There is a great show at the National Theatre. It adapts the 1930s children’s novel Ballet Shoes by Noel Streatfeild. Fun for adults and children alike – a perfect family show.
Three separate girls are orphans in the household of eccentric fossil collector Great Uncle Matthew (GUM). Most of the time, he is not there. Sylvia, who was previously also adopted by GUM, becomes their guardian.
Doctor Jakes, Theo, a dancer, and Jai, who has a car, live in the household as tenants and become part of the extended family.
Theo creates a performing arts school where the girls join traditional classes in the morning and performing arts in the afternoon. As they grow up, we see each child develop in different directions Pauline is an actress, Posy is a dancer and Petrova is a dreamer who wants to drive a car, make things work and fly.
You get drawn into the story and begin to care for the characters and their dreams. The whole ensemble transforms the stage to different places on their journey. A favourite part for me was when Petrova, who hates acting, gets the chance to fly out over the audience and finds in it the joy of life itself.
Many excellent set pieces use the stage furniture to great effect. There is humour and darkness and authenticity to these children as they squabble and bicker over what they want. It explores struggle, resilience and the sheer hard work you need to achieve your dreams when you start with so little. At the heart of it is love and although the ending may seem a bit too happy ever after it moves us. Here are the dreams of all of us in our lives as we struggle with obstacles in front of us and when fight for what we want.
You might most kids have dreams about a life in show biz – but does it happen? By chance two weeks ago I met a family of three sisters who were in Theatretrain in the 1990s. Their parents scrimped and saved for them. Danielle is now a professional make-up artist and has a shop, Kelly is an agent and still sings professionally and the third, Leanne is an actress who can be seen shortly on Netflix playing opposite Cillian Murphy in a film called Steve. A neat connection I thought.
