3 brilliant Puppet Shows for kids in London this Half Term…that adults will enjoy too!

By Carrie Larwood, October 17, 2014

We’re Going on a Bear Hunt

Are you all sitting comfortably? Then we’ll begin… with an absolute classic. We’re Going on a Bear Hunt is undoudtedly one of the most widely recognised and successful pieces of children’s literature to have come out in the last century, and no nursery’s shelves are complete without it. Now you can see this classic tale in live action, with clever use of quirky wooden puppets and basic but beautiful sets telling this poetic and memorable story. ‘We’re going on a bear hunt, we’re going to catch a big one, what a beautiful day, we’re not scared…’ are the all-familiar opening lines to this energetic production, and a magnificent further 45 minutes of song, dance, rhyme and narrative follows. Aimed at 3 to 6 year old children, this tale has a slightly dark twist but is mainly light-hearted and fun – elements that flow seamlessly to create a really unique production that little’uns (and big’uns) will love.

Little Angel Theatre 12^th – 16^th November, The Albany Theatre from 10^th December – 14^th January.

The Fantastic Mr. Fox

Another timeless classic has been taken on by the Little Angel Puppeteers, and golly do they do it justice. Staying true to the mysterious and outwardly wayward writing style of Roald Dahl, this production is a far cry from 2009’s gentle film adaptation of this globally famous book. It has Quentin Blake written all over it – the puppets are angular, wide-eyed and boast a perfectly crafted scruffiness, and any human input such as the scary giant diggers that attack Mr Fox’s home are depicted as weird, enormous, alien objects that truly indicate evil by using colour and odd proportions. Aimed at 4 to 11 year olds but certain to entertain even the most discerning of adult, you can also expect an abstract jazzy soundtrack and wonderfully designed lighting and staging – all coming together to form a truly unforgettable production.

Little Angel Theatre, October 16^th – 31^st

The Way Back Home

You won’t have heard of this picture book unless you have an in-depth knowledge of children’s contemporary literature – but you can take our word for it that this is a fantastic story, one that uses both fiction and fact to create a truly magical tone. Written by Oliver Jeffers and suitable for children aged 3 to 10, this is a fascinating tale of a boy who travels beyond the Earth’s atmosphere in a vessel he finds, and then runs out of petrol in the deep abyss of space – and is completely lost before a friendly alien takes pity and helps him find his way home. A little bit eerie but emotive, touching and clear lessons in friendship, this is a brilliant story that is set entirely to music (there’s no dialogue, but the score is so powerful that really, no words are even needed), and offers an extraordinary opportunity to introduce children to more artistic theatre a an early age.

The Purcell Room, Southbank Centre, October 29^th – November 2^nd

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