Teatro Pomodoro & Theatre Porto
Christmas Show
Unity Theatre
A star shines so bright, where will it take you?
The moment I stepped into the theatre, all I could see were smiling faces. The atmosphere was joyful, so I let myself go to its magic. The stage was dressed to the minimum, with just a star hanging from the ceiling. But it makes sense: that star is the show’s beating heart.
The room went dark, the laughter stopped (just for a few seconds), and the five friends popped onto the stage to delight us with their infectious energy. I couldn’t take my eyes off them; something was happening all the time, whether it was a sheep disrupting the peace, a sandstorm blurring the way, or the companions getting distracted by their (sometimes mischievous) jokes.
This all becomes funnier when you think it was taking place from a shopping trolley. They pack it with the essentials – a lamp, some blankets, an umbrella, a ladder, a fishing net, a plunger and, of course, a teddy bear. Then, once ready to embark on the adventure, they all jumped in – fitting or not fitting? It didn’t matter.
The audience interactions and the costumes were two of my favourite parts. The former is done so that the kids (and the parents) can be part of the action. They all seemed scared of the sheep (who can blame them?) but equally thrilled to join in the fun and let themselves go to do what was asked of them. It was a joy to see the cast and the audience come together to give the little ones a personal moment to remember.
The costumes were designed to the smallest detail, reflecting the nature of the show as well as each character’s personality. They were colourful, full of texture, and in harmony with what was happening on stage. They complement the soundtrack, the clowning and the action to perfection, which is what you’d wish for in a visual-only show.
Despite all the hurdles they face (no spoilers), they find each other again because they are all looking for the same thing after all. A star shines so bright, where will it take you?
Each to their own answer – what’s sure is that you can’t leave the theatre without smiling. And what more could you possibly want?
Thank you to the performers for bringing such a special show to life. Your passion and dedication to honouring inclusivity is valuable, and we really don’t need words to understand it. We just need to be together to experience it.
Interview with Carmen Arquelladas from Star of Wonder
the actions take you through the story – you don’t need anything else.
How did the idea for Star of Wonder come about?
The project started three years ago. We wanted to make a unique Christmas show in collaboration with Theatre Porto and Teatro Pomodoro.
We visited the kids at school to understand what they wanted to see on stage. They gave us many ideas, so we did a few weeks of R&D and went into rehearsal. We knew we wanted to create a Christmas show with the kids’ useful insights.
The plot unfolds around the adventures of five friends, who fight, fall out, and eventually come back together to find what they were looking for all along.
What does it mean for you to be involved in this project?
It’s a beautiful project to be part of. We already did it two years ago at Teatro Porto, where they created it. We’re now performing for the first time at Unity Theatre in Liverpool, which is exciting. There’s something truly special about all of us getting back together and doing what we love the most. Some cast members are neurodiverse and learning disabled, which is why we wanted to create an inclusive and relaxed space.
Do you think it’s the right time to bring the show back?
I think it’s exactly the right time to bring it back and the right time to be at the Unity. Plus, it’s Christmas, so it’s lovely to get into rehearsal and catch up with everyone. It’s a great energy. We knew certain things could be improved, so we refined them. For example, we took out every word; the actions take you through the story – you don’t need anything else.
What would you wish the audience to walk away with after the show?
I would love them to leave the theatre with a smile. I understand it may be harder for some people to go to the theatre – they may prefer the cinema, or they may want to do something else altogether. We do comedy and use clowning too, so I would love for the audience to laugh with us and about us.
We also have some audience interaction and invite kids and parents on stage. We dress up as animals as well and that’s, in my opinion, the funniest part.
An extended interview with Carmen will appear in an article about inclusive theatre for Harbour Print magazine 2025.