British children’s books have a long tradition of subjecting their young characters to varying degrees of neglect, abuse, or outright peril. From Harry Potter crammed under the stairs to the nightmarish lessons handed out in Willy Wonka’s factory, no child is safe when a British author picks up a pen.
Ballet Shoes is no exception. While there’s no sinister headmistress or bizarre confectionery punishments here, the heroines—Pauline, Petrova, and Posy Fossil—face their own trials, not least being left to fend for themselves while their absentee foster parent vanishes on yet another expedition. Child labour laws? Not in this coming-of-age story!
I wasn’t familiar with the original book by Noel Streatfeild, but the play itself was brilliant. The script was sharp and witty, peppered with crowd-pleasers like jokes about Croydon. The cast was exceptional, with only the occasional flubbed line, and they brought out both the comedy and the underlying seriousness of the story. And, of course, there were plenty of imaginative dance routines.
Frankie Bradshaw’s set design was like a cabinet of curiosities—intricate, eclectic, and mesmerising. Dinosaurs came to life, mirrors played pivotal roles, and an old car rolled on and off the stage with purpose, never feeling like a gimmick. Every element served the story, which isn’t always the case in productions this ambitious.
Even the music—often a weak point in theatre—was handled beautifully. Instead of overpowering the play, it became a crucial part of the storytelling, amplifying the sisters’ triumphs and their struggles. Overall, this was one of the best plays I’ve seen in London. If child neglect always looked this good, British authors might be onto something.
👍👍
Ballet Shoes
Olivier Theatre, National Theatre, London
Written by Kendall Feaver, based on a book by Noel Streatfeild
Directed by Katy Rudd
Set design by Frankie Bradshaw
Cast: Pearl Mackie as Sylvia, Yanexi Enriquez as Petrova, Daisy Sequerra as Posy, Grace Saif as Pauline, Justin Salinger as Great Uncle Mathew/Madame Fidolia, Sonya Cullingford as Winifred, Jenny Galloway as Nana, Nadine Higgin as Theo Dane, Helena Lymbery as Dr Jakes, Sid Sagar as Jai Saran, et al.
Elia Kabanov is a science writer covering the past, present and future of technology (@metkere).
Illustration by Elia Kabanov feat. DALL-E
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