ARTS AHEAD: IT'S BEHIND YOU!

1. ARTS AHEAD: IT'S BEHIND YOU!

BRISTOL
Bristol Old Vic Studio, King Street
Until December 31
This is a highly visual, comic tale of high jinks and heroics, written by Renata Allen and directed by John Retallack. It features Zimzam who makes everyone laugh at someone else’s expense and Hiphop who makes everyone laugh because the jokes are always on him. Great stuff for the over-fours with its adventure, mishaps and mayhem.

GLASGOW
Citizens Theatre, Gorbals Street
Until January 7
An original twist on the classic Brothers Grimm fairytale, it being the Citizens, this is an inventive storytelling show accompanied by original live music in an intimate theatre with bags of audience participation.

LEEDS
West Yorkshire Playhouse, Playhouse Square, Quarry Hill
Until January 15
“There ain’t nobody here but us chickens, there ain’t nobody here at all” — thus the bereft fowls in this show by Mike Kenny, who are mourning the abduction of The Girl With The Harp, who sang beautiful songs to them and brought a smile to their beaks. She was stolen by the Giant (boo) and the chickens hatch a plot (hurray) to get her back, aided by the lazy Jack of course and a cow named Milkywhite.

LONDON
Hampstead Theatre, Finchley Road, London NW6
Aa you’d expect from any tales retold by Carol Ann Duffy this is grisly and gruesome fare, but with plenty of laughs too. Based on the Brothers Grimm and other European fairytales it features a beast with bad table manners and a goat that poos gold. It includes classics like Beauty And The Beast and The Emperor’s New Clothes. For ages 8+.

(The Morning Star, 16/12/11)