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Stage Review Meet Fred

  • Writer: debra Hall
    debra Hall
  • Mar 8
  • 2 min read

Scene from Meet Fred a Hijinx theatre production in association with Blind Summit Theatre
Scene from Meet Fred a Hijinx theatre production in association with Blind Summit Theatre at Derby Theatre March 2026 Photograph by Jorge Lizalde

Meet Fred


⭐⭐⭐⭐ 


Director Ben Pettitt-Wade (puppet consultant for Blind Summit)


Puppetry Dramaturgs (of Blind Summit) : Tom Espiners & Guila Innocenti


A Hijinx theatre production in association with Blind Summit Meet Fred, a puppet show for adults, is full of originality and Hijinx in collaboration are currently UK touring the show as a 10th anniversary celebration. 


Fred is an elongated cloth figure, not a hand, stringed, or rod puppet, Fred is a stitched and lightly stuffed, cotton calico, 3D figure, two-feet tall with no facial features. His three puppeteers, dressed in black, grip tightly the squishy fabric of Fred and work together to co-ordinate Fred's head and limbs with Dan McGowen from the trio delivering the speech.

From the first awakening and stretching from being in his box, we see Fred become aware of himself as an entity trying to make sense of where he might fit in the human world. A stage director (played by Owen Pugh), attempts to give him a few pointers. 


Fred attends his Job Seekers interview' pictured is actor, Iwan Jones
'Fred attends his Job Seekers interview' pictured is actor, Iwan Jones a Meet Fred production shot photographer Jorge Lizalde

The set design is a mind map of chalk on blackboard in two halves, throughout the show a good few of Fred's spider diagram led journey is met. 


With the spotlight on him we get to see Fred face on and his side profiles in various states of action and movement. We see his head held low and his body slumped; we see him fully extended; we see him run and climb, at times see he's sitting politely and other times he's 'whipped up' with anger and frustration. Action sees him bracing the elements, entertaining children and being drunk and hungover. Puppeteers: Dan McGowan, Llyr Williams and Sam Harding.


Fred even has his own theme tune: 'Fred's Theme' by composer Jonathan Dunn. The comedy is largely Fred's indignant responses to what is expected of him, after all he's just a puppet! It's a wild ride for him and one will really feel at the show's end that not only have we met Fred but that we have really got to know him.


The reviewer was first introduced to Hijinx back in the late noughties in their touring production of Ill Met by Moonlight and to see that the company are continually dedicated to including cast and team members with mixed abilities in their productions and putting on hugely inventive and unique stage productions of value (like this one) is highly credible.


Great stuff, recommended!


Stage Review Meet Fred by theatre critic Debra Hall who attended the performance at Derby Theatre's studio stage on Saturday 07 March at 3.00pm


REFERENCES


Derby Theatre Meet Fred Press Night - Derby Theatre (06 March 2026)


Hijinx Theatre Meet Fred 10th Anniversary Tour card with Q code







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