Ailie Cohen - Cloud Man Hill Street Theatre 16 August

Point 1 - a beautiful show for 4-7 year olds. All other points subsidiary. The show has narrative and puppetry, together with simple but intelligent and amusing use of a tricksy little set, used to tell the story of Cloudia's life-long search for the very rare and very shy cloud men. She grows up, searching the world for clues and finding footprints, a hat and a bag on the way and eventually sets up her research base on Cloud Mountain. Inventive props and a lot of humour engaged a large age-appropriate audience, seated at the front on (lovely touch) cloud cushions. Some gentle audience interaction, nothing scarey. A strong simple story with a happy ending and moral choice for audience to consider, as Cloudia catches her long-awaited cloud man but, unable to see him unhappy, lets him go. Well performed by a single actor with excellent specially composed music. One of the best shows I saw and has done some rural touring in Scotland, so ready to go! Beware sightlines if you are considering booking as some of the tricks in the set may not be visisble if on a flat floor. Charlie, Artery.