TAKING a headstrong three-year-old boy, freshly filled with York’s finest raspberry ripple ice cream, to a play exploring the issues about dementia should have had disaster written all over it.

But Leeds-based tutti frutti theatre company’s enchanting production exploring the relationship between a forgetful old lady and a little girl, with bubbles, balloons, dancing and songs, kept even the smallest audience members amused.

Monday’s Child is aimed at families and children between the ages of three and seven, and alongside the jokes about pants and colourful costumes for the children there is a beautiful story about an afternoon of play between two people at opposite ends of the age spectrum.

There were laughs even for adults as well as more poignant moments as the old lady, played by Erika Poule of Cbeebies’ Grandpa in My Pocket, pieced together her past. Adult actress Josie Cerise skittered about the stage, convincing as the little girl.

Writer Brendan Murray worked with neuroscientists and the Alzheimer’s Society to pen Monday’s Child, and the result is a sensitive twowoman show which explores the importance of play and the relationship between children learning about the world, and older people who can no longer remember important parts of it.

While I’m sure some of the play’s more complex issues about memory loss and relationships sailed right over William’s head, the fact he sat still, entranced, on a theatre seat for 50 minutes, is a glowing testament to the actors, the script, and the delightful production.

And, as we walked out, completely unprovoked, he said: “That was fun, mummy”, which I think says it all.

  • Monday’s Child has further performances on June 10, at 11am and 1.30pm, as part of Little Feet festival of children’s theatre. Box office 01904-623568 or visit yorktheatreroyal.co.uk