AMATEUR THEATRE REVIEW: Wolf Moon - St.Anne's Parish Centre, Buxton.

Part of Buxton Fringe Festival, this was the 11am production of Clare O'Neill's 'Wolf Moon' at St. Anne's Parish Centre. [the later production having a different cast].

REC is a youth company and here, their students - ages between 5 and 11 - performed this play with music, written and directed for the group by Clare O'Neill. 

The play, which runs without a break for about 40 minutes, tells the story of how this year's Wolf Moon disappeared, and so three separate groups set off on a quest to find the moon. each group finds a section of it, and brings them together to make the moon shine once again. The play teaches children the importance of nature, and to care for our environment, as well as showing them the importance of working together, appreciating each other, and acknowledging our differences and strengths through selflessness and kindness. 

The dialogue is interspersed with some stylised movement from a group of fairies, and a few songs, accompanied live from keyboards, and ameliorated with self-made backing tracks. 

The venue itself was light and airy, and a large acting space had been created with wooden rostra to the rear of the stage and a moon above. Sadly, even when seated on the front row, I was unable to hear a few of the performers as they had been directed to stand on the rear platform and they were not projecting their voices sufficiently for them to carry across the vast expanse of unused stage space. The directing was extremely static throughout unfortunately, which did slow the pace of the production, and there was no consideration of sight-lines as I could easily see into the room at the rear of the stage used as their 'wings'. The side door at the front of the stage was also used as an entrance, but the glass pane was not curtained over and so I was able to see everyone walking and waiting there, including the backstage crew. 

The play was an enjoyable and thoughtful presentation, and it was clear that those 20+ youngsters on stage this afternoon were enjoying their stage time. I am always happy to watch youngsters performing and having fun, as it was a privilege that was not available to me when I was young... such youth theatres and children's theatre groups simply did not exist! A huge congratulations to all the youngsters.

Reviewer - Matthew Dougall

on - 16.7.22