The Voyages of Sinbad the Sailor

Unity Theatre, Liverpool
December 12 – January 11

Author: Jeff Young
Director: Graeme Phillips
Producer: Unity Theatre
Cast Includes: Mike Idris, Rebecca Riley, Jamie Stuart, Alice Bunker-Whitney,
Beatrice McEvoy, Carl Roberts

Running Time: 1 hr 40 mins

Traditional Christmas entertainment that is far from staid, The Voyages of Sinbad the Sailor is real festive treat. The strictest critics are the children in the audience and, looking around the packed auditorium on a wet Tuesday afternoon, The Unity can clearly rest easy judging by the magical delight and round-eyed awe that is etched into each of their faces.

With a delightfully witty script crafted by Jeff Young, Sinbad is an eclectic mix of action, shadow play and puppetry which is beautifully directed by Graeme Phillips. Mike Idris takes the title role and performs with great gusto, infusing the character with a subtle naiveté. Excellent too are Rebecca Riley as a delightfully wicked Captain Cora and Carl Roberts, particularly as the not so fierce Emperor.

There is always something different about The Unity’s Christmas productions. Something homely, quaint and quirky. No big stars but rather up and comers giving their all and utilising to the full a limited collection of props on a minimalist set that some schools might shake their head at. Yet it is exactly this back-to-basics approach that makes the Unity show so popular and why this production is so enjoyable.

Chris High

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