The Enormous Crocodile – Leeds Playhouse

Lawrence Hodgson-Mullings and Elliotte Williams-N’Dure in The Enormous Crocodile at Leeds Playhouse. Picture: Manuel Harlan

The Enormous Crocodile continues at Leeds Playhouse until 6 January 2023.

Star rating: four stars ★ ★ ★ ★ ✩

There are traditional tropes that help to define pantomime, a form of family entertainment peculiar to the English speaking world. You know, the male actor in drag as The Dame, the female ‘Principal Boy’ as Prince Charming, plus a storyline (usually based on a folk tale or myth), with songs, dancing, topical jokes, slapstick and audience participation (oh no it doesn’t…). The Enormous Crocodile at Leeds Playhouse features many of these things, yet is distinctly different.

Based on Roald Dahl’s popular tale for children, the text continues the tradition of telling a story that delights children by being transgressive. It does not stick slavishly to Dahl’s narrative, but does maintain the main human and animal characters. The infant classes that came to see it would recognise the tale and relish being frightened while knowing they are perfectly safe.

Before the action starts, members of the cast greet the audience, saying: “Welcome to the jungle.” It had a familiar ring, somehow. When the action begins we are immediately in War Horse or Avenue Q territory (with younger content of course!) as the puppets are manipulated on stage by actors speaking the lines. The wicked crocodile is fed up with the usual jungle fodder – zebras, hyenas, etc – and is relishing the thought of eating children. Other animals hear of this intention and devise ways to thwart the Enormous Crocodile’s ‘tricks’. This cues the first of the songs from Elliotte Williams-N’Dure as she scuttles about the stage and manipulates the crocodile costume. She has a spine-tingling way with the demonic laugh.

The three nemeses are Humpy Rumpy the Hippopotamus (Lawrence Hodgson-Mullings), Muggle Wump the Monkey (Robyn Sinclair) and Roly Poly Bird (Philippa Hogg). With shades of the Cowardly Lion, Humpy Rumpy overcomes personal demons and plays a part in thwarting the Croc. Singing is at its best best when harmonising in a trio and also as a quartet when joined by Trunky the Elephant (Charis Alexandra).

The music is by Ahmed Abdullahi Gallab and the book and lyrics are by Suhayla El-Bushra. I have no previous knowledge of their work, but they have done a creditable job of making the characters and action coherent for such a young audience.

The Courtyard Theatre within the Leeds Playhouse is quite a limited arena, so representing a jungle and designing costumes and props that work in the space is quite a challenge. Set and costume designer (Fly Davis) may have had the original Quentin Blake illustrations as a guide; nevertheless, adaptations made to the space available represents quite a triumph.

Although the cast is only five strong, the complications of putting on a stage show such as this barely diminishes with scale. For a director, setting the creative vision is only one of many responsibilities. With Emily Lim at the helm, Leeds children can enjoy a piece that throbs with energy and sings along at a great pace.

Mike Tilling