Beatrix Potter’s The Tailor of Gloucester – Salberg Studio, Salisbury Playhouse

Beatrix Potter’s The Tailor of Gloucester continues at the Salberg Studio, Salisbury Playhouse until 28 December 2019.

Star rating: four stars ★ ★ ★ ★ ✩

If you want primary colours, loud rock anthems and pyrotechnics, then you must go next door to Salisbury Playhouse’s main house where Robin Hood is doing raucous battle with the Sheriff of Nottingham.

The Playhouse’s more intimate studio space is playing host to a more gentle, less flash-band-wallop entertainment that is just perfect for pre-schoolers or those of a more nervous disposition.

Wiltshire Creative artistic director Gareth Machin and musical theatre veteran Glyn Kerslake (how else do you describe someone with virtually every major West End musical under his belt?) have collaborated on a musical adaptation of Beatrix Potter’s The Tailor of Gloucester.

It’s a whimsical tale of how mice come to the rescue of a poor, but kindly Tailor, whose attempts to finish the wedding coat of the Mayor in time for Christmas Day have been sabotaged by the Tailor’s cat.

This is their third festive collaboration following The Night Before Christmas and Little Robin Red Breast and, like the previous two, it’s an ideal introduction to the theatre for tiny tots with short attention spans and a willingness to join in with action songs.

Some liberties have been taken with the original, but it still remains a beautifully told, old-fashioned Christmas story with a happy ending.

Those there the afternoon I saw it were transfixed, keen to share suggestions and knowledge of the plot (one knew it as well as the cast – although it’s a sign of the times that she was convinced the Tailor was after chocolate twist not cherry twist!)

Director Jo Newman keeps the piece flowing and the cast, dressed initially as the mice that scurry behind the wainscots of Gloucester houses, interact with the audience, keeping young and old involved for the hour-long duration.

Kerslake acts as musical director and plays piano for the show which, musically, has a light touch with narrative lyrics that move the story along. It’s also well sung by all four with Lara Stubbs proving to be in fine voice as the Tailor.

Natalie Williams is suitably feline and superior as Simpkin, the Tailor’s cat, who nearly costs him dear by hiding the vital cherry twist thread, and Jake Mitchell is good value as the preening flunkey, who orders the mayor’s new coat and then wants one for himself.

Designer Verity Quinn’s set is all candyfloss pink and green as she decks the studio’s balcony with lengths of material and lines the back wall with dangling satin ribbons, bolts of fabric and stacks of pink boxes that open up to reveal with completed cherry-coloured coat for the Mayor.

An enchanting alternative to the brash big brother of panto next door.

Lesley Bates