The Pied Piper; A Rat’s Tale at Little Angel Studios is a delightful family show for anyone over the age of 5. Fun, funny, and beautifully crafted, it has a true understanding of what its youngest audience members will find entertaining while offering plenty to for the grown-ups accompanying them.

The story is told from the perspective of Horatio, a young rat who lives quietly with his family on the riverbank but dreams of becoming a hero. He even once ventured as far as the bend in the river, beyond which the Giants are said to live. There’s just one problem: although Horatio longs for adventure, he is rather timid; and, rather inconveniently for a river-dwelling rat, he is afraid of water.

A fortunate accident reveals that Horatio can swim, sweeping him away on an adventure to the big city of Hamelin. Along the way he meets Piquet, a friendly parrot, and finds himself caught up in events considerably more exciting than he could have imagined.

Horatio is a puppet rat designed by Michael Fowkes, and he is an instantly endearing creation. Cheeky and expressive, he is very definitely not a creature to fear. After being rather unscrupulously sold as a puppy by a market trader, Horatio is imprisoned when his true identity is discovered. His incarceration sets off a chain of events involving a rat invasion, a dishonest mayor, the mysterious arrival of the Pied Piper, and, ultimately, a heroic tale waiting to be told.

Steve Tiplady is an excellent puppeteer, bringing Horatio and the other characters vividly to life. He also develops a wonderful rapport with the audience, encouraging the children to squeak like rats and warn the mayor about the rats lurking “behind him”. There is a lovely touch of traditional panto in these interactions, with the children enthusiastically joining in.

The set is equally impressive. As the curtain is removed, the riverbank gives way to the streets and buildings of Hamelin, creating a whole new world before our eyes. Through storytelling and deft puppetry, the production creates a charming and richly imagined world.

The Pied Piper: A Rat’s Tale is a lovely, well-paced show with charm, mischief and magic, delighting children and the grown‑ups who take them.

Five Stars.

Reviewed by Nina Gardner

The Pied Piper; A Rat’s Tale is showing at the Little Angel Studios 12 Sep – 7 Nov 2026

For tickets and further information see link below

https://www.littleangeltheatre.com/whats-on/the-pied-piper-a-rats-tale/book

 

 

Cast and Creatives

Written by                            Michael Fowkes, Steve Tiplady and Sally Todd
Performed by Steve Tiplady
Directed by Sally Todd
Set and Puppets Designed by Michael Fowkes
Composer Mikey Kirkpatrick
Lighting designed by Kate Hounslow
Stage managed by Alex Hobbs.