The Unlikely Friendship of Feather Boy & Tentacle Girl
★★★★☆ Mesmerising
Assembly Roxy (Venue 139) : Mon 4 – Sun 17 Aug 2025
Review by Sophie Good
The Unlikely Friendship of Feather Boy & Tentacle Girl from Catherine Wheels, is an atmospheric aerial dance piece, co-created by performers Vee Smith and Sadiq Ali, about two opposites who transform and learn to move together in harmony.
Commissioned by Imaginate, the show was originally planned for the Edinburgh International Children’s Festival but was postponed due to performer injury. Smith and Ali – both circus artists – are truly mesmerising to watch. Quite literally, at the top of their game, they twirl and spin and fall and dance in truly beautiful ways.
Vee Smith in The Unlikely Friendship of Feather Boy & Tentacle Girl. Pic Tommy Ga-Ken Wan.
There is a storyline of sorts – and it tells of two young people who are struggling with their real lives and have retreated to a fantasy world of feathers and tentacles. The both have dreams that help them escape from the real word.
It isn’t an especially strong narrative and not everything fits neatly into that tale but that doesn’t detract much from a show that is just enjoyable to watch and soak up what it has to offer. The set design from Jen McGinley is light and minimal but enough use is made of the height of the space and shadows to create another world.
mythical themes
The lighting, used to hide and reveal is also superbly done by Jamie Heseltine and the soundscape is dramatic and calming at different points from Guy Veale – utilising trad music vibes at times to emphasise the mythical themes.
Vee Smith and Sadiq Ali in The Unlikely Friendship of Feather Boy & Tentacle Girl. Pic Tommy Ga-Ken Wan.
The show is recommended for age eight-plus, which feels right. Smith’s small frame and bright orange hair brings to life a selkie creature at times and she does embody a monster at one point to pretend to scare the audience. Some more sensitive audience members might be momentarily concerned, but overall it’s a gentle production.
Light on story but hugely strong in atmosphere, the visual spectacle is one to be enjoyed by an age group who are often too old for the slapstick, simple movement pieces and still too young for more complex stuff, this show feels like it fits that gap perfectly.
A great introduction into contemporary dance, physical theatre and movement pieces with excellent stagecraft and convincing performances that go way beyond the usual circus cabaret that’s on offer. This is more cerebral and more engaging as a result.
Running time: 55 minutes (no interval).
Assembly Roxy (Central), 2 Roxburgh Place EH8 9SU (Venue 139).
Monday 4 – Sunday 17 August 2025.
Daily (not Wed): 11.25am.
Tickets and details: Book here on EdFringe.com.
Book here on EdFest.com.*
*affiliate link.
Catherine Wheels website: www.catherinewheels.co.uk
Facebook: @catherinewheelstheatre
Instagram: @catherinewheelstheatre
Linktree: @CatherineWheels
X: @cwheelstheatre
ENDS
