Review: Hetty Feather at the Vaudeville Theatre

Hetty Feather 

Vaudeville Theatre 

Reviewed on Wednesday 6th August 2014

★★★★★

Jacqueline Wilson is an author I've always looked up to as a writer. Not only does she cast a spell with the stories she writes, but because her characters are so real their personalities shine through her words so that readers immediately associate with them.

Hetty Feather is a feisty, headstrong girl - a girl who many of us aspire to be like. She speaks her mind, but at the same time is loyal and determined. Left at The Foundling Hospital as a baby, Hetty (Phoebe Thomas) deals with a life of love and loss. Her vivid imagination gets her into trouble, but she refuses to give up the hope that she will find her mother.

The story itself (which is based on the true story of The Foundling Hospital) is enough to keep the audience gripped, but the staging of Hetty Feather is mesmerising. It's almost a mini-circus with aerial acrobatics, ladders and ropes that are cleverly used to tell the story and evoke the underlying theme that Hetty believes her mother to be a circus performer.

Simple pieces of wood double up as tables, railings, bunks... costumes are simple but work well as characters switch and scenes change. The creative team have done a wonderful job because everything is well thought out and executed. The show is slightly longer than expected, considering it's a show for younger audiences, but it's a big book and I have been told quite a bit is cut out. 

Phoebe Thomas is Hetty Feather - small, feisty and with long red hair; she throws herself into the part and really is a fantastic actress… and acrobat! In fact there are no weak performers and the cast as a whole are enthusiastic, energetic and talented. 

Sarah Goddard shines as both Peg and Ida; despite the similar costumes you don't doubt that she is two different characters, each similar but with distinct personalities. Matt Costain is excellent as Jem and Matron Bottomley and is completely believable as a young boy as he and Hetty climb into their 'squirrels' nest'.

The two musicians (Alex Heane and Luke Potter) also add to the magical atmosphere of the show, singing softly to the accordion, guitar, drums and other instruments. The songs are not at the forefront of the production - they're essentially background music - but they feel very traditional (including a sneaky reference to Oliver!) with a gypsy / circus feel.

Emma Reeves' adaptation of Hetty Feather is funny, heartwarming and visually perfect – an utterly fabulous production. More Jacqueline Wilson books should be adapted for the stage; I vote for The Lottie Project (another story with a Victorian theme) to be next!

Reviewed by Michaela Clement-Hayes

Hetty Feather runs at the Vaudeville Theatre until Saturday 6th September 2014.
Please visit www.hettyfeatherlive.com for further information and tickets.

Photo Credit:  Donald Cooper

Follow @West_End_Frame