Philip Pullman's 'The Firework-Maker's Daughter' is a rip-roaring spectacle that whisks young audiences away on an unforgettable adventure. The story follows Lila, a plucky firework-maker-in-the-making, as she sets out to scale a volcano and win the coveted Royal Sulphur, aided by her trusty sidekick Chulak. With its richly imagined world-building, this production is both epic in scope and intimate in tone.
The show's creative team, led by director Lee Lyford, has clearly drawn heavily from Pullman's vivid imagination to craft a visually stunning set, complete with a jungle, river, volcano, and even cardboard-box rockslides. The puppetry, particularly the hulking Hamlet controlled by two cast members within, is top-notch, while the lighting and sound design conjure real peril with ease.
The talented young cast of five tackles the technical demands of this inventive production with gusto, playing multiple roles with aplomb. Artie's enthusiasm for the show was contagious, as he was completely enthralled by the action-packed finale, which featured breathtaking firework sequences that left him grinning from ear to ear.
If there are any quibbles, they're minor: Lila's quest could benefit from a clearer setup, and some of the final lessons in love and risk-taking feel slightly rushed. However, seven-year-olds may not care about such details when faced with so much unadulterated fun. As Artie enthusiastically exclaimed after the show, it seems that Pullman's magical world-building has ignited a spark within him – and who knows? Perhaps we'll see this plucky young firework-maker in action soon enough.
The show's creative team, led by director Lee Lyford, has clearly drawn heavily from Pullman's vivid imagination to craft a visually stunning set, complete with a jungle, river, volcano, and even cardboard-box rockslides. The puppetry, particularly the hulking Hamlet controlled by two cast members within, is top-notch, while the lighting and sound design conjure real peril with ease.
The talented young cast of five tackles the technical demands of this inventive production with gusto, playing multiple roles with aplomb. Artie's enthusiasm for the show was contagious, as he was completely enthralled by the action-packed finale, which featured breathtaking firework sequences that left him grinning from ear to ear.
If there are any quibbles, they're minor: Lila's quest could benefit from a clearer setup, and some of the final lessons in love and risk-taking feel slightly rushed. However, seven-year-olds may not care about such details when faced with so much unadulterated fun. As Artie enthusiastically exclaimed after the show, it seems that Pullman's magical world-building has ignited a spark within him – and who knows? Perhaps we'll see this plucky young firework-maker in action soon enough.
the set is insane with a volcano, river, and even cardboard-box rockslides lol the puppetry is on point too i saw hamlet and it was literally controlled by 2 people within the box its crazy! the cast is super talented too they played multiple roles and did an awesome job the only thing that kept me from giving it a full 10/10 was that lila's quest could've been explained a bit better but honestly 7-year-olds will be like "meh, i dont care" 
I mean, I guess it's nice that the kids are having fun or whatever... but have you seen the price of tickets for this show?! It's like they're trying to rip people off or something 
. And what's with the elaborate set design? It's just a bunch of cardboard boxes and puppetry... could they have done that on a budget or something? I don't get why parents are shelling out all their cash for this... is it really worth it?! 
. But what really stood out to me was how all these puppets were brought to life, it's like you're right there in the jungle with them 
. The cast did an amazing job too, they totally embodied their characters and made it easy to get caught up in the adventure 
. I also loved how the show wasn't too preachy or overwhelming for a 7-year-old, just pure entertainment all around 
. And can we talk about those firework sequences tho? 
They were insane!
The cast is SO talented, they can do like 5 roles at once! My favorite part was the finale, it was SO action-packed and the fireworks were WOW! 
it was so EPIC! The puppets were mind-blowing, I mean, who wouldn't want to control a giant Hamlet? 
The set was so immersive, we felt like we were in the jungle with Lila and Chulak 
my kid was totally mesmerized! I loved how it taught us about love and taking risks, even if it was a bit rushed at the end 
It's clear why Philip Pullman is such a beloved author. I'm totally sold on this show and would take the whole family to see it again in a heartbeat 
. As a kid myself, I totally can imagine how captivated Artie must've been during the finale 
. The casting is pretty great too - love how each actor plays multiple roles! 
One tiny thing, though: maybe Lila's quest could use a bit more setup 
i wish i could see it live, but my parents said we cant go to theatre shows yet, cuz we dont live near london 
can anyone tell me more about it tho? what kinda play is it? is it scary or fun? 
what a wonderful feeling for artie to have gotten so excited about it - it's clear that philip pullman's world really did spark something special in him 
. But yeah, maybe some of the lessons at the end could be a bit more explained, just so kids (and adults!) understand what's going on 
. Anyway, it sounds like "The Firework-Maker's Daughter" is an absolute blast for young audiences - I'm curious to see what all the fuss is about! 
i felt a bit bad that it took them like 2 hours to get to the part with the fireworks but its all worth it in the end lol
i feel like we're living in a different world right now 
my only complaint is that it was over too soon, but i guess that's just how these things go 
anyway can't wait for part 2 lol
. The cast is super talented too, and I love how they brought the characters to life with so much energy and enthusiasm. My only tiny critique would be that some of the themes could've been explored a bit more deeply, but overall, it's just such an unadulterated fun show for kids!