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This afternoon, I had the pleasure of watching the live stage show ‘Rocket Post‘ at The Catstrand in New Galloway. What a fantastic action packed, fun filled, family friendly theatre production it was, perfect for the intimate close up atmosphere that the Catstrand offers.
The show, that is currently touring Scotland, based on the real-life story of eccentric engineer Gerhard Zucker, Rocket Post! uses a mix of live action, puppetry, song, dance and special effects to tell the tale of how, in 1934, a rocket full of letters was blasted into the sky towards the Isle of Harris in what was deemed an innovation in communication…but things didn’t quite go to plan.
Our view from our seats at the Catstrand.
From the very start of the play, the cast had myself and the rest of the audience gripped, as we were pulled straight into the action. We were that crowd at the beach on the Isle in 1934, the story unfolds to introduce us to the characters, in first and third person, with the three actors, not only acting out all the parts, but also narrating the story through speech and song.
I don’t want to give too much of the story away, but sitting on the front row at the Catstrand, on the same level as the performers, is an amazing experience, like nothing you can ever get at large city theatres, we had rockets flying over our heads, parts of rockets landing at our feet, and close calls with rabbits, cows and chickens.
The imagination of the creators and cast of the play is excellent, and helps the audience of all ages use their imagination too, looking up into the roof of the theatre to see rockets (That are not really there sometimes, fly in the sky), using a combination voice, light, smoke, sound and music, it is unreal where your imagination can take you.
But the story wasn’t all fun and rockets, it was educational, using the Gallic language in parts, with a wee sprinkling of German in there too, plus plenty of historical facts about flight, rockets and science too.
And although there is plenty of fun, lights, laughter and things to entertain the younger audience, there is an underlaying depth in the story for the older viewers, that covers the toughness of island life, the loss and heartache caused by World War One, the emotion of missing loved ones who have moved to far away places, and the question of – is the grass really greener, out there in the bigger world?
So ‘Rocket Post’ is not only a total ‘Blast’ for all the family, but it makes your mind ‘Fly’, although your bum may be fixed firmly to your seat, ‘Rocket Post’ will blow your mind, and take you to the moon and back. (Review written by RB for DGWGO)
Rocket Post! is the first production by Ailie Cohen and Lewis Hetherington’s new company, Constellation Points, with Producer Sarah Gray.Devised in collaboration with MJ Deans, Deborah Arnott and David Rankine, supported by Creative Scotland’s Touring Fund. Originally commissioned by National Theatre of Scotland, this new production of Rocket Post! is specially made to pop up anywhere and create a joyful experience for communities to come together, and hear this remarkable story.
Further shows of Rocket post will be happening on –
