Art of Make Believe: Staging stories for children

Lovely little exhibition at the National Theatre looking at the children’s shows they have done over the years.

The display was aimed at children and went through the different processes in producing a show with interactive displays. I liked the way it came back to the same shows to give a continuity to the narrative.

I loved a film about movement in The Wind in the Willows and a nice display of costumes including Toads motoring suit. It was interesting to note that the actor Arthur Darvill had lent the Long John Silver coat which he’d worn in Treasure Island last year and presumably bought after the show was finished.

I also liked a mock-up of the set of Treasure Island which let you play with lighting effects. It brought back happy memories of sitting under the stage at school with a lighting board!

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