‘Red’, presented by Chickenshed, reimagines the classic tale of Red Riding Hood. Featuring a cast of over 180 and a full soundtrack of songs written in-house; Red is a true pinnacle of community theatre.
The inclusivity and sheer effort behind Red is truly remarkable. Sign Language interpreters weave seamlessly throughout the performance, combining BSL with the choreography in such a beautiful and mesmerising way. The production (directed by Michael Bossisse, Bethany Hamlin, Cara McInanny and Jonny Morton) features children with a wide range of abilities and such a clear effort has been made to ensure that disability is not an obstacle. Children with walking aids, wheelchairs and additional needs are fully included and able to join in with the choreography. It’s both incredibly inspiring and moving to watch.
Set design (designed by Andrew Caddies) is incredibly impressive, transforming the space into a village, a mansion, a forest, and an icy mountain-top lair. Scene changes are pretty seamless and it was always exciting to see what new staging we’d be presented with. Most impressively, the set allowed the huge cast to present themselves in a dynamic way. The use of different levels and movable staging meant that even the smallest of cast members could be reached by the spotlight.
I do think that the plot has been slightly overcomplicated. I found myself struggling to follow the story at times, especially when large chunks of the plot are explained via the lyrics. It does make it somewhat harder to understand and I think that younger audiences and families would find it a bit tricky to follow. That being said, however, the fun factor certainly makes up for any confusion.
Overall, Red is a glorious display of talent and community, showing the West End what true inclusivity looks like. It’s a perfectly heart-warming show to see this Christmas; a definite must-see.
Playing at Chickenshed Theatre until 10th January.
Review: Bethany Chandler