I joined a very excited and young audience last night for the latest production at Hull New Theatre of David Walliams’ Demon Dentist, put on by The Birmingham Stage Company with a cast of 9 very talented actors.
It’s the story of a young boy called Alfie (Sam Varley) who hasn’t visited the dentist in 6 years, and his poorly dad (James Mitchell), after the new dentist Miss Root (Emily Harrigan) comes to his school assembly to introduce herself to all the children.
Alfie’s girlfriend Gabz (Georgia Grant-Anderson) who is NOT his girlfriend, just a friend who is a girl – a point he makes a lot through the story, is suspicious at how many of their classmates have toothache after eating Miss Roots ‘sugar free’ sweets. She convinces Alfie to help investigate. The story develops from here but I don’t want to spoil too much.
The storytelling is interspersed with bright songs and dancing, and there’s even a funny chase scene through the school corridors with a moped. This left the audience laughing. Towards the end of the show there’s a perilous situation involving Alfie, Gabz and Alfie’s dad that had my 8 year old companion clutching at my hand in fright, and also questioning if the things on stage were ‘really made of teeth’, but don’t worry, by the end they’re all singing a happy song.
As a dental phobic person I was a little apprehensive about what I would be seeing on stage but I really enjoyed it. There were lots of laughing and happy children after the show (including the 8 and 10 year olds I went with) and I’d happily see this again. It’s typical Walliams fayre and appeals to the young audience with appropriate crude jokes and situations. Take your youngsters off to the theatre for a treat and enjoy a great time together.
Demon Dentist is running at Hull New Theatre until Saturday 12 November. More information and tickets are available here: https://www.hulltheatres.co.uk/
