What child doesn’t enjoy playing with a cardboard box, letting their imagination take them on adventures far and wide in trains, boats cars? The choice is endless.
Designer Sam Wilde and Director Ian Nicholson use their trademark sustainable cardboard puppet style to create Boxville, a land made entirely from sustainable cardboard. Guiding parents and children along an adventure to collect shapes to make the Boxville Imagi-badge.

The floor was filled with piles of cardboard and toolboxes full of pens, scissors and other craft equipment. Then, led by Hedy, Ada and George (engineers and inventors) we head to the planet of Amazon Prime and robot in charge Alexa. Alexa doesn’t like humans, so the children are encouraged to use the cardboard make themselves look like robots. They are rewarded with a shape for the Imagi- badge.

Leaving the planet on a ship the engineers head for the beach and meet two crabs. Making musical instruments so that the crabs can dance, the children are rewarded with another shape. Finally, in an aeroplane they go back in time to collect the final shape for the badge and meet with a terrifying dragon. The children enjoyed a pantomime moment of ‘look behind you’ and were very vocal in warning the Engineers of the hidden danger.

With the help of both grownups and performers a pile of cardboard becomes props for the children during the show. There is no mistaking their enthusiasm for crafting and joining in.

The costumes are truly works of art. The dragon is operated by two of the performers completely created from cardboard complete with a blinking eye. There are full sized crab costumes and of course Alexa from Planet Amazon Prime.

The show combines an engaging story, with a high level of audience participation. I was particularly impressed by the addition of an easy read guide available on the website showing an overview of what was going to happen, including a warning of any loud sections for those with sensory issues.

Details of the costume designs can be found at https://www.cardboardadventures.co.uk

Altogether a first class performance.

5 stars.

Reviewer Nina Gardner

Showing at the Polka Theatre 19th – 23rd February 2025.

Tickets can be found at

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Boxville

Director and designer Sam Wilde
Co-Director Ian Nicholson
Producer Sarah Shephard
Lighting Designer Sherry Coenen
Sound Designer Greg Hall
Dramaturg Stephanie Kempson
Assistant Designer Ruby Brown