Magical and fun-packed: ‘The Elves and the Shoemaker’ show for young children at the Pavilion Arts Centre

After the success of ‘Rumpelstiltskin’ in 2024, they once again turn to the Grimm brothers’ fairy tales in a lively new version of ‘The Elves and the Shoemaker’ by Katherine Chandler.

The story is a simple but meaningful one. Clara, a widow and formerly a successful shoemaker, has fallen on hard times and can barely afford to eat. She has enough leather for one last pair of shoes. Her fortunes are turned around with the assistance of some mysterious little night time helpers.

The small cast of three local actors showed versatility and a happy knack of being able to engage immediately with small children.As the storyteller, Adam Horvath (who played Tortoise in ‘Hare and Tortoise’ and Harold the Herald in ‘Rumpelstiltskin) kept the narrative moving in a good-humoured way.

Niamh Forster (last year’s Libby in ‘Rumpelstiltskin’) and Jennifer Hague (whom I remember as an excellent Mrs Lovett in ‘Sweeney Todd’) made a brilliant double act as the squabbling, mischievous elves with hearts of gold.

Niamh also played a variety of affluent customers who snapped up the shoes made by the industrious elves. Doubling up as Clara, Jennifer brought poignancy to her role, conveying the loneliness of widowhood. All three actors were extremely expressive and made effective use of exaggerated gesture to project the story.

Director Allie Spencer obviously knows how to hold the attention of young children, who were seated close to the performance space for maximum involvement.

The actors addressed various children directly and some were invited on stage to serve as assistants in Clara’s shop. The youngsters particularly liked the part where one elf was hiding from the other all around the Arts Centre. They also relished the comic parts.

Music, devised by composer and musical director Rob Green, enhanced the production. One of the show’s highlights was the catchy song delivered by the elves, ‘I’m Having an Idea’. It was accompanied by a vibrant, fun dance routine, choreographed by movement director Kerry Allsop.

Designer Vicki Smith is adept at creating imaginative and versatile sets. The action took place in the interior of Clara’s shop.Silhouettes of footwear adorned the walls and these at times were back lit in bright colours (a shout out to lighting designer Meg Ryder).

The windows had street scenes on blinds, operated by the storyteller, to mark the transition from day to night which heralded the elves’ arrival. A huge old-fashioned desk was centre stage; it contained the shoemaking tools and materials from which the elves fashioned their wonderful creations.

In the run-up to Christmas, many homes will have been occupied by a naughty ‘elf on the shelf’. Here we also had mischievous elves, but they were also kind, helpful and ready to work flat out to save the day. Clara deserved this magical assistance and the play illustrates the importance of showing gratitude and appreciation. In a timely message for the festive season, it suggests that we should all look out for each other.

The Opera House team believes in starting early to introduce children to the wonders of live theatre. At the performance I attended, which lasted just under an hour, the children were totally involved in the story, mesmerised by the action and possibly transported to another world.

There are further performances of ‘The Elves and the Shoemaker’ on:

Friday 19 Dec, 1.30pm & 4pm

Sat 20 Dec, 1.30pm & 4pm

Sun 21 Dec, 10am (BSL) & 1.30pm

Mon 22 Dec, 1.30pm & 4pm

Tues 23 Dec, 10am & 1.30pm

Please contact the box office on 01298 72190 or visit buxtonoperahouse.org.uk