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A gorgeously evocative musical tale of friendship, adventure and imagination, with a slightly smelly, yet well-loved bear.Summary
Rating
Excellent
It’s hard to beat a Julia Donaldson picture book adaptation, especially when that book is illustrated by the amazing Rebecca Cobb. At the Polka Theatre this summer, Peter Glanville and Julian Butler have gloriously hit the mark with their delightful stage version of The Everywhere Bear.
The story takes its young audience (recommended ages 3-7) on a gorgeously evocative journey that ranges from fabulously familiar to excitingly adventurous. Like many schoolchildren, Class One has a bear that each of the children takes turns to have at home for the weekend. He’s the Everywhere Bear (EB) because he goes everywhere with them. This week it’s Matt’s turn to have him. He’s the new kid and doesn’t know many people, so it’s good to make a new bear friend. Unfortunately, after his fun weekend, Matt mislays EB and the bear is swept away down a smelly drain and on to unforeseen escapades. Matt and his classmates wonder anxiously if he’ll ever make his way back.
Lottie Johnson and Calum Bruce are our delightful storytelling, singing puppeteers, who carefully escort EB and Matt through their adventure, performing numerous characters on the way. At times it’s perilous for the small bear, and rather sad for Matt, but the performance is beautifully engaging and funny, punctuated by Julian Butler’s charming songs. With a captivated audience keen to help and calling out suggestions, the action moves colourfully along before ensuring there’s a happy ending.
The design of this show is exquisite and surprising, packing multiple innovative features into the tiny Adventure Theatre space. Cleverly built-in screens display images from the original book, bringing familiarity and fun as we recognise the schoolchildren and recite their names. They’re used again with excellent shadow animation portraying EB’s alarming journey down the drain, into the sea and up into the sky. This keeps the momentum propelling along as sets and costumes change. With beautifully considered lighting design by David Duffy, flimsy fabric flutters front of stage to provide the sea, whilst drawers flip round seamlessly, to become boxes of fish or shelves of library books.
There are a number of wonderfully crafted puppets in the production, skilfully manipulated by Johnson and Bruce and designed and made by Jan Zalud. From Matt and EB, to a cheeky seagull, a satisfied cat and a scampering mouse, they bring the aesthetic of the book truly alive onstage and add extra levels of delightful characterisation and vitality to the show.
The attention to detail of the production is highly satisfying. Notably it has normalised diversity and acceptance built in as faces and names of all nations are represented, and there are lovely touches such as Josie being the one to choose a book about cars in the library, and EB travelling by wheelchair. Bruce plays Mrs Bishop with a brilliant Northumbrian accent, in her tongue-twisting, tricksy fish shop song, which is very refreshing for a London stage.
A thrilling tale of peril, overcoming anxiety and finding friendship, this show has the young audience fully engaged, contributing ideas on how to rescue the Bear, and delighted when Matt’s awful mistake is resolved. It’s a fun, imaginative story they can relate to and perhaps take home, bringing their own cuddly friends to life to send on adventures!
Based on the book by Julia Donaldson and illustrated by Rebecca Cobb
Adapted for Stage by Peter Glanville and Julian Butler
Directed by Peter Glanville
Associate Director Maia Kirkman Richards
Music and Lyrics by Julian Butler
Set and Costume Design by Laura McEwen
Puppets designed and made by Jan Zalud
Lighting Design by David Duffy
Produced by: Polka Theatre, Little Angel Theatre and Royal & Derngate
The Everywhere Bear plays at Polka Theatre until 13 August. Further information and bookings can be found here.
