The Boy & The Bird – The Hope Street Theatre, Liverpool

Writer: Ollie Thomas

Director: Morven Currie

The Boy & The Bird, presented by Folk-Sake Theatre at The Hope Street Theatre, with the support of Tip Tray Theatre’s ‘Tip For The Future’ initiative. A project that helps developing artists get their work in front of paying audiences is a witty and heart-warming musical that explores themes of loss, hope, friendship, and connection.

Inspired by folk tales of racing pigeons, the story follows Alex (Anthony Scott) a young man searching for his late father’s prized racing pigeon in London. As a Lawyer (Elliot Butler), Food Courier (Mary Savage), and Taxi Driver (Joe Owens) join the search, a wild journey unfolds, taking place over the course of a single day.

The standout aspect of the production from the off is the original score composed by Ollie Thomas. The songs complement and enhance the story and help push the narrative along. They provide a refreshing and uplifting message, delving into the lives of the characters and creating relatable connections with the audience. The music is beautifully unique, adding depth to the emotions portrayed on stage.

The relatability of the story is another strong point, also written by Thomas. The show presents genuine characters facing real-life situations, which fosters a strong connection with the viewers. It’s refreshing to see a musical that showcases “normal” people, and it would be wonderful to witness more portrayals like this on stage. Thomas’ script skillfully strikes a delightful balance between comedy and heartfelt emotions.

The performances by the four actors are captivating right from the start. They make bold choices and portray well-developed characters, drawing the audience’s attention and investment in the story. The singing by the cast is brilliant, there is never a weak moment between the four strong performers, showcasing a true and strong connection throughout.

The set design by Isabella Friend is minimal yet effective, allowing the focus to remain on the performances. The addition of projections from Friend adds a unique and immersive dimension to the show, beautifully illustrating the story.

At times the direction from Morven Currie feels a little too simple, this can arguably be seen as both a strength and weakness, however, while it helps focus things on the story the performers are telling, there are moments where it could have benefited from a little more intricacy. A choice that most certainly needs questioning is giving the cast no chance to bow, which left this reviewer and indeed many audience members a little confused – especially after witnessing some excellent performances.

The Boy & The Bird is a heart-warming family-friendly show with the potential to resonate with a wide audience, especially with its strong themes of grief, hope and friendship. with Its strong cast, great script, and original music, it’s a promising debut outing for a production that could go far.

Runs until 11th June 2023