Pants and pirates are winning themes for the under-8s, and Brad Fitt’s jolly adaptation of Claire Freedman and Ben Cort’s much-loved children’s book Pirates Love Underpants (sequel to Aliens Love Underpants, among other pants-themed bestsellers) is perfectly pitched for this younger end of the theatre-going market. While this is Curve's Christmas production for children, it is due to go on tour from spring 2025.
The delightful pre-set gets us all familiar with the puppetry and characters, as seagulls Barnaby and Gulliver try and charm the young audience out of their sweets, while on stage, pirates load barrels onto their ship, The Black Bloomer.
Pirates Hornswoggle (Yasmin Parekh), Bucko (Evie James) and Plank (Stephanie Lysé) await the arrival of the fearsome Captain Eyepatch (expert puppetry by James Blake-Butler) with the song “Captain Eyepatch” setting him up as “vicious and vile” (don’t worry, he’s not that bad really). Captain Eyepatch takes command of the bumbling band of pirates with his parrot Patricia (skillful puppetry too by Nat Speight), who’s the brains in this relationship.
Captain Eyepatch has heard there’s treasure to be had by way of the fabled Pants of Gold, and as pirates love underpants, they all embark on their quest to find them. However, danger lurks at every turn as they sail the shark-infested sea at Big Knickers Bay, cross Long John Bridge as hungry crocodiles snap below and make their way through the Scary Caves, complete with snakes, spiders and a skull and crossbones.
At just under an hour long, this is great theatre for children, with many opportunities to shout out (especially in your best pirate voice), lots of slapstick, a bubble machine and a spray or two from water guns. Deborah Mingham’s set design and costumes are fun, bright and true to Ben Cort’s book illustrations. Mingham’s puppetry design is also impressive and combines effectively with Jude Taylor’s humorous songs, particularly the sharks during “Big Knickers Bay” and the rapping crocodiles in “The Snap Snap Rap”.
Video design by Wes Fife provides additional storytelling support, and there are lots of fun touches too with Jonathan Payne’s lighting design.
Director Cara Nolan and her team have got everything just right with this production, and the cast’s infectious enthusiasm and full commitment to being a pirate is delightful. With a rousing “shiver me timbers” and “bless my barnacles”, embrace your inner pirate and enjoy.