Blue Peter meets puppetry perfection in this brilliantly bizarre theatrical extravaganza that’s fun for all the family.
Created by Jeff Atchem, who appears on stage as Spain’s entrant into a mad science competition, Sticks Stones Broken Bones is a celebration of play, experimentation and primitive theatre exploration. Using teddies, shoes and even audience members, Atchem is able to create mind-bending shadow puppet scenes that make you laugh, cry, gasp and gawp.
His showmanship is second to none and, even though he utters very few words in English to the audience, his over-the-top physicality and down-to-earth persona draws you in from his very first appearance.
As he goes about creating each individual scene out of the things he finds around him, Atchim does extremely well in building up the suspense before revealing his newest shadow friend. We meet a woman enjoying TV, a couple playing chess and even a horse rider who is desperate for victory.
Making his first character out of the word “ART” cut into masking tape on a balloon, you can’t help but feel that he is making a statement bigger than that of a few paper tubes and some funny wigs. Good quality, high-end art doesn’t have to be expensive or full of the meanings of life. Art can be fun, ingenious and playful whilst still being accessible for all ages at the same time.
Sticks Stones Broken Bones is a feat of imagination that is as colourful and exciting as it is jaw-dropping and unbelievable. This is object theatre that you cannot object to and will leave you as speechless as the host.