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Review of Flash Festival: Styles Theatre Company - The Little Prince at Northampton Shoe Museum

So the Flash Festival had begun for 2015 and this year there were to be sixteen shows across the six days and I was to see them all (and *gulp* try to review them all).

My first one of the week was The Little Prince by (Jenny) Styles Theatre Company. This was a show I had had a little preview of earlier in the year as a work in progress at a R&D Open Mic Night (here). It tells the tale of a little Prince (you don't say) and his adventures across a collection of random planets. Based on the book by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, Jenny translated the tale into a storytelling style. This is quite a departure from any Flash I have seen previously, but after the general trauma of many subjects in 2014, a blessed relief for the lighthearted nature of it.

Having seen a few storytellers this year, I have to say that Jenny presents one of the most acted ones I have seen. The tale is full of dynamic movement, and gesturing of hands and a box of many talents to vividly transport us across space. I suppose it is obvious however that the acting part would be strong from an acting student, but it is refreshing all the same and really adds to the tale.

The use of little projected drawings is nice depicting little moments from the original book and the subtle use of music added to the atmosphere at just the right moments. If I was to have just the one criticism, I would say that it might have been a little longer, promised sixty minutes, we got roughly forty.

However is was for that time a delight and a refreshing way to get away from the general grind of day to day life. Jenny has a tremendous strong telling style (no pun intended) as good as many I have seen and perhaps may well be a route she might take travel in the future. I myself would happily see a future version of The Little Prince and any more she wishes to tell.


The Flash Festival 2015 runs between 18th-23rd May, 2015 at four venues across the town. Details can be found at http://ftfevents.wix.com/flashtheatre2015, while tickets can be booked via the Royal & Derngate. Details at: http://www.royalandderngate.co.uk/whatson/2015-2016/Other/FlashFestival15
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