The Chronicles of Atom & Luna is part of a wider project from Funnelwick Limb developed following the team’s earlier success with The Mystery of the Raddlesham Mumps. The stories by poet Murray Lachlan Young can already be enjoyed in a series of audio, animation and augmented reality formats on a variety of platforms, but here they are brought to life on stage.
Twins Atom and Luna live in a vast glass and steel palace near a forest. Their mysterious domineering mother has forbidden them to stray from the grass, to go into the forest or to have dealings with wild animals or birds. Suspended above them is a glass ball which they are told is watching their every move to make sure they don’t break the rules.
One day, after reiterating these instructions, mother leaves them, and they have no idea when or if she will ever return. When the food supplies run out they are left with a dilemma – either they starve to death or disobey the rules and go off in search of food.
Soon they meet a strange man called Iffly Sney. He seems trustworthy enough, but there is something odd about him, especially every evening at nightfall. The twins befriend Iffly but his night-time disappearances and the howling of a wolf-like monster become more frightening, and one morning it becomes clear that he will soon die if he doesn’t get help. Following a curious map that Iffly has given them, Atom and Luna set off on a quest into the forest, where Atom seems to be able to understand the animals and birds, but Luna remains sceptical. They go in search of Old Mother Redbeard, who they believe might be able to provide a potion to save Iffly.
Old Mother Redbeard seems more intent on telling stories than giving answers, causing Luna to storm off alone into the forest. Atom however realises that the stories will help her solve the riddles of Iffly’s predicament, the glass ball, and of the twins’ own mysterious existence.
Young’s text is lyrical, rhythmic and magical – a perfect blend of darkness and light in the very best tradition of fairytale. The show is directed by Nina Hajiyianni, who has immense skill in storytelling for children and families. Farrell Cox and Becca Bindang are Atom and Luna, with Alex Scott Fairley and Fran Burgoyne in the roles of Iffly Sney and Old Mother Redbeard, as well as playing other parts, delivering passages of narration, and operating a range of enchanting puppets.
Set and costumes by Bek Palmer, lit by Alex Musgrave, make every scene look exactly like an illustration from a storybook, and Chris Warner’s original music and sound provide the final touch of atmosphere to this really slick production.
The Chronicles of Atom & Luna is a genuinely magical piece of modern fairytale that speaks of love, family, friendship, lost identity, and learning who and what to trust. It also holds a message about what can be achieved if you just believe it can happen.
This performance, which is part of a major tour, marks the reopening of the former Action Transport Theatre in Whitby Park, Ellesmere Port, under its new name Theatre Porto. This follows a £2.8M redevelopment which has revitalised the building and created a brand new theatre space and a unique creative hub for children and young people.
For further information about Atom & Luna, as well as to access the digital media associated with the project, visit https://funnelwicklimb.com/
Merseyside audiences will have a further opportunity to see the play when it visits Liverpool’s Unity theatre for one performance only on 5th November.
For details of Theatre Porto’s new venue and their coming season of events, visit https://theatreporto.org/
Star rating: 5 stars
This review was originally written for publication by Good News Liverpool
Fran Burgoyne, Farrell Cox and Becca Bindang - image © Luke Witcomb
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Alex Scott Fairley, Fran Burgoyne and Farrell Cox - image © Luke Witcomb
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