Charlie and Lola's Best Bestest Play

When you’re taking a product as insanely successful as Lauren Child’s Charlie and Lola series and attempting to do something new, it can be a risky business. Both the books and the TV programmes have garnered millions of fans, some of whom sat expectantly in the Pleasance Courtyard waiting to see who – or what – would appear on stage.

Fortunately, Watershed Productions haven’t tried to dress up a diminutive actress as Lola or turn her into a 3D puppet – they know better than that. Instead they deliver two C&L favourites (‘It is absolutely completely not messy’ and ‘I’m not sleepy and I will not go to bed’) with 2D cardboard figures, four energetic performers, an endless supply of props and two memorable ‘ooh’ moments with butterflies floating from above and bubbles bursting into the air. The result is utterly charming, and engaging for even the figitiest of toddlers.

Pleasance Courtyard, 556 6550, until 18 Aug, 10am & 11.30am, £10–£11.