#TheatreReview |WHAT THE LADYBIRD HEARD | @captheatres | 26 – 28 April | #WhatsonEdin #KidsTheatre| 5 Stars

Two crafty robbers, one tiny ladybird, and a whole farmyard of fun!

Hefty Hugh and Lanky Len have a cunning plan to steal the farmer’s fine prize cow. But they reckon without the tiniest, quietest creature of all: the Ladybird has a plan of her own! Join the woolly sheep, the hairy hog, the fat red hen and the dainty dog in this glittering stage adaptation of Julia Donaldson and Lydia Monks’ colourful farmyard adventure. With live music, puppetry, plenty of audience participation and lots of laughs!

What the ladybird said is a vibrant, appealing adaptation of the book. The stage is filled with bright colours, music and song. The four actors keep the young audience engaged all the time with lots of interactive moments: asking them to join in and coming down into the audience, even appearing to hook a member of the audience to join them.

Raymond’s squeaky voice and mistimed antic were a delight.

There is a scene where the farm animals are made from everyday objects – a pig from a wheelbarrow, a horse from a bicycle, a sheep from a wheelbarrow as well as a duck, a goose and a hen who had a rubber glove on his head. The young audience shouted out in glee as each new animal was created.

Meanwhile, the ladybird flits about the stage waiting for its moment of glory.