The Castle Builder at Summerhall

Some chewed-up bread, a tiny bicycle and Viking helmets. Three items one wouldn’t expect to appear in the same sentence, but all have significant purpose within The Castle Builder, the latest play from Vic Llewellyn and Kid Carpet.

When a show starts with a man smashing away at a chair with an axe, who knows what to expect? From there, the audience is led on a journey to celebrate artists and creators around the world. Each performance has a different “maker”, a student who remains at the back of the stage, creating something from the broken chair. 

Vic Llewellyn and Kid Carpet work effectively together, and it is easy to see why they get along so well. The performers exude the same kind of enthusiastic energy expected to be seen on an early morning children’s show, and succeed in drawing spectators into their story. Llewellyn takes on the role of the storyteller, whilst Kid Carpet (Ed Patrick) chips in with a wide range of original songs, each one weird and wonderful in its own way.

Audience participation is strongly encouraged throughout, be it through acting as a chorus during one of the musical interludes, or using phone lights to add to the atmosphere. At the end of the show viewers are rewarded with the two things promised from the beginning: the student’s creation and a castle. A toy castle, but still.

Behind all the laughter and jokes, The Castle Builder presents an important message. Art is everywhere, even if it hasn’t been realised to its full potential. The show might appear messy at times, and some things still seem unanswered by the end, but it works. The energy of those on stage is enough to bring a smile to your face, and might just give audiences a new outlook on life by the time they leave. Or a free slice of bread. Either one works.

Hannah Dixon

The Castle Builder is at Summerhall from 3^rd until 28^th August 2016, for further information or to book visit here.

Watch a song from The Castle Builder here: