If you are feeling a little jaded and tired of the incessant Christmas commercialism and economic doom and gloom, take an hour out to restore your faith in all that is good about being alive with Long Nose Puppets’ Penguin.

This charmingly simple tale of friendship and unspoken loyalty is gorgeously crafted into a show which will entertain everyone, from adults right down to the very young.

The show is beautifully designed and offers a separate seating area for the children, allowing them to feel free to express their relationship with the story. There are simple projection effects which gently comment on and expand the action. There is quirky-cool music which keeps the adults tapping along as well as the kids.

But the absolute stars of the show are the puppets. These fabulous creatures absorb our attention with their infinitely expressive faces. This is children’s drama without saccharine sentiment. Twists of fate and moments of palpable danger set the show apart from the pantomimes on offer at this time of year and the young audience love it. They are also delighted to meet, tickle and blow raspberries at the puppets at the after-show meet and greet.

Brighton should be proud that artists like Polly Dunbar and Katherine Morton live here and that Long Nose Puppets premiere their shows locally. Let’s hope we see lots more of them in the future.

Anne-Marie Krolick

*Call 0845 2938480