Little M at The Place is a small theatrical celebration with big heart. Conceived, choreographed and co directed by Anders Duckworth and written and co directed by Luke Skilbeck, the piece reimagines Hans Christian Andersen’s tale into a coming of age story for a new generation. The production at first seems to be aimed at children and families but is also a beautiful dance piece, surreal and surrendering, that adults enjoy - almost more than the kids! From first image to last, Little M is built around curiosity, play and a literal and figurative reaching for other worlds.
On stage the plot is simple and warm. Little M and Punk the Puffer Fish discover a suitcase of treasures and wonder about the world above. That question leads to a journey of transformation, friendship and finding where you fit. The show is not about plot puzzles so much as about feeling and wonder. Puppetry, projection and movement sit together to tell the story without heavy exposition, and that trust in visual storytelling is effective and generous.
Where Little M truly succeeds is in its creative team work. E. M. Parry’s design gives the stage an underwater glow while Scamp’s puppetry adds character and charm. NikNak’s music threads through the piece and creates rhythmic lifts for the choreography. The four dancers Jose Funnell, Áine Reynolds, Naissa Bjørn and Tylee Jones move with a clear language of play, switching from comic beats to tender lifts as the story requires. Some sequences feel richly imagined and some moments ask the audience to imagine more than is shown, but overall the balance leans toward wonder rather than explanation.
The piece invites talk after the show, which is exactly the point for a production that asks you to wonder together. There is a gentle political edge too, in celebrating difference and non binary perspectives, but it is woven into the adventure naturally. Little M is a joyful, tender and visually imaginative family show. It offers music, puppetry and choreography in equal measure and leaves the room feeling warmer and braver. Bring kids, bring friends, and let yourselves be curious.
