Viv French is a wonderful storyteller and her new tale of a family theatre company struggling to put on a show in the provinces is a delight from start to finish. Times are hard for the Pringles, but Pa Pringle, Mr Micawber style, is certain ‘something will come up’ and decides to take the family via train to Uncaster to dazzle its residents with his Lear. Meanwhile, in Uncaster the recently widowed Lady Poskett has money troubles too, a mountain of debts to pay off. When indefatigable scullery maid Edie suggests they take in lodgers the two storylines combine. Both sets of protagonists face more challenges in the shape of unscrupulous fellow theatricals Little Baby Bubbles and his manager mother, and Olio Sleevery crooked landlord, but when the curtains come down the good have ended happily. It’s a bravura performance – irresistible characters, a plot full of drama and a wonderful sense of community and companionship. Encore, encore!
The wonderful adventures of a family theatre-troupe, touring Victorian England by train - a high-octane, high-drama romp, with a colourful company of characters. Dark and deadly deeds, piratical plots, lost heiresses and poor little orphans - Vivian French conjures up the very spirit of Victorian theatre in a fabulous new novel for middle-grade readers. To avoid financial ruin, the Bottle family's theatre-troupe has left London behind, travelling to the north of England by train. With new audiences to play to, and less competition, they hope to make enough money to pay off their debts back home. But will their plans be foiled by the odious Olio Sleevery? It's time for young actors Rosie and Charlie to save the day, and, with the help of their new friend Edie Boiler, ensure the thunderous success of the company's first performance.
A wonderful gallery of eccentric characters and an exuberant plot with a twist at the end ... this is storytelling at its theatrical best!
Vivian French has been writing for over thirty years, and has published over 300 books for children. She is passionate about illustration and is a co-founder of Picture Hooks – a project that mentors emerging illustrators. She has taught illustration at ECA for over 14 years and is now a visiting lecturer. Vivian has an MBE for services to literature, literacy, illustration and the arts. Before she was a writer, Vivian was an actor and a story teller; she still loves telling stories, especially fairy stories and folk tales..
