mountain Witch continues with community performances in Leeds (to November 10), with further dates around the UK from February to May 2025. Visit www.speedwelldance.org.uk for details.