Rachel Lloyd Photo by Joseph Khoury
On Friday we took my three year old niece to Festival Antigonish to see The Biggest Little House in the Forest directed by Franziska Glen and starring Rachel Lloyd. The play is based on a book by Djemma Bider, and was adapted for the stage by Rosanna Staffa. My niece was the perfect demographic for this show. Her review is that the play is “fantastic,” and she was upset that we couldn’t immediately see it again. The show only runs until August 8th, so if you’re looking for something magical for your littles make sure to bring them to the Bauer Theatre next week.
The story centres on a little abandoned house in the forest that Bernice the Butterfly finds, and cleans up and turns into a home. One by one more and more woodland creatures happen upon the house- Mille the mischievous mouse, Fred the cultured frog, Rudy the silly rooster, and a rabbit escaping a speeding fox. They all find ways to share the space and live together in harmony and mirth. But what will happen when Bartholomew the Bear comes along and wants to seek refuge in their house too?
Rachel Lloyd plays all the characters, including a narrator, and watching her bring this world to life alone onstage is an impressive feat. Despite its simplicity I found that the narrative of this story continued to surprise me and subvert my expectations. The way that Lloyd pulled props and set pieces from different places around the stage also kept me, as well as the children in the audience, on our toes. Lloyd is working with tiny props as the puppets cook breakfast, take a bath, get into a pillow fight, and plant a garden. The pillow fight is especially fun to watch Lloyd execute herself. There is also music in the piece by Victor Zupanc that works to create variation where often plays for children of this age are quite repetitive. My favourite thing about this story is how uniquely it is structured, and that it didn’t feel formulaic.
Rachel Lloyd Photo by Joseph Khoury
The puppets themselves, designed by Cheryl Kelly, are gorgeously imagined and created. They are filled with so much personality in the way that they are clothed, and all the detail in their little faces. They are beautifully handcrafted in a way that you might expect to see on television, but you don’t always get to see in person at the theatre. I can definitely see this production inspiring kids to want to make their own puppets, to play more with puppets, and to seek out more shows with puppets. Kelly also created the set, which includes a beautiful house for the characters to live in that looks like the type of wooden dollhouse I wished I had when I was a child. There is also a cute little bridge that connects the house and the garden.
Franziska Glen directs the piece to create clear and precise movements that are easy for even the youngest children to follow, and she finds fun ways to make Lloyd’s narrator character physically interesting to watch as she moves around the space helping facilitate the puppets’ actions. Her costume, by Robyn Bixby, gives Lloyd herself a childlike quality, and the designs on her overalls reflect the world the puppets are playing in too.
I would certainly recommend this show to children seven and under, especially those whose parents are interested in exposing them to art that is less stimulating than a lot of the television programs created for them these days. The pace of this play is slow, intentional, and tranquil, more in the spirit of Mr. Dressup (1967), Mister Rogers’ Neighbourhood (1968), or Little Bear (1995). I also think that older artistic children who are interested in watching excellent puppetry will really enjoy this play. My niece loved the bubbles, the dancing, the moments where she was invited to take part in the action, and Fred the Frog in general. We had such a lovely afternoon at Festival Antigonish. Kids can go on the patio after the show and meet Rachel, see the puppets up close, and take photos with them, which is also such a special experience for children to feel like they are part of the theatre community here in this vibrant theatre town.
The Biggest Little House in the Forest starring Rachel Lloyd and directed by Franziska Glen plays at the Bauer Theatre (4130 University Avenue, Antigonish) at the following times between now and August 8th, 2026:
August 4 10:00 AM
August 5 10:00 AM and 2:00 PM
August 6 10:00 AM and 2:00 PM
August 7 10:00 AM and 2:00 PM
August 8 10:00 AM
Tickets are $15.00 for Children/Youth Under 16 and $20.00 for everyone 16+. They are available to purchase online here, or you can phone the Box Office at 902.867.3333 or visit in person at 4130 University Avenue).
Accessibility Information from the Festival Antigonish Website: Festival Antigonish is committed to creating a welcoming and inclusive theatre experience for everyone. The Bauer Theatre offers wheelchair accessible seating, assistive listening technology, and a variety of programs designed to make theatre more accessible to our community. We also offer initiatives such as Pay What You Can previews, Relaxed Performances, and community events that help remove barriers and create a supportive environment for all audiences. If you require accommodations or accessibility support, we’re here to help.
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