The Artistic Director of Theatre Alibi talks to Love London Love Culture about her latest production The Boy Who Climbed into the Moon, playing at the Polka Theatre from the 8th to the 11th March…

How would you describe the show for those who might like to come along? It’s about how the strangest of ideas might just turn out to be true. It’s a show that’s full of the weird and the wonderful and we tell our story using some gorgeous puppets, with great live music and on a really beautiful set.

What are you enjoying the most about being part of the show? I directed the show, so I get to see it a lot, which is enjoyable in itself! I’ve also been lucky enough to have met David Almond, who wrote the story and has been incredibly supportive and kind. But, most of all, I love watching the children in the audience as they get taken on the journey of the story. There are parts of the show that I know will generate a brilliant belly laugh and other moments where you can hear a pin drop. That’s the best bit of my job.

What would you say is the most important thing about making theatre for children?Although children are quite a particular audience, I think the most important thing is never to underestimate young people. Children have a tremendous capacity to surprise and if stories are told with real skill, care and sensitivity, they can understand so much more than we might immediately imagine. At its very best, theatre can give children access to whole worlds that they might not otherwise encounter and give them a real sense of what might be possible.

Have you got a favourite moment in the show? The set has a very special secret, which I won’t reveal here, but my favourite moment is when it transforms and I hear the children around me whisper ‘Woah!’.

What would do you think young audiences take away from The Boy Who Climbed into the Moon? I hope they go away with a whole set of vivid pictures in their heads, as the show looks so wonderful. And I hope that they have some sense that they can trust their own ideas and that, with the right support and advice, they can achieve so much more than they might ever have guessed.

The Boy Who Climbed into the Moon plays at the Polka Theatre from the 8th to the 11th March. For more information and to book tickets visit: https://polkatheatre.com/event/boy-climbed-moon/