Yaaaaawn! It’s chilly outdoors, so fairly the wrestle to pull myself from my cosy, cozy couch and make my technique to Battersea Arts Centre. But Little Bulb’s Hibernation seems to be a enjoyable household forty-five minutes and nicely well worth the journey. It’s such a perfect household ambiance at BAC, with its relaxed coverage and Pay What You Can scheme which means everybody will get entry to stay efficiency. Today, the auditorium within the Council Chamber is crammed with heat mild and birdsong, as children stream in with their adults. It’s soothing and autumnally atmospheric. We are warmly welcomed by BeeAtrice…
Rating
Excellent
Hibernation is a marvellous musical the place households can be taught just a little, snicker rather a lot, and customarily take part, as humorous forest mates wake us as much as the ins and outs of their winter sleep.
Yaaaaawn! It’s chilly outdoors, so fairly the wrestle to pull myself from my cosy, cozy couch and make my technique to Battersea Arts Centre. But Little Bulb’s Hibernation seems to be a enjoyable household forty-five minutes and nicely well worth the journey.
It’s such a perfect household ambiance at BAC, with its relaxed coverage and Pay What You Can scheme which means everybody will get entry to stay efficiency. Today, the auditorium within the Council Chamber is crammed with heat mild and birdsong, as children stream in with their adults. It’s soothing and autumnally atmospheric. We are warmly welcomed by BeeAtrice the Worker Bee (a delightfully participating Clare Beresford) who makes everybody really feel particular – even the cuddly companions who’ve been invited together with their youngsters. Hopefully, like me, they’re all prepared for a nap, as a result of as we speak’s story introduces some woodland creatures who’re about to calm down for a winter sleep.
But napping is unquestionably not on the agenda to start! We’re anticipating the arrival of the Queen Bee so should all be taught some bee language and have our wings able to flap later. The viewers is shortly engaged within the enjoyable of the forest and prepared for the off, however in a pleasantly unpressured manner, so in the event that they don’t need to take part but, that’s fantastic too.
We then meet some hilarious woodland creatures who clarify to us how they hibernate, all performed vibrantly by Beresford and Dominic Conway, in a sequence of foolish sketches. These are proficient bodily performers, filling the area with power and actually full characterisation, which delights the younger spectators. Through stay music and track, viewers interplay and fabulously enjoyable characters, they’ve everybody laughing, whereas nonetheless managing to be extremely academic. Who knew bees have leg claws?
Each story is kind of completely different in tone, giving distinction and texture to the efficiency and carrying the viewers properly by way of the separate sections. The songs are cheerfully entertaining and diverse, performed stay on quite a few devices together with a mandolin, a double bass and a kazoo! Additionally, the solid showcase a number of musical kinds and glorious vocal harmonising. My specific favorite was the 12-bar bat track, which fantastically transported us to a totally completely different ambiance and again once more, with the assistance of just a bit targeted lighting. Strategic leaf gathering by onstage technician Alexander Scott offers amusing interludes to cowl costume modifications and retains issues rolling seamlessly on. It’s technically easy.
A fast phrase in favour of coats as costumes. OK, so it’s a simple answer to simply put a distinct coat on for every character – however that snake in a inexperienced raincoat is so completely brilliantly foolish, it’s nearly Monty Python! (see what I did there??). And importantly, you possibly can then think about the smaller viewers members going house and performing out the creatures themselves with their very own outerwear. Great enjoyable available lengthy after the present has completed!
Pleasingly, the viewers are very a lot a part of the efficiency, often talked about by title as a result of BeeAtrice has put them on the visitor record, requested for his or her opinions and to share their information. There’s all the time another technique to take part so no-one’s disregarded; should you can’t click on your fingers then smack them in your palm to make the noise. Even the cuddly mates get a second to shine.
We’ve all had an opportunity for a comfy doze with a blankie or a cuddly, due to the bears’ beautiful lullaby. As the present ends, the households skip fortunately out of the theatre and we discover ourselves awake within the sunshine, nonetheless singing the songs! Hibernation is unquestionably the proper present for springtime.
Written and devised by Little Bulb Theatre Company
Supported by Farnham Maltings, Trowbridge Town Hall and Arts Council England
Hibernation is a household present geared toward ages 3-7. It performs at Battersea Arts Centre till Saturday 18 February. Booking particulars will be discovered here.