one4review | On 09, Aug 2024

Shadow puppetry feels oddly underrepresented in the arts, considering it dates back over literally thousands of years. Perhaps it’s those ancient origins that lead many of us to see it as a dated artform. Fortunately, there are still wonderful shows like Shadow Necropolis to remind us shadow plays are still a vibrant, exciting and very contemporary form of entertainment.

Shadow Necropolis is a masterwork by Mochinosha Puppet Company, consisting of writer Daniel Wishes and artist Seri Yanai. The deeply talented puppeteers use hundreds of beautifully handmade cutouts, some spotlights and a haunting soundtrack to bring their tale to life. The story is a direct sequel to last year’s production, Shadow Kingdom, featuring the continuing adventures of young schoolgirl Minerva, who travels to a mystical fantasy land every night in her dreams. This time, Minerva battles Oizys, the goddess of anxiety, who threatens to wreak havoc unless Minerva can learn to defeat the anxieties within herself. It’s not a small theme for what is ostensibly a kid’s show (though it’s enjoyable for all ages), but with wit, humour and imagination, our heroine is guided by a cast of wonderfully illustrated characters over some genuinely helpful techniques on managing panic attacks, intrusive self-doubts and other mental health crises anxiety can cause. I honestly was touched and somewhat blown away by how honestly well thought out the advice is in a show with a recurring slug DJ and I’m sure there’s as many parents benefitting from hearing it as stressed youths.

And that attention to detail and care is present at every level of the production, even the flyers – which are an entire printed mini-comic book in a pitch perfect pastiche of a Tales From the Crypt issue, complete with parody advertisements. The illustrations are in a style instantly recognisable to anyone with a passing knowledge of Japanese cartoons and comics, but with a twist of the macabre and spooky, evocative of Tim Burton. The puppeteering and choice of images makes the overall experience very cinematic and it’s as close to an actual live animated film as I think it’s possible to get, with clever use of multiple lights allowing for shot changes and even montages. Seen the first time, it’s breathtaking.

If you have children old enough to enjoy it, take them. If you’re a fan of Studio Ghibli or the work of Henry Selick, go. If it sounds like your sort of thing, check it out.

*****
Reviewed by Tom
Assembly Roxy-Upstairs
11.15 (1hr)
Until 26th Aug (not 14 or 20)