It’s one of Enid Blyton’s most-loved books. Now The Magic Faraway Tree has been made into a film, starring Andrew Garfield and Claire Foy.
While there are plenty of multiplexes showing the movie, perhaps there’s no better place to see it than a hotel called Treehouse, especially if it also offers an interactive experience for kids?
At Manchester’s Treehouse Hotel, families were welcomed into a live, character-led event where two actors – Silky the Fairy and Dame Slap – guided the children through simple activities like making wishes and playing games (including a themed version of What Time Is It?). After this interactive section, it moved into a film screening with refreshments provided during waiting periods. Overall, it aimed to combine light immersive theatre with a relaxed cinema showing for younger audiences.
The whole interactive bit was well thought through without being overblown, with capable actors keeping the focus on gentle interaction. With wonderful costumes, the two actors looked magical. They had a great rapport with the children, and it was all very gentle, relaxed and genuinely engaging.
Photo credit: Round The Twist and Treehouse Hotel Manchester
Nevertheless, there was a fair amount of hanging about and a sense that the Treehouse Hotel itself wasn’t entirely sure how the event was meant to flow. To their credit, staff softened this with coffee for the adults and food for the kids since we had to wait around, which took the edge off. But it highlighted a lack of communication somewhere along the line.
The event moved into the screening, and this is where we got a little bored, mostly because one of our party was a bit too young for the film. The film itself feels a bit more centred around an older audience than for under 8s. While there were a few moments of magic which my younger companion loved, there weren’t enough to sustain her attention during the more mature themes of reconnecting as a family with nature.
What you’re left with is a slightly uneven experience. The live sections of the day at Treehouse, driven by two capable performers from Round The Twist who understood how to engage a room, were warm, immediate and effective. The rest felt looser and less slick.
However, the Treehouse cinema itself was really lovely, with big, beautiful reclining seats covered in green velvet. While the main event was the movie, I expect that the making-a-wish interaction beforehand and a well-judged game of What Time Is It, Dame Slap? are the elements which the kids will remember.
Main image: credit Round The Twist and Treehouse Hotel Manchester
