Oily Cart

"Rarely have I heard a cello used more imaginatively than when Charlie Henry brings Max Reinhardt’s music to life on stage, from syncopated pizzicato to tremolo for tension and vamp for jolly tunes. The pairing of this with Arun Ghosh’s fine clarinet and keyboard work comes off well too.
Clare de Loon’s busy, homely set enables the cast to play plenty of interactive ‘Can you see..?’ games with the children, as they look for kitchen utensils for games and projects. The Christmas sky at the end - with giant twinkly croissant moon and crossed baguettes for stars - is delightful."

- Susan Elkin, The Stage,

"This is theatre which cradles its young audience and helps them to dream."

-Caroline McGinn, The Times *****

"What a journey, full of activity and magical moments! Let's not spoil the ending, but, like the mythic piece of piece of string, some things - like loving kindness, creativity and imagining, having fun and learning about life - are immeasureable. Oily Cart, however, continue to be an inspiring yardstick in the realm of children's theatre-making."

-Mary Brennan, The Herald

"Baby Balloon lasts 50 minutes, every single one a delight. This is touch-me-feel-me theatre of the highest order, in which the fourth wall is blown to smithereens."

-Lyn Gardner, The Guardian

"With the absolutely enchanting show If all the World were Paper, they provide a veritable masterclass in theatre production for kids aged two to five...By the time the cast is singing goodbye in various languages, one is quite bowled over by this most accomplished of children's productions."

- Mark Brown, Sunday Herald *****

"Oily Cart's latest offering is, as always, a feast for the senses. The Lyric studio has been transformed by designer Claire de Loon into a colourful world where balloons of different styles and sizes create everything from costumes to scenery.

As parents and children sit down, their eyes are drawn to one large balloon which changes shape and colour in synchronisation with Bob Karper's accordion/percussion accompaniment. But when the balloon deflates, no one can track down the wind to blow it up again. So the cast and audience begin a journey to find the wind and restore the balloon to its former glory.

Along the way, Tim Webb cleverly involves the children in a variety of scenarios - how can the chimes make their music or the flowers spread their perfume if there is no breeze?

On this occasion the youngsters were only too keen to get involved, indeed it was delightful to see them dancing around the balloon flowers to Max Reinhardt's enchanting music as members of the cast sprayed perfumed water into the air."

- Lisa Martland, The Stage

Just entering the space itself is a pleasure: the Lyric Studio is unrecognisable, transformed into a giant playground full of pint-sized houses, buttons to push, ball pools, soft areas to sit and things to rattle, shake and squeeze. Oily Cart has spent many years working with children with severe learning disabilities who are more likely to respond to touch or music than the spoken word. It shows.

After an interval of free play, the play begins - it takes the form of a hip-hop musical starring a puppet baby. Unlike more traditional theatre it is a complete sensory experience offering lace and peacock feathers to feel, sounds to wake up the ear, soothing smells to sniff and lights that twinkle, glisten and spark. It conveys a sense of wonder that most adult theatre never comes near.

Oh, and yes, the babes did storm the stage area - and they were made very welcome."

- Lyn Gardner The Guardian