Gulliver’s Travels review (Box Tale Soup at Edinburgh Fringe)

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★★★★

As a designer by day, I tend to gravitate towards puppetry and set-designed focused theatre, inspired by the artistry of the creative teams. When curating our Edinburgh Fringe schedule for 2024, reviewing a show that features puppet design was top of my list and when I found out about Box Tale Soup and their return to the Fringe with adaptations of ‘Casting the Runes’ and ‘Gulliver’s Travels’, I quickly made space for their work in my schedule. I actually interviewed Co-Founder and Co-Artistic Director Noel Byrne ahead of the festival, learning about their creative process and sustainable theatre making practices, in advance of the company’s third ‘completely paperless Fringe’.

Initial thoughts

Unfamiliar with the details of 18th-century writer Jonathan Swift’s ‘Gulliver’s Travels’, in my opinion the actual story is the weakest element of the production, requiring prior knowledge to fully appreciate the specifics of Swift’s work. That being said, Box Tale Soup conveys the tale tremendously well, thanks to Noel Byrne’s captivating narration as Lemuel Gulliver.

The appeal of their theatre making is the visual storytelling, and honestly I would have been in awe of their work, regardless of the subject matter. Transfixed by the spellbinding puppetry and intricate details of the set, it is incredibly impressive how the company has managed to put their own spin on the lands from Swift’s book.

Compelling visual theatre

The production is extremely visual, from the imaginative puppetry to the transformative set pieces. Elements of the staging are swiftly repositioned and reused to create new, dynamic layouts and the creativity of the manipulation knows no bounds. The way that the team brings to life the locations that Gulliver visits is nothing short of impressive. They also approach the design from an ethical perspective too, opting to repurpose materials in the creation of the props and puppets, which in turn gives the whole show a raw and natural look. It feels very appropriate for a seafaring and adventure-themed production.

Combining puppetry, live acting and and an original score

Starring Noel Byrne, Antonia Christophers (fellow Founder and Co-Artistic Director) and Adam Boyle, the show intertwines live acting with puppetry and Dan Melrose’s sea shanty score. Each of the elements work in harmony, providing a varied theatrical experience. The score is a welcome addition to the material, helping to set the scene and also aid continuity between the different voyages. The performers sing the musical numbers beautifully, evoking the spirit of the musical genre and elevating the overall ambiance.

Classic storytelling versus innovation

There is something truly magical about puppetry as an art form and Box Tale Soup provides a captivating hour of entertainment with ‘Gulliver’s Travels’. Whilst the source material is considered a classic, the story is a little dated and in some ways this conflicts with the company’s innovation. In terms of the future, it would be exciting to see Box Tale Soup take on a more modern piece of work. With their sustainable practices, a story with an environmental focus could be a really topical venture. Audiences can catch ‘Gulliver’s Travels’ at Pleasance Courtyard – Above until 25th August (excluding 14th), with performances starting at 13:00. Tickets can be purchased via the festival website.

Thanks for reading my blog today.

Love Kat xxxx

*My ticket for ‘Gulliver’s Travels’ was gifted in exchange for an unbiased review.