“I hate puppets!” said a recalcitrant small boy on the way into the theatre. Fortunately, this one man (two puppet) show had him laughing and marvelling within minutes. So that was OK! Puppets are in fact amazing – the suspension of disbelief that can be achieved if one drops one’s guard with a puppet is a testament to the bizarreness of the human brain – and to the skill of the puppeteer.

The story of The Sorcerer’s Apprentice takes a bit of explaining when some of the audience are under 4. Fortunately, the Garlic Theatre company from Norfolk knows well how to keep the attention of their family audience. Interesting use of props – keep an eye on that owl! – is one sure-fire method. Moving swiftly on to some exciting magic is another.

Theatre – especially if you are in the front row – can be an intense experience for young children, and a few of the youngest looked a little pale at the sorcerer’s scary nose. Luckily he turned out to be a goody and not only that, but a mixer of mysterious potions involving spider juice and magic water jugs. Smiles crept back on to many small faces. The beautifully-lit underwater shadow puppet interlude with a snippet of Dukas’ famous theme led us gently towards the story’s end.

The famous music took me back to my own childhood and Disney's Fantasia. The music's swirly acceleration still has an emotional charge - perhaps it reflects the feeling you get in your stomach when something goes wrong because you didn't do what you were told! However, I chiefly recall being rather outraged on Mickey's behalf and suspicious about what I took to be the message - 'Do what the big old person says, not what he does". Here, a more positive moral message was very clearly laid out: "There are no shortcuts to learning". Let’s hope that the children there today took it on board for the apprenticeships they will, global economic climate permitting, undertake in future.

Pascal’s verdict: Good. I liked it when the puppet flew up on the book.

Reviewed by Nancy Gladstone (aged) and Pascal (age 5)