CityLife

Mouldilocks And The Three Birds @ Bedlam

IT'S definitely not Into the Woods, although the premise for this entertaining piece mirrors Sondheim's delightful pastiche of the fantasy world of fairytales.

Not Another Theatre Company presents its own light-hearted look at your favourite fairy stories, in Bedlam, as one of the aims of the 24.7 Festival is to present new work outside normal venues.

There's a deliberately confusing plot, but the music for this jolly show is gleaned from a variety of musicals, with the added zest of fresh lyrics, while the script is mainly written in rhyming couplets. So there's a real feeling of pantomime, combined with the enthusiasm of a student production.

However, the whole thing is slickly packaged and played at a spanking pace.

The predominately youthful cast of four play all the roles, crossing gender to do so, and there's an innovative use of props. The audience thoroughly enjoyed it - perhaps because it's short and sweet.

So, if you need cheering up, it's only half-an-hour long and it's fun.

Mouldilocks And The Three Birds is on at Bedlam until Saturday, July 30 (Fri 29 12:30pm: Sat 30 5:30pm. 12 certificate). Show tickets are priced £7.50 (£4 concs). Tickets can be booked at the Library Theatre Box Office in person or on 0161 236 7110.