‘Going South for Winter’, first staged at the IW Storytelling Festival, is a charming children’s tale of a squirrel and a hedgehog who, rather than hibernating as usual, take up their friend Saphie Swallow’s suggestion of migrating to Africa for the winter. Produced by Pink Cow Theatre in association with the Apollo Youth Theatre, the show features young actors from the latter group bringing to the stage the skills they have learned from Mish Whitmore, who runs the Youth Theatre and has written and directed the show.

First credits have to go to Latia Charles who pops up from underground as Mole, right at the start of the show, and is onstage practically the whole time. She narrates the tale, and her talent is seen not just in her delivery of the speeches but in her reactions to what is going on elsewhere on stage while she is just an observer.

William the hedgehog (Florence Cowley) and Henry the squirrel (Dominic Craggs) make a great double act, from the moment they emerge from their hill and tree respectively and tumble down the hill to meet Mole. Indeed, the hill, the tree and the set as a whole require a mention here – Karl Whitmore has created and effective backdrop for this story just with painted cloths, a large central tree which can be lit to indicate different times of the day and year, and imaginatively placed cloths – I particularly liked the blue duckpond being instantly transposed into an ice-covered pond by whisking off a blue cloth to reveal a white one. Home made props such as conkers, mushroom and nuts also worked well.

Rose Parker was perfectly poised as Saphie Swallow and like the other characters her costume gave a good indication of her character – I especially liked the fringes on her arms representing wings, which she used to great effect. In fact, all the costumes gave a clear indication of the animal characteristics, and Sally Spencer is to be congratulated for her work here.

We then met Badger (Isla Rea) – again a great costume. Isla captured Badger’s knowledge and love of talking very well – whether the other animals were listening or not. Badger also made a good pairing with Henry’s Dad (Freddie Hollis) as they went looking for the missing William and Henry – I also liked the use of lanterns on a darkened stage to represent night time. Lighting was effective throughout, giving a clear indication of night/day and the seasons changing from autumn to winter to spring – Harry Spencer did a great job.

Elodie Sharratt completed the cast as Duck – again, with good characterisation and costume. The show was enhanced by some original music by Annelise Hannam and Harry Spencer – the finale song and dance was a good way of ending the show on a feel-good note, and the audience, made up mainly of family groups, clearly enjoyed the show. Well done to all involved.