THEATRE REVIEW: Twinkle And The Mechanical Light Machine - The Library Performance Space, Oldham.

Oldham Theatre Workshop is something of an Oldham institution these days, giving children and young people quality training in the performing arts; and in recent years they have also produced a professional Christmas show too allowing a few of their students to work alongside those already making waves in the profession. 

This year was no different. Sarah Nelson and James Atherton have written a delightful original musical titled, 'Twinkle And The Mechanical Light Machine', which has some catchy tunes, a children's adventure into the imagination, a feel-good story, and of course a happy ending, all about Christmas. 

The story is set in the fictional town of Luminvale, where the whole town is excited and waiting for the annual Christmas lights switch-on. However, when the lights fail, the town is downhearted, and those in charge start blaming others. All is not what it seems however: down below the town, in the town's mine, is a type of stone called 'lumin', and it is the lumin which creates the light in the bulbs. The lumin only works however, when everyone is happy and all is well in the world, and so the more downcast the town becomes, the lumin simply don't work or fade away completely. It does seem though that someone doesn't like Christmas very much and is deliberately sabottaging the switch-on. This is where our heroine, a young girl called Twinkle, comes into her own. She has gone into her loft only to find an old mechanical light machine, and with a little help form her best friend, and some magical fairy Light Mechanics, they try to repair the machine, bring happiness and light back to the town and save Christmas!

The production values for this show were incredibly high. The quality of acting, singing (lovely harmonies), and set / lighting etc were all excellent. It was a very enjoyable show on many levels, and would work superbly as a Christmas film. I do have a couple of thoughts about the show though.

First, the story was very wordy and over-complicated for the young audience to fully understand. Tweens and above would get it, and be enthralled by it, but, judging by the audience in this afternoon, the majority of the children were significantly younger, and were fidgeting during and not following the vast majority of the show. This brings me to my second point; for such a show with so many different characters, utilising only five main cast members who all (except Twinkle) multi-role, was also adding to the confusion. The youngsters didn't know which character was which. And finally, my third point is that it was a little lengthy too, especially the first half of the show, and some judicious cutting would not go amiss. The show is advertised for children from age 4 upwards; however, I would suggest that is very optimistic of the company. 

However, all that being said, from a more adult perspective, this show was quite delightful. The set was well thought out and worked well. My only criticism here would be that a curtain or some sort of barrier at the back of the roof would have been better, as we saw the cast there getting changed, reaching for props and costume items from a hatstand and even coming out of the loft trap door, thus meaning the illusion was lost. Costumes were good and worked well, and the effects used throughout creative and imaginative.

As I have already mentioned, all the five members of the main cast worked excellently together with Ivy Chui portraying the believably very young girl, Twinkle; although I will just make an extra special mention to Perry Moore, whose rapid changes in characterisations were, for me at least, the strongest and most adept.  

The show required the addition of three youngsters from the OTW Young Company, and again, these three worked superbly portraying Luminvale citizens, fairy light mechanics; and were a huge credit to themselves and the company. I believe this afternoon they were Alex Charnock, Lucy Turvin, and Tia Tupman.

I truly enjoyed the original feel to this show, it felt different (and of course was), from anything else on offer this Christmas, and with clever staging and quality acting, it will delight this festive season. 

Reviewer - Matthew Dougall
on - 18.12.21