StrawBrain is the feel-good mini musical of the summer!

Upon walking in to the After Dark venue, don’t be phased by the flights of stairs that await you. Your efforts are more than rewarded with a warm greeting by StrawBrain himself, strung up on his post, surrounded by sunflowers. At this moment before the show officially starts, performer Noah Godsell talks directly to the audience, never breaking character, although sometimes breaking into a song or a whistle.

A completely sung-through show performed by Noah Godsell and Abbey McCaughan, StrawBrain tells the story of a lonely scarecrow who asks himself, “What does it mean to be a scarecrow that isn’t scary?” Plagued by a single crow unphased by his terror tactics, StrawBrain leaves his farm on a journey to conquer his greatest fear — the sun.

Written and directed by Taylor Broadley, StrawBrain is an incredible feat on all accounts. Broadley’s delicate music and clever lyricism are a perfect match for the solo singer, Noah Godsell. The penultimate song ‘Alone’ in particular demonstrates Godsell’s exceptional vocal range. Godsell shares the stage with Bird, a little, blue crow, puppeteered by Abbey McCaughan. McCaughan’s puppetry is subtle, but effective, providing cheeky characterisation in moments between the two performers.

Originally conceived as an animation, it is seamlessly adapted as a stage-production, largely due to Godsell’s cartoon-like expressions and choreography. Behind the performers is a sparingly used projection, with a ‘silent-era’ border around it, often depicting the cartoon versions of StrawBrain and Bird and providing a captivating aesthetic.

This is writer Taylor Broadley’s third Fringe musical, having premiered ‘A Boy Who Wanted To’ in last year’s festival. Broadley has solidified himself as a composer and lyricist to watch and I cannot wait to see what he comes up with next.

With 13 songs featured in under an hour, you certainly get your bang for your buck. StrawBrain is a wholesome musical about friendship, identity, and questioning one’s purpose. If you like sweet musical numbers with likeable scarecrows and cute birds, StrawBrain is the one for you.