This speculative story based on Philip Pullman’s Lyra’s Oxford and presented by The Pegasus Young Company, sets out to explore the incomplete plot of one of Pulman’s books.

And it is an incredible sensory experience like no other, perfectly executed by this youth company.

The play begins, as we ‘magpies’ are invited to meet at a secret location: an empty school building. I was greeted by a girl in school uniform who warned me: “some of you will die, but you must enter!”

I, of course, complied, and was led into what was one of the most interesting and frankly terrifying sets I have seen. A child stood behind a glass door, banging rhythmically on the window, discarded school possessions thrown around the rooms. A librarian frantically sorts through books and talks to herself.

We are consulted by a psychic and told to come back later and “Beware of the number seven!”

The play tells the story of six missing children, including Queenie, who leaves clues for her younger sister to pick up on. 10 years on, Jo is old enough to feel the intrigue of investigating what happened to her beloved sister.

It’s a pastiche of broken, paradoxical narratives and plot devices, which consistently refer back to ‘magpies’ and ‘feathers’ as a theme. It manages to maintain a level of brilliant satirical humour.

I was impressed with not only the acting, (all-round, especially from such youngsters,) but the use of projection, sound, and movement, which were just breathtaking at points (accredited to Corinne Micallef.)

There was a seamless transition from the introduction into a web of interrelated stories, and all became clear as the play concluded, and everything fell into place.

With excellent acting all round, great set design, this is a fantastic portrayal of the obdurate Lyra, the uncertain tragedy of her and Will’s parting and the voluntary self-sacrifice needed to save their ‘Oxfords’.

LOLA LE FEVRE 4/5