Comforting and uplifting show mesmerised my daughter, age seven

The Comet
Norden Farm Centre for the Arts
Saturday, November 29

STORYDEN’S production, based on the children’s picture book by Joe Todd Stanton, brought a moving and happy story to life, managing to keep small children entertained throughout.

A girl called Nyla (Maya Manuel) has to move from her home, in the countryside and near the sea, into the city when her dad changes his job.

Together with Dad (Louis Jay Jordan) and cat, Fig (Linn Johansson), Nyla has to figure out how to find happiness, despite these big life changes. Dad gets busier with his job, but tries to give Nyla quality time and attention.

Meanwhile, a large comet comes soaring through the sky…

Director Fiona Creese and her team managed to use stage trickery, lighting and beautiful puppetry to illustrate Nyla’s journey, from the turmoil in being uprooted, to settling into a new environment, finally finding some pure joy in the celestial object as it lit its way over rooftops, night-time windows and trees.

Moving boxes doubled up to create outdoor scenes, while light boxes, projections, ribbons and Fig’s caretaker puppeteer all delighted the audience.

Nyla and her Dad created some funky song and dance sequences and kept the pace moving.

My seven-year-old daughter — not known for her long attention span — was mesmerised and captivated, singing and dancing along and we read the book together afterwards. I would highly recommend this as a comforting, uplifting seasonal show for the little ones.

Runs to Saturday, January 3.

Natalie Aldred