Review: GANGSTA GRANNY, Garrick Theatre

Gangsta Granny, Birmingham Stage Company's production of David Walliams' bestselling children's book, has arrived in the West End following a long-running UK tour.

Suitable for kids aged five and over, the show is a perfect antidote to cries of 'Grannies are boring!'. Our young protagonist Ben is initially labouring under this preconception, forced to spend Friday evenings at his frequently flatulent Granny's house playing Scrabble and eating cabbage soup. One day, however, he discovers that Granny has a rather colourful criminal past. This leads them to plot and attempt an elaborate and daring heist to steal perhaps the most high-profile jewels in the world...

The development of the relationship between Ben and Granny is the real heart of this show. Ashley Cousins' Ben is a wide-eyed and willing foil to Gilly Tompkins' wonderful Granny, who expertly spins tales of her past adventures and enthusiastically enters into new ones, complete with her mobility scooter and handbag. They're ably supported by the rest of the hard-working cast, who switch between characters; special mention to Benedict Martin for his deliciously over-the-top turn as weasely Neighbourhood Watch leader Mr Parker.

The pace slows a little in places, and perhaps too much time is given over to scenes addressing Ben's parents' obsession with ballroom dancing (Mum definitely has a touch of the Mrs Wormwood about her). This penchant for the Paso does however provide a neat distraction during the scenery changes. Jacqueline Trousdale's set design is inventive, with rotating elements that variously flip out, Swiss Army knife-style, into beds, front rooms and corner shops.

There are a couple of slightly dubious moments of humour involving some clunky stereotyping of Asian shop-owners and Germans, but these can be forgiven since they'll probably soar over the heads of the younger audience members. It's also refreshing to see parents with ambitions for their child to pursue a non-traditional career path (although the show humorously skewers pushy parenting in one delightfully awkward scene).

It's all fun and entertaining, of course, but a couple of broader messages will make it through to the kids in the audience too. Firstly, follow your dreams, whether they're to be a ballroom dancer or a plumber. And secondly, and most importantly, old people aren't boring if you take a bit of time to talk to them - who knows what your Granny might have hidden in her past?

Gangsta Granny at the Garrick Theatre until 3 September

Photo credit: Mark Douet

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