With a cast of around 800, it’s no surprise that this year’s Christmas production of The Toymaker at the Chickenshed has been split into four casts performing on separate nights. Today’s preview cast was the “yellow” group who have set the bar high for the other three casts.

Based on the novel The Adventures of Pinocchio by Italian writer Carlo Collodi. The Toymaker is bringing up his daughter Katie alone after his wife passed away. Working as a cleaner in a technical factory he steals a chip found on the floor to create a lifelike “toy” to become Katie’s friend/sibling. PIN:0cch10 emerges and chaos begins!

The child catcher from Chitty Chitty Bang Bang appears to have been incorporated into the storyline although it is now a couple with a Fagin-style entourage working alongside them to sell the bogus dream of “leisure Island” to their latest captives.

The cast of two hundred only appears together towards the end. The full stage allows the audience to appreciate the work that takes place by the production team led by Andrew Caddies and fantastic choreographer Bethany Hamlin. Watching almost 200 cast members move together in sync was a moving experience.

Each of the main characters has their own assigned sign language interpreter working onstage with them, clearly visible to the entire auditorium. Every effort is made to ensure the audience is considered to make sure they are all-inclusive too.

As an inclusive Theatre Company whose ethos is to give every person who auditions a role in their plays, it’s no wonder this year’s production sees the extensive cast split into four groups. Such an incredible Theatre.

For more information on this play and their future productions please use the links below.

https://www.chickenshed.org.uk/

https://www.facebook.com/chickenshed/