Regent’s Park Open Air theatre, London
Puppeteers subtly animate a range of folkloric beasties, including a magical unicorn and screechingly strange fairy, in this comical, spellbinding show
Something miraculous is happening. The sun is shining and the kids in the crowd are buzzing on sugar yet, somehow, they’re still glued to their seats. One of the few times the children do move is to leap on stage and get stuck in with the action: they look spellbound, hooked on the story and utterly invested in the adventure unfolding around them.
Dragons and Mythical Beasts has been created by the Dinosaur World Live team, including writer Derek Bond, but this latest puppet-led extravaganza is decidedly more heartfelt. There are dazzling puppets but there’s also a childlike passion and a hopefulness that light up the show from within.