Dogs Don't Do Ballet (Ipswich)

This touring production developed by the Little Angel Theatre in Islington, provides another avenue for new younger audiences to engage with theatre. Dogs Don't Do Ballet is based on the story book written by Ann Kemp and has been adapted by David Duffy and Andrea Sadler.

It's perfectly sized at an accessible 45 minutes for an audience of two to six year olds, thus making it a better choice as a Christmas treat than a standard pantomime. The story centres on Anna, a young girl who goes to ballet lessons, and her dog Biff who also wants to learn ballet.

While the piece initially starts out in a slapstick fashion with the puppeteer-actors Ronnie Le Drew and Ruth Calkin playing a jumble-sale skit which seems to have no relevance to the story, presumably this is to get the young audience engaged and entranced in the performance.

Throughout the performance, Le Drew (who voices and puppeteers Zippy from the television show Rainbow) and Calkin switch between puppeteering and playing the characters of Miss Polly (the ballet teacher) as well as a variety of other characters.

Both Le Drew and and Calkin have a natural affinity with a children's audience; initially there is a lot of audience interaction – and then it segues quite subtly into the story.

There is a lot which adult theatre could learn from this production. It is a very efficient and tight piece of theatre full of action and very quick stage changes. An excellent example is when the usher's ice lollies turn into a series of orchestral instruments; a particularly deft touch.

In addition to the stagecraft, the adaptation is clear and effective. Rather than a predictable ending, there is a fun and unexpected conclusion which entertains audiences of all ages.

The audience with which I watched this, especially those of a younger age, remained entranced with just one child expressing discomfort or confusion. Given the new and impatient nature of the audience, this piece of puppet theatre satisfies to a high level and provides an excellent introduction to a lifetime of theatre.