The Sagas of Noggin the Nog

“The last thing we were expecting today was a talking bird,” jokes a bearded performer when a recognisable green bird appears. Very funny. At the very least, we were expecting a children’s show which utilised the context of theatre to retell the stories of the much-loved TV character Noggin the Nog. These two sagas—based on Noggin’s search for a bride and a quest to find a dragon—are sturdy adaptations, but a lack of interaction and shortage of imaginative thinking mean some of the kids in the audience struggle to engage.

Mischievous Theatre smartly choose an aesthetic slightly removed from Oliver Postgate and Peter Firmin’s original, opting for a broad Viking-look rather than stripes and smiles. Cutsie animations and puppets allow older audience members to re-live their childhood memories, while kids can enjoy the swords and silly helmets. A cast of four men play all the parts, including Graculus the aforementioned bird.

Every now and then there’s cause for a good laugh, but the jokes often feel forced (and, dare I say it, a little patronising). The only time we’re ever really asked to get involved is to say “good luck” and “goodbye”, which feels like one hell of a missed opportunity. Puppet work is also less-than-impressive, with these beings often looking as lifeless as someone forced to do early-morning flyering on the Mile. It all leads to a magical final reveal, but the journey there is too slow and contains none of the magic or humour of the original series.