It was an absolute pleasure to join KD Theatre, in the beautiful grounds of The Dean’s Garden, that basked in the sun, against Ely’s most iconic landmark, Ely Cathedral, for this year’s open-air theatre musical ‘Honk!’.
Honk! tells the tale of ‘Ugly’, a young duckling who appears to look different to his brothers and sisters! Made fun of by the other farmyard animals, Ugly is lured away by the devious Cat who hopes to enjoy Ugly as a lunchtime snack! Just as Ugly clocks on to what is happening, he tries to run but can’t find his way back to the farmyard! On his search for his home, he encounters some larger-than-life characters who all teach him different lessons, which begin to help Ugly realise it’s what’s on this inside that matters!
As we all enjoyed picnics, the production was wonderfully delivered by the cast of Joey Warne (Ugly) and Leah Pinney (Ida) alongside Charlie Culkin, Gregor Duncan, Emma Hough, David Mcnair, Hannah Ponting and Rhys Whiteside.
With clever, inspiring songs and a whole lot of heart, this truly was a charming reimagining of Hans Christian Andersen’s 1843 story of “The Ugly Duckling” that incorporates a message of tolerance and acceptance. The lyrics are by Anthony Drewe, and the music is by George Stiles (of the British songwriting duo Stiles and Drewe).
Spectrum is a multi-award winning, parent-led charity, providing events and support for families of children with Autism, additional needs, learning difficulties and disabilities. We are family-focused, passionate about inclusion and supporting Special Education Needs & Disabilities (SEND).