With David Walliams having almost taken over from Roald Dahl as the go-to author for KS2 children enjoying a touch of the gruesome and disgusting, it seems wholly appropriate that Birmingham Stage Company should be presenting a stage version of another of his stories. The company has previously toured productions of David Wood’s Dahl adaptations and more recently the ever-popular Horrible Histories series.

Awful Auntie is very much in the same vein, although not perhaps quite as awful, gruesome or repulsive as some of its readers might have preferred. Aunt Alberta has deviously ensured that Stella will not inherit Saxby Hall, and things are only put to rights with the help of Soot, the ghost of a chimney sweep. Wagner the Owl plays a large part in the story, and Gibbon the Butler totters on and off from time to time, mostly to some amusement.

Last seen in 2019, this revival is a lively and well-designed production with a hard-working cast. Neal Foster (who also co-directs with Richard J Hinds) plays Alberta in pantomime dame style, and is really quite a genial old cove considering her history. The audience only start to go off her when we actually see her being awful in the second act, by which time the falsetto has been reduced a little as well, improving understanding. As Stella, Annie Cordoni is quick to get the sympathy of the young audience, and Matthew Allen gives a most considered and heartfelt performance in the production as Soot.

Around these characters flies Wagner the Owl, operated by Emily Essery to great effect. As Gibbon, Zain Abrahams covers scene changes and provides regular if baffling interludes in a performance that some older audience members might see as something of a homage to Ronnie Barker. All characters are dressed exactly as in the Tony Ross book illustrations, as no doubt would be expected by the loyal audience.

The stars of the show, however, are the set and the puppets. Designer Jacqueline Trousdale has created a revolving stately home with all the staircases, doors and cubbyholes that could be needed, an endlessly adaptable design that is well used by the cast. Yvonne Stone is responsible for the puppets – not just the full size owl but also miniature versions of the main characters. The sequence when Alberta on her motorbike is chasing Stella in a car, and then forces her to hang from her fingertips high up in the castle, is beautifully realised in miniature.

Not perhaps vintage Birmingham Stage Company, but an authentic account of a much-loved story, well cast, cleverly designed and demonstrating once again the power of puppetry in stage performance.

**** Four stars

Reviewed by: Chris Abbott

Awful Auntie plays at Richmond Theatre until 12 May before touring. To book tickets for select touring venues, please click here.