I was at Edinburgh Fringe and in this production there is a park that’s been around for years. Welcome to Willow Park! Come and meet Parker the Parkkeeper and his cat Clover as they tell you the story of Maggie and Mylo the magpies. Cardboard Box Theatre Company presents this lively, musical puppet show which explores the importance of community and families in times of grief, specifically miscarriage, in sensitive and age-appropriate ways. Seasons is for audiences and loved ones of all ages; from those who are here, to the ones up above.
Upon entering the theatre space, audience members were offered individual battery-powered candles and told to switch them on once the cast had illuminated theirs. It was a simple but effective way of immediately involving the audience and helped create the gentle atmosphere needed for a production dealing with such a sensitive subject.
The show opened well, and initially I thought all the props around the stage were going to act as individual pieces of staging, with the puppets popping up from behind or around them, almost like a children’s television programme.
Instead, the puppetry is closer in style to productions such as War Horse, with handheld puppets brought to life in full view of the audience by the actors. This works particularly well because you quickly stop concentrating on the puppeteers and start investing in the characters themselves.
For an Edinburgh Fringe production, the scenery was amazing. There is a real homemade quality to many of the props, but I mean that positively. They don’t look as though they’ve simply been ordered from a professional scenery company; they look as though they’ve been created specifically for this story and this world. It gives Willow Park its own identity and adds considerable charm to the production.
One element I did find slightly distracting was the lantern positioned above the postbox. At certain points my eyes were naturally drawn towards it and away from where the action was taking place. It’s a very small staging point, but perhaps something worth looking at as the production develops.
The cast are excellent in their respective roles and handle both the lighter and more emotional parts of the story extremely well. The songs are also superbly performed and are an important part of the storytelling.
I did find the musical arrangement slightly confusing, however. At some points we have a keyboard being played live on stage, while at others a keyboard backing track appears to be used. Personally, I think it would be stronger to choose one approach or the other. Having the live keyboard is a lovely element, so I’d be tempted to lean into that wherever possible.
The pacing is good and, importantly, Seasons gives its central subject room to breathe.
Miscarriage and grief are two subjects that some theatre companies understandably shy away from, particularly when creating work that children may see. It’s incredibly difficult territory: how do you explain loss to a younger audience without frightening them, while also respecting the experiences of adults who may have lived through it?
Seasons manages that balance remarkably well. It doesn’t rush the explanation or attempt to brush over the difficult emotions. Instead, it takes its time and allows its characters to process what has happened. The production talks about grief in language younger audience members can understand while never making the subject feel trivial.
If I were making one suggestion for the production, it would be to introduce a little more humour during the first half. Children’s shows often have that one deliberately silly musical number that gets the younger members of the audience laughing and gives them a moment of release.
During the first half of Seasons, I felt several of the songs covered similar ideas around flying and freedom. I’d personally consider removing one of those numbers and replacing it with something much more humorous. Not because the production needs to become a comedy, but because that contrast could actually make the more poignant moments later in the show even stronger.
There is a lot to admire here. Cardboard Box Theatre Company has taken a subject that is rarely discussed openly, let alone explored through a family puppet show, and approached it with considerable sensitivity.
I absolutely think Seasons deserves to be seen at the Edinburgh Fringe, although unfortunately there are only a few performances remaining. Beyond the Fringe, I could also see this production working particularly well with parent groups and alongside charities or organisations supporting families who have experienced pregnancy loss.
It is imaginative, sensitive and beautifully performed by an excellent cast. Most importantly, it finds an accessible way of talking about something incredibly difficult without losing the warmth and hope at the heart of the story.
★★★★ 4 Stars
An imaginative and sensitive production that tackles miscarriage and grief with warmth, care and an excellent cast.
https://www.edfringe.com/tickets/whats-on/seasons
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