The Unlikely Friendship of Feather Boy and Tentacle Girl

Tentacle Girl grew up feeling that there was nothing about her that was different or interesting. She dreamed about being strong, self-sufficient, maybe even being a kelpie. Feather Boy grew up feeling like everything about him was different. All he ever wanted to do was fly. But through forming a surprising friendship, they gradually come to accept their differing dreams, embrace what makes each of them unique and find the kind of home that comes with acceptance.

‘The Unlikely Friendship of Feather Boy and Tentacle Girl’ is produced by young people’s theatre company Catherine Wheels and brought to the Fringe as part of the Made In Scotland showcase. The story has been created by performers Vee Smith and Sadiq Ali with Catherine Wheels’ Artistic Director Gill Robertson and is told through a mix of spoken word, movement and aerial circus accompanied by a brooding soundscape.

The aerial work is spectacular. Smith and Ali are strong, lyrical and playful. The choreography is inventive, athletic and full of yearning (Junior Cunningham). There are few things more delightful in the theatre than hearing small children coo in wonder and there was plenty of that here. The age guidance suggests eight-years-old and up but there were plenty younger children sitting in this audience, entirely rapt.

The show is simply staged but they’re saving the space for the aerial work. The costumes (Cleo McCabe) are quirky and fun. In one fabulous sequence, Ali carries Smith over his head, her bright hair swamped in her frilled skirts, looking for all the world like a sea anemone. Be warned: you may well come away coveting her eyebrows. A wonderfully atmospheric lighting plot (Jamie Heseltine) and a collection of fans are used to make feathery magic.

This is a captivating, beautiful show about the importance of acceptance and inclusion. In Feather Boy and Tentacle Girl’s friendship, we’re reminded that we could all sometimes to do more to help the people around us, be who they need to be.