OUR TEACHER'S A TROLL at Breckenridge Backstage Theatre

Holly and Sean are the terrible twins who are so naughty that the headteacher of their primary school, Mrs Spike, is found gibbering in the sandpit. But her replacement proves more than a match for the twins – he’s a troll! Any child who misbehaves or protests at the new rules – which include child labor and eating brussels sprouts in peanut butter for lunch – gets their head bitten off. Are the bright and sparky Holly and Sean tough enough to find a way to bring a halt to the Troll’s reign of terror?

Dennis Kelly, who wrote the book for the hit musical, Matilda, has created a gleefully nasty tale of triumph over adversity for the over-sevens. This is top-shelf storytelling directed by BBT Artistic Director Christopher Willard (Lion, Witch, Wardrobe and Babe The Sheep-Pig) which boasts an ideal intimacy, audience interactivity, and lots of laughs. Steph Holmbo, Ben Fowler, and Erik Petersen are the yeoman actors who play all the roles in this fast-paced, family-friendly comedy - with bite. The story can be read in several different ways as parents, superintendent, policeman – even the state governor – refuse to believe what the children are telling them. In the end, of course, the children have to take matters into their own hands and the Davids triumph over Goliath. It’s good, nasty fun that shows that while asking “Why?” can be a wind-up, it can also save your life.

‘A celebration of naughtiness and questioning, it's a raucous, skin-crawling treat.’ Guardian

‘A hilarious dark fable.’ Herald