I Wish

About the Show

Mirror, mirror on the wall, who’s that glittering like a disco ball? Gurl, that’s Effie—fabulous Fairy Godmother of fairytale fame! After centuries of making wishes come true, she’s marking the milestone of her brumblefillionth wish with a look back at her greatest hits. But were those ever-afters so happy after all? Sashaying centerstage in Effie’s heels is tuneful tenor and West End wonder Jordan Laviniere, serving both looks and lessons. As Effie confronts what wishes are for, we learn that the magic of love and acceptance lives in us all.

Things to Know

1. Jordan Laviniere plays all the parts in I Wish, plugging into every kid’s penchant for playing dress-up! Through a series of magical reveals, he bounces through a bouquet of colorful jumpsuits, jackets and gowns from designer Ryan Dawson Leight.
2. I Wish‘s tongue-in-cheek music and lyrics, spanning wistful ballads and sophisticated showstoppers, sprang from the witty and wonderful mind of Seiriol Davies, one of the mold-breaking theatermakers of 2022’s The Stage 25.
3. Show creator Le Gateau Chocolat’s name is French for “The Chocolate Cake,” and it’s also an operatic pun! Le gateau sounds like legato—the technique of smoothly connecting musical notes when singing.

About the Artists

Born in London and raised in Nigeria, Le Gateau Chocolat’s work spans cabaret, opera, musical theater, drag and live art. His celebrated baritone has rung through prestigious venues around the world, from London’s Royal Albert Hall to the Sydney Opera House. He has created and performed many original shows, including Duckie, a lauded adaptation of “The Ugly Duckling” that introduces young people to ideas of otherness, tolerance and self-acceptance.

Transforming young lives through theater has been at the heart of Unicorn Theatre’s mission for nearly 75 years. Now the largest children’s theater in the UK, Unicorn began in 1949 as the touring Caryl Jenner Mobile Theatre, performing for kids in theatre-less towns across post-war England before changing names and settling down at London’s Arts Theatre in the 1960s. Unicorn opened a permanent home by London Bridge in 2005 and now welcomes 65,000 family and school audience members each year.

I Wish is a Unicorn Production in association with Le Gateau Chocolat, with thanks to HOME Manchester, and is supported using public funding by the National Lottery through Arts Council England.