The Incredible Book Eating Boy

It’s quite a challenge to find The Incredible Book Eating Boy – the wrong venue is printed on the tickets. When you finally make it, though, it’s well worth the effort.

The performance takes place—in front of one person at a time (or one parent with a child on their knee)—in the "Black Box". You sit in darkness, while three windows open and close in front of you, with puppetry, theatre and animation all used to re-tell Oliver Jeffers’ award-winning story.

This is a hugely innovative and imaginative piece of theatre. As you sit on a beanbag and wait for your personal performance, you can see the mechanics of the show, taking place outside the box, but this steals none of the magic. If anything it leads to a greater appreciation of the immense amount of work and co-ordination involved.

The only disappointing thing about The Incredible Book Eating Boy is that the performance doesn’t last longer. I would happily have sat in there all day. 

 

The Incredible Book Eating Boy, Pleasance Courtyard, until 29 August, times vary