James and the Giant Peach
West Yorkshire Playhouse
Directed by Max Webster,
**** The Stage ‘Another triumphant tour de force from a jewel in Leeds’ majestic cultural crown’
A Younger Theatre : James and the Giant Peach is an awesome exercise in seeing how important the scenography of a production really is, and this is one show that gets it right. The production elements all come crashing together to make the whole piece fresh and engaging to watch. What really stands out for me, though, is just how magical this production is, a giant inflatable peach being thrown into the audience that really involves you in the show, with a sea of hands accompanied by rapturous gasps of excitement being generated as a result.
York Press: Fly Davis’s set and costume designs are fabulous throughout. a piece of heightened storytelling theatre that is visually striking too with just the right level of fantastical exaggeration.
York Post: The audience joins them on their adventures thanks to director Max Webster and designer Fly Davis’ wonderful use of theatrical devices and set. The dark humour of Dahl is wonderfully balanced in this production and the minimal yet clever staging encourages the imagination to run riot.