Life of Pi - The Lowry

WHILE most of us will be tucking into plates of turkey and other festive treats over Christmas, theatregoers can indulge in a visual feast at The Lowry with this stunning adaptation of Yann Martel’s critically acclaimed novel.

This awe inspiring stage version by Lolita Chakrabati also provides older children with the perfect introduction to live theatre that isn’t panto shaped.

For some reason I missed the movie which meant I was able to approach Martel’s uplifting, funny, humorous and at times heartrending tale minus the temptation to compare the show with the big screen version.

On press night the role of Pi was played by Tanvi Virmani and her performance more than sets the standard for those actors carged with the very difficult task of following her.

Pi and family and forced to flee their native India to escape the political turmoil there, along with the menagerie of animals that once inhabited his father’s zoo.

Virmani’s performance is so bright and engaging it requires little effort to warm to him as he struggles to survive in the face of overwhelming odds after the family’s vessel is involved in a shipwreck.

Pi is rapidly running out of food and water and to compound the challenges he’s facing, a Bengali tiger named Richard Parker after an administrative blunder is his only companion.

Life of Pi offers us a reminder of the resilience of the human spirit and the desire to fight to survive in the face of overhelming odds..

The puppetry is also absolutely stunning, thanks to the ingenuity of Finn Caldwell and a creative team who create a spectacle that will live long in the memories of those who experience it.

In fact, I’d even go as far to say visually Life of Pi is a work of genius.

Until January 7. Tickets are available from 0343 208 6000 or www.thelowry.com.

Star rating - ****