2016 NATIONAL TOUR

Monkeyshine Theatre

VOYAGE

By Kareen Pennefather

Inspired by Jonathan Swift’s fantastic tales of Gulliver’s Travels, 'Voyage' was an electrifying, big hearted epic for everyone over eight. Featuring many characters from Swift’s classic children’s story including Giants, Lilliputians and Big-Enders, in this play for family audiences the tide was high, the wind blew and adventure called! 

Staged with clever use of props, a deconstructed set exposed elements of their theatre-making: a visible puppeteer, dressed in colourful clothes alongside her Lilliputian puppet; a magical sheet on which ships battled in silhouette lifted to reveal the workings of more puppeteers behind. With their unique style and signature charm, Monkeyshine created an astonishing world where nothing was quite what it seemed and life became a miraculous journey.

'Monkeyshine’s deconstructed set exposes elements of their theatre-making: a puppeteer is visible, dressed in colourful clothes, alongside her Lilliputian puppet; the magical sheet on which ships battle in silhouette lifts to reveal the workings of more puppeteers behind. This honest approach allows for curious minds to be stimulated and perhaps inspired to recreate some of the magic at home. There is a back-to-basics charm at play here, a welcome break from a digital age.' 

Tricia O’Beirne, The Reviews Hub