Today the kids and I headed down to Waterside Arts in Sale to see Stick Man. After seeing (and loving) Alice in Wonderland at the weekend, we were excited to head down to see the adaptation of Julia Donaldson’s classic story.

Stick Man is a big deal in our house! My eldest two loved the story but that’s nothing compared to our youngest. Our now 4 year old has loved the story since being tiny and it’s still her favourite now. She therefore could barely contain her glee as she took her seat to see her beloved story brought to life on stage.

The cast consists of just three people and each one of them was fantastic in their own way. The staging, costumes and props were relatively simple but they were used in such an imaginative way. I wasn’t sure how they were going to bring Stick Man to life but it was so cleverly done.

The show had some catchy musical numbers that had my daughter dancing in her seat and really showcased the cast members’ singing talents. The sound effects and music were done to the side of the stage and were fascinating to watch. As Stick Man floated down the river I couldn’t help but watch how the music and sound effects were made using cymbals, whistles and a saxophone. The cast were clearly hugely talented.

The production retold the classic story with its own added embellishments. There was audience participation in the form of a ball game which had the kids roaring with laughter. Stick Man and the dog also made their way into the audience, much to the excitement of all the children.

It was an utterly enchanting performance and we all loved it. My daughter said it was “the best thing ever ever” which is high praise indeed!

There are still a limited number of tickets available for the showings at Waterside Arts tomorrow, so if you’re at a loose end this half term, treat the kids! The show is then moving on to various locations across the UK – check out their website for venues and dates.

Disclaimer – We were offered complimentary tickets but as always opinions are my own.