The Little Prince

Pure Imagination

The Little Prince

by Antoine de Saint-Exupery, adapted by Chris Mouron

Broadway Entertainment Group at the London Coliseum until 16^th March

Review by Thea Diamond

Frank Matcham’s grand foyer and auditorium at the London Coliseum were abuzz with excitement for the start of the UK leg of Broadway Entertainment Group’s international tour of The Little Prince. Based on the 1945 children’s book, written and illustrated by Antoine de Saint-Exupery, an aircraft pilot (Aurelien Bednarek) whose plane has crashed in the Sahara, tells the story of the Little Prince (Dylan Barone), through the sole voice of the narrator (Chris Mouron). We, the audience, hear the story of how the Prince ended up in this place through Mouron’s lyrical and emotive French narration, mostly spoken but at times sung. The words are translated from French to English through surtitles above the stage.

We are transported across the Prince’s visits to eight planets through video designer, Marie Jumelin’s exquisitely beautiful projections onto the vast stage. These landscapes are a feast for the imagination to run wild and provide the immersive backdrop where the Prince meets a number of different characters. Particularly creative are Killian Mermet’s The Fox and Marta Kowalewska’s The Snake, whose costumes, make up and movements convert them from human to animal. Throughout these encounters, themes such as loneliness, friendship, love and loss are touched upon.

The fantastical projections leave little use for props or scenery, save the hanging straps that the performers use to fly, in what is an impressive display of strength, grace and agility. Especially breathtaking is Marcin Janiak’s Lamplighter, suspended on his swinging lamp and Barone’s use of the straps to hold not only his own body weight but that of his love, The Rose (Marie Menuge). She hangs from him in a manner symbolic of their rather one-sided relationship. Her costume, (designed by Peggy Housset) is so evocative, we forget this is a human and become lost in the soft floating petals of the flower’s form.

Anne Tournie’s choreography and direction makes use of a wide range of dance and movement including ballet, parkour and acrobatics, which paired with composer Terry Tuck’s musical motifs makes this a mesmerising spectacle.

Marketed as a children’s book and recommended for audiences aged 5+ this production is thoroughly recommended for all ages, although younger members of the audience may find the visual and musical elements more engaging and accessible than the spoken and sung media due to the need to read the surtitles if the French is not understood.

Older members of the audience certainly don’t need an accompanying little one to enjoy this dreamlike show, they just need to suspend their adult logic and bring a good dose of childlike imagination and curiosity so they can watch and see ‘clearly only with the heart’.

Thea Diamond, March 2025

Photography by Fred Aguirre