Fun Times At The Playhouse

If Sir Ken Robinson and Phil Redmond were Muppets, they would be Statler and Waldorf. Two old fellas, hurling witty abuse, making each other laugh, mithering and passionate. I've not seen a better double act in many years.

Here they are at the Playhouse Theatre in Derry, urging their audience to use the City Of Culture award to dream up wonders. Phil Redmond is of course the man who gave us Grange Hill and Brookside. He was a mainstay of Liverpool's 2008 adventures and he's keen to witness a rush of energy here in 2013. Sir Ken was also washed in the Mersey, although he lives in California these days. His bag is fabulous ideas that involve creativity, education, unfettered thought and the bluest of blue skies. Check out his online speeches at the Ted conferences. He rocks.

Together, they rev us up into the morning, fuelling us with belief and audacity. They sustain us later with talk of international 'creative districts', 'imagineers' and 'deviants'. The talk is illustrated with fun diversions, via Pixar culture, 'septic departments', Scouse taxi drivers and urban kids who have never once seen a tomato.

I would be suspicious of motivational speakers and roaring conceptualists. I'm not keen on linguistic tics and new media snake oil. But this was special. It was like handing a mountain climber a bottle of fresh oxygen. You take a suck and determine to go further, higher.