Geppetto

Amadan Ensemble bring Geppetto to the Lyric Theatre from Tuesday 15 December, running through to Thursday 31 December. It's a non-verbal production, so there's no dialogue to follow — the story is told through physical comedy, puppetry and music, which makes it a good shout for younger kids or for when you've got a group with different needs and just want something everyone can get into without worrying about the script.

The show is written by David Morgan, and it's a reimagining of his original story The Untold Truth of Captain Hook. The plot centres on Geppetto, whose dull life in his lonely repair shop is turned upside down when a magical visitor brings his objects to life. From there, the shop descends into chaos: a lamp that causes havoc, a radio that bursts into song, and a hoover determined to cause trouble. It's the kind of thing that works well on a stage with puppets and physical comedy, where the humour comes from the objects behaving in ways they shouldn't.

Amadan Ensemble performs it, and Gemma Mae Halligan directs. The production is recommended for children aged 4 and over, and it's also described as suitable for audiences with diverse needs, so it's a fairly open one to bring a family or a mixed group along to.

It runs for 50 minutes with no interval, which is a handy length for younger ones. Most performances are at 10:30 and 12:30, with a 13:00 show on Saturday 19 December. You'll find it in the Naughton Studio at the Lyric Theatre in Belfast, from 15 December through to the end of the month.