Amazing Story of Adolphus Tips ★★★★★

Based on beloved children's author Michael Morpurgo's novel The Amazing Story of Adolphus Tips, 946 arrives on the The Globe's stage this summer, with boundless energy, exceptional puppetry and an important message about acceptance that shines out from behind the sweet story of a young girl and her cat.

Tender, political and surprisingly romantic: this story speaks to us all as it finally reveals the tragic secrets from the D-Day preparations that the US and British governments tried to keep quiet during the Second World War. Of all the children's theatre on in London this summer, The Amazing Story of Adolphus Tips is the play we most recommend.

We first meet Lily Tregenza (Mike Shepherd) as a rebellious, go-getting granny with a motorbike at the moment of her husband's death. The opening scenes are by far the worst - as the family bicker meaninglessly about what will happen to Lily and there's no emotional attachment between the audience and granddad's limply hanging head.

Fortunately, the plot then jumps back to Lily's past and gets going. Young Lily (Katy Owen) is a wiry, sometimes unpleasant, loud-mouthed little girl, whose love for her hard-working mother and absent soldier father is trumped by an obsession for her adopted cat, Tips.

Despite only being 12-years-old, Lily is far from spared from the impact of the war. Refugees appear in her class, beautiful African-American soldiers arrive in Slapton Sands, which forces the villagers from their homes, and even little Tips threatens to be swallowed up by the dangerous preparations for war.

London's theatres are enjoying a love-affair with Michael Morpurgo's stories that's given us eight years of War Horse in the West End and a summer of Running Wild at Regent's Park Theatre. Morpurgo, who collaborated in the making of this play, fearlessly tackles divisive and difficult issues, including class, race and even sexual awakening.

It's little wonder that The Globe’s new director, Emma Rice, is calling her first season the ‘wonder season’. Kneehigh have produced the show, so expect plenty of music to dance along to, very clever staging and a host of characters all played by the same ten, faultless actors.

A word of warning: standing tickets for The Globe are available, which is great for anyone who wants to boogie-woogie along to the music but maybe difficult for anyone under the age of 10. If you are standing and are close to the stage, prepare to get splashed. If you're sitting, it's worth paying for a cushion.

Recommended (by us) for ages 6+