“Life is all a great big adventure....”

That was the soundtrack to a heart-warming play about a boy and his friendship with a garden bird, a production by the Pied Piper Theatre Company.

Robin is facing a big change – he and his family are quitting their happy rural life to move to London. Robin is reluctant to leave his school, his home, his life in the countryside and most of all his best friend – a robin redbreast that visits his garden every day.

Aimed at children aged four to ten, it was an uplifting story of bravery and friendship told through puppetry, poetry, music and magical design.

Using the intimate setting of the Salberg Studio, the three actors Matthew Tanner (Robin), Leanne Rowley (Mum) and Andrew Utley (Dad) engaged the young audience from the start by demonstrating the nimble mechanics of the puppets, which were used to particularly good effect during the dream sequence – where a robin carries Robin on his back as they fly over London.

It was a magical tale about changes and facing fears and, at just an hour long, it was the perfect half-term treat for little ones.

Christine Stock