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Following up his lunchtime families’ session, incumbent Children’s Laureate Anthony Browne appeared for a second time today in conversation with son Joe, discussing his life and work through their biography Playing the Shape Game. The engaging discourse inevitably leant towards a familial rapport that briefly threatened to exclude the audience, but soon father and son’s relaxed manner drew the listeners in.

Accompanied by dozens of his illustrations (including key pieces from Gorilla, Willy The Wimp and more), the pair spoke openly about Browne senior’s upbringing, his picture book work and his optimistic view of people’s creativity, both young and old.

Sallis Benney Theatre, 28 May
Rating:
Stuart Huggett

The Singing Obsessive was like some kind of Mumsnet chatroom combined with a Britain’s Got Talent joke act. Periods of awkward coffee morning chat about potty training and the difficulties of keeping the house clean were interspersed with out-of-tune pop songs with the words changed to refer to some aspect of obsessive compulsive disorder.

Some of the lyrics might actually have been funny, but it was impossible to enjoy them because the singing was so excruciating. Gill Smith confessed at the end that as well as being obsessive-compulsive she is also tone deaf. The audience had already worked that out for themselves.

Laughing Horse @ The Quadrant, 28-30 May
Rating:
Jenni Davidson

We enter a kitchen and sit quietly at the table while our peaceful host boils a pot of water, brews a teapot of rose tea and then tells us a poetic story of language and life.
With more fragrant tea, strawberries, chocolate cake and letter-shaped biscuits, Mandana shared her magical tale where vowels are grown and letters are cherished like the most precious seeds of tomorrow.

Gently emphasising the overuse of speech and pace in today’s busy world, she created a truly mindful experience – both original and moving. A sublime slice of rose petal heaven!

The Nightingale Theatre (upstairs kitchen), 29th May
Rating:
Monica Perdoni