CHILDREN’S THEATRE: THE CLOCKWORK FOREST

REVIEW BY AMELIA GROOM

Morton is a surely teenage boy who lives at the edge of a forest with four tin wind-up toy animals as his only company. When a storm hits and takes away his home and his clockwork friends, he endeavours into the mysterious forest to try and recover them.

Along his journey he finds a man who’s lost his memory, an evil and seductive spider woman, a painter who accidentally explodes herself, a river ghost in desperate need of company, and other strange, magical forest creatures. He also meets a young girl named Hannah, and comes to learn that real life relationships are richer than imaginary ones.

For the young and young at heart The Clockwork Forest is a delightfully whimsical modern fable, which brings to life a world where nothing is as it seems. Written by Doug Macleod and based on his book of the same name, it deals with issues of companionship, family, loss and love.

While a lot more could have been done visually, the performances capture the playful spirit of the story and the sound effects performed live on stage add wonderfully to the humour and immediacy. Recommended for audiences of 8 years old and over, The Clockwork Forest is currently showing with matinee and early evening performances for families.

The Clockwork Forest
Until September 21
Sydney Theatre, 22 Hickson Rd, Walsh Bay
Tickets: $25-$35, family for four $99, 9250 1777 or www.sydneytheatre.com