Review: Minny Stynker at Tobacco Factory Theatres

A gentle hour exploring feelings of loneliness and adventure through beautiful puppetry

Minny Stynker is not just a theatre show to while away the time over half term. It’s turned into a universe, created by Soap Soup Theatre, with aims to bring the show to all children to enjoy.

The one-hour show currently playing at Tobacco Factory Theatres, is based on the picture storybook of the same name, illustrated by the company’s Artistic Director and performer Tomasin Cuthbert.

Through beautiful puppetry and gentle adventure, it tells the story of Kit, a young child who feels lonely after moving away from some of his family and his friends for a new start elsewhere.

Kit loves to draw and it’s through his drawing that he brings to life the mischievous Minny Stynker. She’s the illustration of a little girl, one who comes to life after bursting through scribbles. Minny is the friend Kit needs right then, taking him on wild adventures conjured by his creative imagination. Of course, that’s until he doesn’t need her any more. But as Kit finds his feet in his new home and new school, perhaps Minny doesn’t need him anymore either.

From the moment the auditorium doors open, children are welcomed into a fun and playful world, full of drawing and imagination.

The show is aimed at children around three years of age upwards, which feels right. The young audience were engrossed in the story from the off, making this the perfect preschool theatre.

The puppetry comes in a range of mediums, from fully articulated puppets right down to simple pieces of paper. The quirky set features a cardboard box city. There’s a little fabric shoulder bag containing a whole world. Creatures are brought to life through repurposed clothing, greenery pulled from vintage suitcases giving off a very Bristol vibe.

Alongside the action on the stage, projection mapping by Chris Harrison, adds an additional depth. We sense the never ending rain mirroring Kit’s isolation. Animations also spring to life, giving energy to Minny and Kit’s adventures. It’s as if we have fallen into the illustrations on the page.

As the story draws to a close, children in the audience audibly gasped at the appearance of the glorious rainbow symbolising Kit’s transition to his new life.

Minny and her new found friend dance around the auditorium in yet another style of puppetry. It’s brilliant stuff for sparking the imagination of young children, providing further learning opportunities in creative play at home.

Minny Stynker is a lovely show and the perfect way to entertain busy youngsters during the half term break when family activities traditionally stop.

Soap Soup Theatre will be taking the show in an adapted format to hospitals, hospices and other places where children with serious or long-term health conditions are unable to access live theatre. It’s an ambitious yet much needed project that has been endorsed by the University Hospitals Bristol and Weston NHS Foundation Trust.

It’s still on Crowdfunder with the theatre company hoping to raise enough money to provide free copies of the book as well as performances for children undergoing long-term healthcare treatment for such things as cancer, ME and long covid.

Copies of the book Minny Stynker as well as badges will be available for purchase following the performance.

Minny Stynker is on at Tobacco Factory Theatres until 01 June 2024

For more information or to book, visit: https://tobaccofactorytheatres.com/shows/minny-stynker/

For more about Soap Soup Theatre: https://www.soapsouptheatre.com/

Cast and Creatives
Ricardo Ventura – Performer
Tomasin Cuthbert Menes – Artistic Director, Producer & Performer
Sarah White – Co producer
Stephanie Kempson – Director
Gabrielle Sheppard – Associate Director
Tom Ball – Composer
Chris Harrison – Projection design
Joe Price – Lighting design
Saikat Ahamed – Dramaturg

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