Theatre Fideri Fidera is an Anglo-Swiss theatre company, and their production of Will Tell and the Big Bad Baron aims to shed a UK limelight onto the famous European character, Wilhelm Tell, the “Swiss Robin Hood”, probably most famous to laypeople for shooting an apple off a child’s head with a crossbow.
This children’s play refocuses the story around his daughter, Wilhelmina Tell (Natasha Granger) who disguises herself as a night and embarks on a quest against the evil Baron Boris von Bummelkrachenhofer (Jack Faires) to rescue her father and the Baron’s daughter Edeltraut (Jack Faires) from the evil man and his crow (Jack Faires).
![](https://i0.wp.com/northwestend.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/Will-Tell.jpg?resize=800%2C450&ssl=1)
The workmanlike script is elevated by Colin Granger’s direction, and the enthusiastically over-the-top performances by Granger and Faires who delight in their interactions with the audience, their multiple characters, the puppeteering of their charming donkey-horse-bicycle steads Rosina and Prinz (designed by Marina Kobler). This is the rare show where it’s the scene changes that get chewed, thanks partly the multi-functional walls by Paul Harrison. The songs are charming and there are some lovely points for children and adults to get involved on-stage (as long as they want to!)
Overall, it’s a fun show with a good cast that will have children laughing throughout, and it deserves a big audience.
Will Tell and the Big Bad Baron plays until August 21st (not Wednesdays) at Gilded Ballon Patter Hoose, and tickets can be found at https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/will-tell-and-the-big-bad-baron
Reviewer: Oliver Giggins
Reviewed: 5th August 2022
North West End UK Rating: ★★★