In Slavic folklore tradition, Baba Yaga is an ambiguous character – sometimes a vicious old hag who eats children, in other stories a kindly grandmother figure who lends a helping hand to those in need – but she always lives in a magical house that stands on chicken legs.

Sophie Anderson’s young adult novel, the basis of the play, is in the second camp. Inspired by stories told by her Prussian grandmother, Anderson’s Baba Yaga is an eccentric but well-meaning old lady (played with comic idiosyncrasy by Lisa Howard) who holds the great responsibility of guiding the dead safely through the gate into the afterlife. Les Enfants Terribles is the perfect partner to bring Anderson’s magical story to life and Oliver Lansley’s adaptation is a whimsical, exuberant and inventive.

The story follows Marinka (Eve de Leon Allen), Baba’s granddaughter and future guardian of the gate, an awkward pre-teen who longs for a normal life where houses don’t grow chicken legs and relocate every few weeks. Marinka is initially reluctant to take on the responsibilities of their ancestry, and the play is a family-friendly lesson in learning to love your heritage and embracing what makes you unique.

The performance gets off to a clunky start and there are some acoustic issues which make it difficult to hear the cast over the music. The opening, in which Marinka befriends neighbour Ben (Michael Barker) and starts to harbour dreams of teen romance, is too long for a scene setting piece and the production takes its time to gather momentum.

It is only when the house ups and leaves in the middle of the night, cutting their blossoming relationship short, that we are pulled into Marinka’s and Baba Yaga’s enchanting world. The energy of a Día de los Muertos festival jostles alongside lively musical performances and elements of the masterful puppetry for which Les Enfants Terribles are renowned.

The focus on life and death is an interesting theme, particularly for a family-friendly performance. However, the subject is handled well and we are shown that whilst death can be tragic, a celebration of life is possible even in moments of profound grief.

Set design by Jasmine Swan and Nina Dunn’s hand-drawn video backdrops are highly immersive and instrumental in bringing the performance to life. The attention to detail throughout is impressive, with sound, costume and design coming together to create a rich and engaging landscape.

Eve de Leon Allen’s Marinka is highly likeable and across the board the small cast pulls off a wide array of characters, puppets and musical numbers with energy and ease. Stephanie Levi-John is brilliant as a hospitable, funny Yaga who takes Marinka under her wing and Dan Willis as Jackdaw breathes life and humour into a small puppet.

As the play comes to an end the story is tied up neatly with a bow, cutting short some of the more interesting questions that have been raised. But this is, after all, a festive performance aimed at families – and unlike a lot of family-friendly Christmas shows, is one to be enjoyed at any age.

Date: 13 –⁠ 30 December 2023. Location: Queen Elizabeth Hall, Southbank Centre, Belvedere Road, London SE1 8XX. Price: £20 ⁠–⁠ £40. Book now.

Words by Ellen Hodgetts