Motionhouse’s Starchitects are back and this time they’re on a new intergalactic adventure. With a thoroughly festive theme, they’re on a mission to bring Santa back to earth in time for Christmas Day.

The storyline is similar to the original Starchitects show with a group of children playing a series of games here on planet earth, then rocketing off to space for all kinds of excitement and drama before returning just in time for bed.

It’s a well tried and tested story model which works effectively for taking both the children in the show and the children in the audience on an adventure.

The production has been moved to Gallery One in Midlands Arts Centre after RAAC (reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete) was identified in the main theatre. In this new space the show and the audience are so close that we all feel we’ve been to the moon and back. The Starchitects not only come into the audience at some points, they are also inches away as they race and gambol round the stage.

There’s so much energy in the show, the team could propel a rocket into space just on their movement. One moment they’re playing hide-and-seek in giant Christmas boxes, the next they are swinging from the rafters and then they are chasing around pretending to be reindeer.

The team make hugely imaginative use of a series of large cardboard boxes, pulling on their imagination to turn them into sleighs, a snowman and bumper cars. And we all know how much children love to play with a cardboard box!

The production also makes great use of projection, created by Logela Multimedia, with the background of the bedroom, outer space, the moon and even inside the moon all being visually created on a plain backdrop. And because we are so close, these other worlds fill not only the stage but our own space, taking us with the Starchitects as they move.

There are lots of clever stagecraft gems such as when the rocket is moved across the sky by the performers reaching the heights or when they descend into a giant cave by the images moving upwards while they remain still.

With a set designed by Simon Dormon, while much is portrayed, the audience is also called on to use their imagination as the youngsters recreate their own play worlds and battle with a mysterious being in outer space.

There is also plenty of opportunity for audience participation and the children present when we were watching the show were more than ready to shout out directions, instructions and helpful advice for the Starchitects – not to mention also throwing snowballs at them.

The cast of six give the show their all, packing energy and enthusiasm into every moment and playing up to the children, ensuring the production becomes a partnership between performers and audience.

Conceived, directed and choreographed by Kevin Finnan along with the company, Starchitects Save Santa! is a fun and energetic Christmas show which will appeal to small children who will enjoy the slapstick and adventure and adults who can appreciate the stagecraft.

Four stars

Motionhouse: Starchitects Save Santa was reviewed by Diane Parkes on Wednesday 23 November at Midlands Arts Centre, where it shows until Saturday 30 December