A mythic story and a little imagination can make a strong impression. With little more than their tiny marionettes, some rags and a few feathers, Relief Theatre spin out the classic folk tale of a wandering soldier’s rise and fall. Effectively holding the all–ages audience’s attention with deliberate details and direct storytelling, they invest their crude but endearing puppets with unexpected personality. For all their careful staging, the show would benefit from some spectacle; the simple rhymes with which they tell their tale feel forced and occasionally restrictive, and there’s none of the ‘live Balkan music’ their listing describes. Though it lacks real magic, there’s a spark of inspiration on display which draws you in.

Princes Mall, 21 – 27 Aug, 5.00pm (5.55pm), free, fpp299.
tw rating 3/5
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