No Such Thing As Wolves musical at Birmingham Hippodrome – review

Birmingham Hippodrome takes youngsters on a forest adventure with its new musical No Such Thing As Wolves.

The second family show to be created under the “My First Musical” banner by the theatre’s New Musical Theatre team (following last Christmas’ The Jingleclaw), No Such Thing As Wolves is a tale with an ecological theme aimed at youngsters aged three and above.

With book and lyrics by Gerard Foster and music and lyrics by Richie Webb, two of the writers of the hugely successful television series Horrible Histories, it is a story full of fun, friendship and a few funky dance moves.

It’s winter and Hettie Hedgehog is preparing for hibernation when Sydney Squirrel comes to visit and instead convinces her to have a party. Hettie lives in fear of wolves, but her father convinces her there’s no such thing as wolves and Sydney tells her that even if there were beasts lurking in between the trees, a bit of squirrel singing can scare them away.

So when two strangers arrive at their party, Hettie at first wants to be friends, but underneath their seemingly benevolent woollen hats, are the visitors more threatening than they appear? And what is their plan for the destruction of the entire forest?

Directed by Emily Ling Williams, the 60-minute show in the venue’s smaller Patrick Studio doesn’t pause for a moment, taking its young audience into an adventure full of humour and warmth. There are frequent appeals to the children to join in, and the songs are so catchy that it’s difficult to resist, while Arielle Smith’s choreography keeps the characters on their toes.

The cast of five energetically bring the story alive and, with many being actor-musicians, they are also swapping back and forth between acting, dancing and playing instruments throughout.

Faye Campbell is a sweetly childish Hettie who fends off her fear of the wolves by dancing with her friends or hiding under the covers. Beth O’Rorke gives us a spirited Sydney, packed full of character.

Oliver Sidney’s Wiffy is hilarious from his very first moment on stage. Here is a seemingly sly wolf on the make and take, and yet his real love is ballet and his dream is to be a dance superstar on the stage – cue lots of daft pirouettes and jetés. Elinor Peregrin’s Woofy is the simpleton of the wolf pack, and yet all she really wants is to make friends.

Matthew Rutherford brings us the sensible one in the shape of Hettie’s father, while there is a “cameo” from Brummie favourite Lenny Henry as the voice of the cuckoo clock.

Hannah Sibai’s set takes us into the forest with a giant tree in the centre of the stage, while her costumes raise a laugh or two – not least when the puffa-coated slugs and snails pop out from behind the bushes.

No Such Thing As Wolves is a delightful show for little children who will love the colourful characters, enjoy taking part, and hopefully take home the show’s messages about caring for the environment and the importance of friendship.

With the Hippodrome’s New Musical Theatre department now firmly established with successful shows for children and adults under its belt, it will be interesting to see how the initiative develops with future productions.