Dreams of A Lonely Planet

Dreams of A Lonely Planet is presented by Flying Bicycle Collective and the Blue Room Theatre as part of the Awesome Arts Festival. First presented as part of Fringe World earlier this year, this incarnation is an expanded and more fully realised production, but continues to be a gentle, warm hug of a theatrical experience that will appeal to imaginative children.

No bright lights or yelling in this piece with few words, that has an other-worldly dreamlike feel reminiscent of Antione du Saint Expéry’s The Little Prince. 

Boy (played with lovely expression by Izzy Leclezio) longs for an escape - a place where he can be alone. We join him on a journey with his Moral Compass (a very gentle Estelle Brown) to find the Lonely Planet and its sole resident the Lamplighter (a very loveable and child-like Isobelle Collie) and their Lamp.

Lovely teamwork from the trio of performers who use a variety of puppetry forms (puppets created by Yvan Karlsson) and beautifully choreographed physical theatre to tell this story. They are supported by an evocative but gentle sound composition from Sophia Hansen-Knarhoi and visually striking costume and set by Nikita Bernardo, lit with a magic feel by Peter Young.

I would suggest reading the program notes to your young companions before your viewing, as the story can be a little tricky to follow, and a familiarity with the story is likely to bring more depth to their understanding.

In the bustle and high stimulation of the Awesome Festival, this is a more soothing option for children (and their grownups) who prefer a gentler, more imagination centred theatrical experience. Dreams of A Lonely Planet is a little sweetie of a show.

Kimberley Shaw