Two years ago, Replay Productions, the North's theatre-in-education company, produced one of its most enchanting shows. Artistic director Janice Jarvis has now recast the production and Jane Linz Roberts's exquisite, small-scale design takes us on the ultimate theatrical journey, deep into the heart of a magical world.
A pedlar and his young daughter travel together in the company of their friends - the birds and animals of the forest. When the pedlar loses his child, these same creatures conspire with the natural elements to aid him in his frantic search. We watch, entranced, as the seasons change: the branches of the tree are hung with garlands, blossoms, russet leaves and tinkly icicles, and small animals are born or hibernate.
But while this engaging cast - Nuala Reilly, Maureen Macauley, Grainne McCann, Drew Thompson and Angie Waller - weave their spell over tiny imaginations, adult minds are drawn sharply to recent images of parents and children, dressed in worn and faded clothing, fleeing, lost and frightened, from the wars in eastern Europe.
The Lost Child is at the Old Museum until this Saturday, then tours to the Glens Centre, Manorhamilton (April 4th); An Grianan, Letterkenny (April 6th and 7th); The Playhouse, Derry (April 12th); McNeill Theatre, Larne (April 17th) and The Ark, Dublin (April 25th-29th)