So unicorns do exist after all! Pupils treated to West End performance

Little ones at Tring’s Bishop Wood Junior School were treated to a private performance of Michael Mopurgo’s stage adaptation of I Believe in Unicorns.

The one-woman show wowed youngsters and their parents alike during the show, brought to them by OlivierAward-nominated Wizard Presents, based nearby in Bucks.

They company produces large and small scale productions, mainly in the West End where I Believe In Unicorns had a successful run over the summer and has been invited back next year.

The firm is currently touring the south east and brought the show to the school for one day only.

The spellbinding hour-long show, starring Danyah Miller, is set in a library full of books which contain more than stories within their pages.

The story, from the author of War Horse, is a tale of the power of books and the bravery of a young boy called Tomas. He loves playing in the mountains and hates reading and school, but his world is turned upside down the day he meets the Unicorn and the Unicorn Lady.

The performance features a series of incredible tricks including the star ripping what appeared to be a page from a book, folding it into a cone and picking up another book, from which she poured milk into the cone before drinking the milk and eating the paper cone.

The children were also fascinated to see one book pulled out of another book, and so on until the last one which was smaller than a postage stamp.

The one-off treat received positive feedback from pupil and parents.

Bishop Wood pupil Emilia Tye wrote about the unique experience afterwards, saying: “The play a was funny, moving and very clever with all the magic books.

“There was a book as small as a fingernail! It made me feel like unicorns really do exist. The actress was really funny.”

Parent Jacqui Tye said: “I Believe In Unicorns was fantastic – a real rollercoaster of emotions and a thought provoking subject matter that brought to life the magic of books, story-telling and the power of one’s imagination.

“The children were completely captivated by Danyah and her books – it was a privilege to be a part of the audience.”

For more about the show and to book tickets at another venue, visit www.ibelieveinunicorns.co.uk

> We always welcome news from schools and arts groups. Send us your reports and pictures to [email protected]