The Odyssey – Paper Cinema – Contact Theatre, Manchester – 29^th November, 2012

“Magical’ seemed absolutely the right word for this performance – and a mixed age audience, from young children to those of us who could be grandparents were thoroughly entranced; an animated silent-movie version of the legendary story of Odysseus was projected onto a large screen with a thrilling and totally appropriate percussion-heavy musical accompaniment. There were obvious echoes of shadow puppetry, particularly the sophisticated myth-telling shows of the far- and middle-east. But do you remember Captain Pugwash? It was that style – well-drawn black and white cartoon characters were animated in front of (and by) the camera to create satisfying story-telling. However, where Pugwash was gentle, for-kids stuff (even if there were knowing in-jokes for those who could catch them) this was truly and appropriately epic storytelling: monsters, storms at sea and true emotions etched on…