Why the Whales Came – Darlington Civic Theatre, Teesdale Mercury

Why the Whales Came – Darlington Civic Theatre

Apr 15, 2009

THE Birmingham Stage Company are well known for their high quality performances of classic stories including Tom’s Midnight Garden, The Jungle Book, Danny Champion of the World and Treasure Island, which are just a few to have visited Darlington Civic Theatre over the last few years.  Michael Morpurgo’s Why The Whales Came is the latest to get the Birmingham Stage Company treatment.

This dark adventure has everything children want in a story, from ghosts and curses to the areas of the island the children are forbidden from going to and the mysterious Birdman they are warned to stay away from. The story set on the island of Bryher, one of the Isles of Scilly during the First World War tells of two best friends, Daniel, played by Jay Quinn and Gracie, played by Eliza Caitlin Parkes. When Gracie and Daniel are in search of a safe place to sail their toy boats away from the bullying Big Tim, played by Thomas Woodman, they encounter the Birdman, played by Chris Llewellyn. Although forbidden from speaking to the Birdman, they soon strike up a friendship and the island is united in saving the whales.

The acting throughout was faultless especially that of Chris Llewellyn who was just scary enough as the Birdman. The staging was simple yet incredibly effective and was able to draw the audience into the story. The children I accompanied were enthralled, though the youngest, mesmerised throughout, didn’t understand every aspect of the story. This was still another success for The Birmingham Stage Company.


A J Harrison