Stig of the Dump

by Clive King, adapted by Jessica Swale // Storyhouse, Grosvenor Park Chester

★★★★★
THE STAGE, REVIEWSHUB

★★★★
THE GUARDIAN, BRITISH THEATRE GUIDE, CHESTER CHRONICLE

“Derek Bond plays to the venue’s advantages. There is a powerful sense that this act of theatre is something we are all joining together to make – watchers and performers.
This is magical.”
THE OBSERVER

“Outstanding adaptation and astute casting combine in a magical piece of family theatre. It’s a rare show that can captivate a very young theatre audience and engage their parents and grandparents along the way. Jessica Swale has adapted the text with loving attention to detail and Derek Bond’s direction brings it to life in a way that grasps the attention of young and old alike.
By making Stig a puppet, operated and voiced by Seaward and friends, the production places us all with Barney and his family in debating the reality of the character, and it makes the tremendous transformation in the closing scenes all the more breathtaking.
Bond’s production is likely to cause as many tears of nostalgic joy as it does youthful laughter. This is family theatre of the highest standard.”
THE STAGE

“Clive King’s classic tale of a boy’s friendship with a mysterious caveman is retold with panache, poignancy and rousing percussion in this absorbing adaptation.
Pure theatrical magic.”
THE GUARDIAN

“Encompassing a meaningful plotline, humour, engaging characters and new ventures in creative production, this is a performance not to be missed this summer. Magical.”
THE PUBIC REVIEWS

Stig of the Dump is another charming production from a company that has become a quality mark of family entertainment. It is guaranteed to please all children and those who may secretly yearn to be once more.”
BRITISH THEATRE GUIDE

“[The original novel] is not the most complicated of stories and is hardly loaded with incident but what Swale has done with the tale and how director Derek Bond interprets that in the performance space was nothing short of magical.”
CHESTER CHRONICLE

barney
Anton CROSS

stig
John SEAWARD

lou
Charlotte MIRANDA-SMITH

grandma
Katherine TOY

grandad
Ian HARRIS

pip snarget
Fred LANCASTER

lil snarget
Hatty PRESTON

teddy snarget
Ben TOLLEY

penny
Danielle HENRY

lenny / mr blunt
Johnson WILLIS

sgt fishwick
Kate MARLAIS

pc parker
Harry LIVINGSTONE

miss pickles
Pippa MOSS

chief of the cavemen
Rose O’LOUGHLIN

will sapling
Robert WILLOUGHBY

adapted by
Jessica SWALE

from the novel by
Clive KING

design by
Jessica CURTIS

puppetry design & direction
Michael FOWKES

music composed by
Tayo AKINBODE

photos by
Mark McNULTY