The Little Red Hen

Two years ago Stuff and NonSense opened this enchanting show at Watermans, giving just one performance before embarking on a UK tour. This year’s Christmas run is a straight two weeks of 22 performances, plus daily workshops – an achievement in itself. But this well told tale for three to seven-year-olds is also playing to crowded, eager houses.

A focused audience of tots, vocal but open to suggestion, was swift to grasp that the pecking hen puppet on the farmhouse roof is the same as the Little Red Hen played with charm and energy by Helen Day.

Having found a cache of grain she plans to plant it for next year, but gets no help from the other animals.

Adam Fuller assumes an air of insouciance as the narrative unfolds, playing his guitar and a tiny xylophone. But his real role is to stroll away behind the scenes to animate the puppets, an angry Pig, a glamorous Cow and an uncooperative Rat, all rudely outspoken, who live in a giant farmyard cupboard with doors.

After assembling a weird winnowing machine to grind the harvest grain into flour, the unexpected closer is a brilliant lesson in bread-making.

Hurrah – a real winner.