Review: I Want My Hat Back Trilogy, Polka Theatre 

This inventive and visually captivating production is a revival of the much-acclaimed 2022 stage adaptation of Jon Klassen’s beloved picture books I Want My Hat Back, This is Not My Hat, and We Found a Hat. Brought to life by director Ian Nicholson and designer Sam Wilde, the trilogy is a treasure trove of wit, charm, and quietly powerful storytelling.

Right from the start, the show sets a tone of joyful creativity. Audiences are encouraged to make and share their own puppets made at home — but no puppet, no problem. Children are invited to join in throughout, using gestures and movements of their own making, causing the whole experience to feel interactive, inclusive, and full of life.

The design of the stage is striking in its simplicity and charm: a kind of Amazon parcel cardboard aesthetic, which is beautifully detailed in a hand-made sort of way and where nothing is hidden, with props and pieces seemingly strewn about the auditorium (all part of the playful conceit). Though compact, the stage is used in dynamic ways. Characters spill beyond the edges, making the world feel surprisingly expansive. Whether they’re tumbling across a desert or diving deep underwater, every transition is a visual treat.

At its core are three cleverly woven stories that all centre around one surprisingly dramatic accessory: the hat. A bear searches for his missing headwear with increasing suspicion. A small, unapologetic fish brags about stealing a hat from a much larger creature, unfortunately to his ultimate demise. And two turtles face a quiet dilemma when they discover a single hat, but there are two of them, so what can they do? Each tale is told with humour and heart, layered with subtle moral questions about truth, fairness, and what it means to do the right thing, while celebrating that a bit of subversion from time to time is OK.

The puppetry is a constant source of delight. One minute, a frantic chase has the audience in stitches; the next, we’re holding our breath in suspense. Puppets appear in all shapes and sizes, with inventive staging and physical theatre drawing the audience right into the action.

Aimee Louise Bevan and Simon Lyshon deliver standout performances — a delightful duo who keep the energy high and the young audience completely invested. Their expressions, timing, and moments of sly audience interaction (winks, smiles, knowing glances) are a joy to watch. The musical score by Jim Whitcher is equally impressive, underscoring the action with mood-shifting precision, from comic beats to moments of tension. Lighting design by Sherry Coenen delivers delightful underwater sequences and surreal desert scenes, which are not just atmospheric but transformative.

Beneath the playfulness, the show manages to explore important themes with a light touch. These moments offer young audiences the chance to consider big questions, while never losing the humour or momentum of the storytelling. This production is an imaginative, beautifully crafted, heartwarming yet hilarious 40-minute adventure for 3-8s that leaves you smiling long after you leave the theatre — a truly unmissable experience for audiences of all ages.

Adapted by Ian Nicholson & Sam Wilde
Based on books by Jon Klassen
Director: Ian Nicholson
Designer: Sam Wilde
Lighting Designer: Sherry Coenen
Sound Designer & Composer: Jim Whitcher
A Little Angel Theatre production, with Sam Wilde and Ian Nicholson

I Want My Hat Back Trilogy is aimed at ages 3-8 and runs at Polka Theatre until Sunday, 10 August.