A Merry Misrule | Battersea Arts Centre

After last year’s festive performance The Holly King and The Oak King, award-winning immersive arts creators Wild Rumpus return to Battersea Arts Centre with a new family adventure. Telling the tale of yuletide traditions taken to unfortunate extremes, follow Revolutionary Rabbit through the city to meet characters telling the true meaning of Christmas, and rebelling against the cold hearted Yule Cat.

The story, written and directed by Hal Chambers takes place in the immersive rooms upstairs in the Battersea Arts Centre, completely transformed into a stunning visual and tactile experience for everyone in the family to enjoy, taking you through a variety of creative locations with different animal companions awaiting you in each one.

Through the journey, we learn that the mighty Yule Cat has enforced rules onto the city, that you must work hard and be perfect so at Christmas you get a shiny new present. They can only be new and only if you haven’t broken any rules all year. Along the way we meet other characters who choose to defy these rules, finding value in old and pre-loved items, forgotten stories and choosing kindness and forgiveness over rigid perfection. The moral of this story is worked perfectly into the narrative and is a lovely way to reinforce that perfection is an always moving target - there are things more important in life, such as choosing to be kind, and that Christmas isn’t always about shiny new gifts, but coming together with friends, family and others to spread joy.

With three cast members leading the show, each is engaging to watch and confidently guide young audience members through the story, keeping them interested and getting to know the audience as they progress, interacting through every part of the journey in ways that make their input feel truly influential to the story. Jack Reilly as Revolutionary Rabbit introduces us to the world with a sprightly, bouncy persona and resolute commitment to the Yule Cats reign that perfectly sets us up to feel like rebels as soon as we move on to the next room.

Louise Mellor as Pigeon has a constant comforting presence while guiding us through the rebel manifesto, flittering around the room and sharing a true love and passion for Pigeon's pre-loved items and belief in the rebellion that makes us want to take part. Mellor has a confidence that makes the audience feel settled in the new environment instantly, and takes away the barrier of self-consciousness we can often feel as adults when watching family shows.

Mouse and Puppeteer Oriana Charles rounds off the show's message with a wholesome and sweet persona, showing another side to the rebellion and giving a ‘ghost of Christmas past’ type chapter of the story.

A Merry Misrule is a family must-see for those who can access the venue, with a short run-time and every performance being relaxed with the ability to come and go as possible, it is an informal yet fun and heartwarming experience for kids and the young at heart alike. If you’re a fan of festive cheer, a beautifully designed fantasy world and a celebratory wassail to end an adventure, this is the perfect show for you.

A Merry Misrule has multiple daily showing up until 24th December at Battersea Arts Centre.

Tickets and More Information

★★★★★ (5*)

Gifted tickets in return for an honest review | Photography by Jemima Yong