REVIEW: Brilliant, Lilian Baylis Studio At Sadler's Wells

Photograph: Keith Pattison

Lilian Baylis Studio at Sadler’s Wells till May 24th
Imaginate Festival, Edinburgh, 28th - 31st May
Young Vic, London, 15th - 18th July

As a little girl prepares herself for bed she wishes everything goodnight, from the moon and the stars to the curtains and her toy stag. Asleep, finding herself left to the wonders of her imagination she begins to explore the miracle of light accompanied by her stag, come-to-life, who plays the violin. Brilliant is the final part in a trilogy of projects aimed at a young audience and inspired by the rituals and games of every day life; Fevered Sleep do a fantastic job of encapsulating the mood of bedtime just as the light goes out and the childlike dreams of reaching out for the moon and playing amidst the stars.

Joseph Manser, lighting designer, and Ali Beale, technical designer, conspire to create a beautiful setting for the piece with striking use of sidelight and hovering mist brought to life with shadow play and reflections. Elisa de Grey is gracefully captivating as she frolics between the many hanging light switches, spinning glitter-ball stars swinging like pendulums and elusive moon. Jamie McCarthy, as the fiddle playing stag, ensures a touching and dynamic sound-scape throughout making skilful use of glissandos and pizzicato.

As noted in their program, work like this for children is in short supply. Fevered Sleep have produced a magical show that's exploration resonates with children and grown-ups alike, let's hope that more companies will follow in their footsteps.

 

 

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