Kids Theatre Reviews

Christopher Nibble

Topsy Turvy Theatre, touring regionally

Recommended age 2-7

What the kids said:
Four-Year-Old – ‘Christopher didn’t like cabbage. Then he tried it and he did.’

A snuggly and warming hour of puppet-filled fun, Christopher Nibble is a fantastic family show, with an important message weaved in.

From the book by Charlotte Middleton and adapted for the stage by Claire Alizon Hills, Topsy Turvey Theatre use their own brand of energetic storytelling to bring the tale of guinea pig Christopher Nibble (and his love of nibbling dandelions) to life.

Using Makaton sign, beautifully crafted puppets and a bright and engaging set, we follow Christopher as he works to save the last dandelion in Dandeville and learns about growing and caring for plants and balanced eating along the way.

Although it is recommended for children up to the age of 7, I left my biggie at home this time, as I think he would feel a bit ‘big’ for this one (although I know he would have enjoyed it) and just took the littlie. The show for perfect for her four-year-old self, with an bubbly and smiley cast who interacted with the audience the perfect amount to keep them engaged (and a bit soggy).

So, if you fancy an hour of fun, with a subtle message included around a balanced diet, get yourself down to see this great show by one of the masters of children’s theatre. You, and your little people, will not be disappointed.

All the show dates and times are available on the Topsy Turvy website at www.topsyturvytheatre.co.uk

Aidy The Awesome

The Gramophones Theatre Company, touring

Recommended age 3-8

What the kids said:
Seven year old – ‘Aidy was really awesome. I wish I could fly.’
Four year old – ‘I don’t want it to be finished. Can we watch it again tomorrow?’

Tell me there’s a flying granny in anything and I will DEFINITELY be there with bells on.

Add in a school teacher who makes fun on the parents before the show even begins, a guitar playing musical narrator and a strong female lead with super powers, and I soon forget I am actually meant to be there for the kids.

We recently went to see Aidy the Awesome, the latest creation by female-lead company, Gramophones Theatre, who are renowned for centring their productions around strong female heroes (…great if you have a strong female child in your family, like I do). And the show was so fab, I just had to share it with all you theatre loving mums and dad, in case it was coming your way anytime soon.

The show is about eight year old Aidy who discovers her family has a very special secret, which sets her and her granny on an adventure she will never forget.

This fast-paced show by the all-female cast will keep even the most fidgety child (or bored adult) enthralled, with an ariel display which had my two jumping from the sofa for hours afterwards.

It even has a lesson to be learnt, which is an added bonus to any story in my opinion (10 points to any adult who can tell me what this lesson is…)

And if you can’t make any of their live performances, you can watch the show online for a small donation.

So if you fancy a kids show with a difference (and a flying granny) I would definitely recommend. The Gramophones Theatre Company.

The Tiger Who Came To Tea

Theatre Royal Haymarket, London

Recommend age 3+

What the kids said:
Three year old – ‘I want to see Sophie’s bedroom’
Six year old – ‘I thought the tiger would be really scary but he wasn’t. He was cool.’

This is the first show I took my teeny too and I was more than a little worried that, not only would she get bored, but she would be frighted of the giant tiger looming about five times the size of her on stage.

I couldn’t have been more wrong. She gave it her true three-year-old endorsement – ‘I want to see Sophies bedroom’ – which is what she asks to do when she really likes a person. This was her way of expressing how much she truly loved the show. That, and the fact that she didn’t ask to go for a wee once throughout the hour-long play, says it all.

This magical adaptation of the popular book was a real chocolate brownie of a show. It was warm, gooey, constantly delightful all the way through and everybody enjoyed it, including the parents.

They managed to extend the tale to make it last an hour, through the new found depth of the characters and a few extra little scenes. You could really feel how Sophie and her parents were feeling when the tiger came to visit, and while the focus was on fun and laughter, I felt their was a subtle message their for the children too.

And, let’s be honest, what child wouldn’t enjoy having a tiger come to visit them. And through this show, it really felt like one had.

If you can get tickets to go and watch this with the littles this summer, I would definitely recommend you do. It’s a great introduction to theatre for small people, and a fun show to see for the whole family.