Down a side street and through a gate, behind a big black door, a special delivery is about to take place. Upstairs in the Sky created by Quicksilver Theatre is a play in every sense of the word. The prologue sees two delivery people arrive at the theatre with a box addressed to the audience: a Make-It-Yourself Story Kit.
Upstairs in the Sky is fantastical, imaginative and has spectators laughing and smiling as they are invited to enjoy familiar tales alongside the story of King Jim and Princess Veronica. The audience see day turn to night and get a chance to play amongst the clouds. It’s amazing what can be done with card boxes, coloured sheets and foil. The Quicksilver Theatre certainly gives Blue Peter a run for its money.
“The play has been running for four years and as well as theatre spaces it is also performed in class rooms,” shares Guy Holland, performer, writer, director and founder of Quicksilver Theatre. “Upstairs in the Sky is a play that is truly universal, every child can understand and have fun.” Consequently the play has been performed all around the world including Russia, Japan and Mexico. It also features writer, director and actor Carey English, with a fantastical score by Rob Lee.
The simplicity invites the spectators to interact in many ways. In a way the performance makes you wish you were a child again, but it also captures the minds of children and adults alike, allowing you to think about the themes which the stories explore such as family, loss and the effects of giving, taking and sharing.
As the performers leave the stage, they indicate that spectators are invited to take the space, free to play with the story kit now it has been safely delivered. This, it seems, is when the real fun begins as the audience literally interacts, creating whatever they choose.
Spectators from local school, Princess May Primary, were having a great time and many other local schools have been involved. School groups get to take away a CD with the play’s musical score. They are also given the Make-It-Yourself Story Kit containing all of the props used in the show, well whatever’s left of it after the children get stuck in. It’s one show that will benefit a lot of school groups, families and children all around the UK. It’s perfect for entertaining children during the Christmas holiday.
One of my earliest memories is of watching a play at the theatre at the age of four. Looking at the children interact, jumping out of boxes, twirling coloured sheets around the room, recreating the characters and experimenting, it is easy to assume that the experience of Upstairs in the Sky will stay with its participants for years to come.
Upstairs in the Sky runs at the Arcola Theatre, London until 20 December 2007. To book tickets please contact 020 7503 1646.
For further information visit arcolatheatre.com.
