The Borrowers

The Borrowers – 2014 Maddermarket Christmas show

The Borrowers at the Maddermarket Theatre, Norwich

Review published in the Eastern Daily Press, 22 December 2014

Mary Norton’s Borrowers stories are ideal family entertainment. The Maddermarket brings them to glorious stage life for their heartwarming, fun-filled and comic Christmas show.

Peter Sowerbutts’ direction is inspired with clever use of levels for upstairs and under the floorboards, large props, video as the ‘human beans’ discover the world beneath them and puppets when the Borrowers interact directly with big people.

It’s a coming-of-age story as Arrietty (the superb Fionna Monk) enters the real, dangerous world outside and her parents (the well-matched Robin Watson as Pod and Harriet Waterhouse as Homily) have to accept dramatic life changes.

Tim Seely is the not-so-daft gardener while Dawn Brindle is the perfect baddie with a nose for other people’s business. Oskar Schmidt-Hansen handles the helpful boy well; Liam Arnold is a hilarious outside Borrower, Spiller, and Moira Hickson plays the Gypsy with a golden heart.

‘We’re not stealing, we’re borrowing’ is a recurring theme while we ponder survival, possibly being the last of a race and about size in the end not mattering. A five star recommendation this Christmas.