There are naysayers out there who keep saying theatre will die off. After all, we're in a cost of living crisis and we all know it's not a cheap treat to head out and watch a live stage production.
I'm a regular to the pantomime at Nottingham's Theatre Royal, which is of course always packed to the rafters, so I was interested to see how well-attended a mid-week, school-night play aimed at kids would be.
Well, I was surprised. It wasn't a sell out for sure but the theatre was pretty much full. And for an evening show definitely aimed at primary school-aged children, that is no mean feat.
But David Walliams is a household name - most of the audience will know the story well already. He's certainly a prolific writer, but the Demon Dentist is one of his best known books and a well-read one in my house. How well books translate to stage is another matter but most of Walliams' books are probably written with stage and screen adaptations in mind. The characters are always larger than life stereotypes, with strong echoes of Roald Dahl-style personalities.
Demon Dentist is a modern mix-up of The Witches and Charlie and the Chocolate Factory for me. Protagonist Alfie - a hard-done by but good-as-gold lad - has to juggle the tricky life of a 12-year-old with caring for his poorly father who has breathing difficulties thanks to a life down the pit. He and his friend Gabz take on the new local dentist, Miss Root, and uncover her less than ethical activities when it comes to the loose teeth of the town.
The story of a young lad overcoming the evil in his neighbourhood is one we can all get on board with. What I wasn't prepared for was the amount I'd get drawn into the story and how emotionally invested in the characters we all were. And that was even with a fantastic spoiler from my 11-year-old son before the show started.
I left the theatre feeling I'd really lost myself in this colourful, action-packed and slightly crazy story. The action moves along at a decent pace, and with enough extra "action" scenes to get the giggles going from my two boys. Definitely worth a night away from the TV!
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