The BFG

From the alternative student theatre group Theatre Paradok, whose fringe success was the well received Nights at the Circus, comes their production of Roald Dahl’s The BFG; a slightly gruesome fairytale about a young orphan who is taken in the night from her bedroom by a giant. Luckily this giant is big and friendly and uses a trumpet to ensure children only have sweet dreams. Directed by John Rushton and Robin Hellier, the BFG is a story that, like Dahl’s greatest works, has universal appeal, due to its themes of friendship, morality and whizzpopping, which can make the oldest ‘chiddler’ smile.

What makes this production enchanting has to be the ingenuity of the staging and use of props. Working with such a small stage at Adam House, the venue is made to feel intimate rather than small through the clever use of set. When you think of the BFG you think of an imposing Giant dominating the auditorium, and this is what is delivered in the second half. Until then the BFG (Paul Hughes) is played sympathetically, comically but still domineeringly by an ordinary actor. His grand stature is instead shown through Sophie (Danielle Purdy) holding a miniature doll version of herself; its clever tricks such as this, that makes the performance so captivating and highly original.

The narrative is held together by a strong cast, the ensemble often stealing the show at times with some superb physicality and comic timing. In particular the dream section, allows for some pantomime style antics which delivers relief from the heavier issue of giants eating children. A notable performance from Hughes, whose lilting warm tones engage the audience from the start. His brilliant handle of the giants bumbling discourse, is a pleasure to behold and makes you wonder how he ever remembered the script?

This show is such a success because of the strength of the acting and the inventiveness of the staging. Every scene has been cleverly thought through to provide the biggest impact via the smallest attention to detail. A welcome distraction from a cold winter’s evening and a brilliant reminder of the talents of this small but versatile company.