Awful Auntie, Ipswich Regent review: ‘A creepy but strangely magical story’

Awful Auntie by David Walliams has been a huge hit in book form with young children since its release in 2014.

I therefore was looking forward to taking my niece and sister-in-law (a huge fan, my niece that is!) along to see the stage adaptation performed by the Birmingham Stage Company.

I went in blind as I have only heard of it but I have to say, it was a good watch.

Set in 1933 in a huge old house, following the death of her parents, Stella Saxby attempts to fend off her crazy, cruel Auntie who wants the house to be hers!

Ram-packed with moments that played on your childhood fears, the cast and set pulled you in to a creepy but strangely magical story.

READ MORE: Why the long face? Is EastEnders’ Sid Owen happy to star in the Lowestoft panto?The set was clever, visually impressive and used extremely well by the cast.

Georgina Leodinas brilliantly plays Stella Saxby the orphaned main character with a very convincingly wicked Timothy Speyer as her Awful Auntie.

All the way through you heard little titters of laughter from small children in the audience with a palpable urge in the air to cheer every time Stella escaped her Aunties clutches.

It certainly didn’t disappoint when it came to the ending, a magical close that left you feeling a little childlike again! Well worth the watch!

Awful Auntie runs at the Ipswich Regent until Sunday September 23.