The start of the new year brings with it a fresh slate of exciting shows, and the one thing the kids and I look forward to at this time is KidsFest!
KidsFest 2015 is back again for the 4th year running with its programme of world-class theatre performances for young and old, and we were super chuffed to see some of our favourites on the schedule. One of the things I love best about KidsFest is that many of the productions that they bring in are based on really great children’s literature — titles which we own and which the kids love. Seeing beloved characters step off the pages of a book and onto stage allows us all to experience the stories in a different way, which I think is fantastic way to fire up imaginations.
This year, The Gruffalo is back again, by popular demand, and we were most thrilled to be given the opportunity to catch the opening show at School of The Arts (SOTA). I briefly wondered how the short book would be translated into a 55min production, but having experienced the magic of watching another Julia Donaldson adaption (What The Ladybird Heard) at last year’s KidsFest, I just knew we would be in for a treat.
And what a treat it was, to be able to watch one of our favourite tales expertly re-imagined for the stage. If you are not familiar with the story, it starts with a mouse taking a stroll through the deep dark wood. Before long, he encounters a fox, an owl and a snake, all predators keen on having the mouse as a snack. With some quick thinking, the mouse manages to scare them off with made-up tales of a Gruffalo, only to come upon a real-life Gruffalo in the flesh! It would take more clever thinking on the part of the mouse to get itself out of that sticky situation!
The cast of three put up a hilarious show, full of dancing and singing, that was a lot of fun for both the kids and the adults. In truth, I think I laughed harder than the children did, which is quite a feat for a children’s production. A lot of the entertainment value of the show came from the fact that the actors constantly broke the fourth wall, stepping in and out of their roles as actors and characters, while interacting with the audience. I think some of the younger ones did get a bit restless at times with the talking and the jokes they didn’t understand, but they were kept engaged by the many interactive elements. It helped that we were familiar and the stories and we had a great time clapping, singing and roaring along. It was a lot of tun.
The Gruffalo is playing at SOTA till today — there are 2 more performances so if you have some time this afternoon, I highly recommend that you catch it! Tickets are priced from $42 onwards and can be purchased from Sistic.
If you’re going to miss The Gruffalo, don’t fret for there are many wonderful productions still to come in KidsFest 2015! Here are some that we are especially excited about:
The Snail and The Whale is another of our favourite tales from Julia Donaldson and tells the tale of a tiny snail who longs to see the world. She hitches a lift on the tale of a great big humpback whale and together they go on an amazing journey, experiencing sharks and penguins, icebergs and volcanoes. The little snail is amazed by it all but starts feeling very small in the vastness of the world. Then disaster strikes — the humpback whale becomes beached in a bay. Can the tiny snail save the day? Brought to you by the creators of The Gruffalo, this production promises to combine physical storytelling, live music and a lot of laughs.
The Tiger Who Came To Tea is yet another wonderful book that we love. In this tale by Judith Kerr, the doorbell rings just as Sophie and her mummy are sitting down to tea. Who could it possibly be? What they certainly don’t expect to see at the door is a big stripy tiger! This family show comes packed with oodles of magic, sing-a-long songs and clumsy chaos. Expect to be surprised! We had the tiger pay us a visit late last year and that certainly was a big surprise! We’re better prepared now and looking forward to seeing him again!
Erth’s Dinosaur Zoo is a different kind of a show and I would imagine, one that a dinosaur fan absolutely shouldn’t miss. Meet awesome prehistoric creatures, from cute baby dinos to some of the largest carnivores and herbivores that have ever walked the planet. Erth’s dinosaurs are unmistakably ‘alive’ and mostly friendly in this fun, educational and unique performance that will delight all audiences from age 5 years and up.
For older children aged, 7 and up, don’t miss Horrible Histories Barmy Britain (Part 2) and Horrible Histories Vile Victorians. You’ll never look at history the same way again! Noey finds the Horrible Histories series rather entertaining so I’m hoping to bring him along to catch one of these productions. Nothing like watching history come to life to make it stick in your head, even if this is history with the nasty bits left in!
It certainly is a festival worth catching! Now to figure out how to squeeze everything in…
Someone wasn’t too pleased the show was over…
*Thanks for the media invite to the show, KidsFest!
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