Review: Anna Hibiscus’ Song, Unicorn Theatre

The warm African sun is shining at the Unicorn Theatre as we meet Anna Hibiscus for an hour of enthusiastic storytelling and song. Based on the book series by Nigerian born author Atinuke and illustrator Lauren Tobia, this is a high energy production for ages 3 – 7 that invites the audience to celebrate African culture whilst telling the story of a young girl who is just so happy she could explode. It conscientiously doesn’t fall in to the trap of representing generic Africa – a continent, it tells us, made up of over 50 different countries. Today we are very specifically in Nigeria. 

From the off we’re immersed in energetic drumming, song and movement, with the audience encouraged to clap and sing along as the cast fill the auditorium with music and rhythm. There’s lots of repetition, particularly at the start of the show, when we meet the performers and Anna herself, who is a beautiful puppet. The opening sequence is acted out several times with variation in language and actions to get the audience joining in, and it feels a bit like a workshop (or the African Wiggles, depending on your perspective). The stage becomes a storytelling circle as we focus in on Anna’s story. 

Brightly decorated staging gives a vibrant backdrop of mango trees and colour to Anna’s home, where she is trying to share her happiness with her family before it makes her burst into stars. But they all have other things to do, or want her to behave differently, expressing her joyfulness in their way instead, something she finds frustrating. She has to be patient and then find a way to manage her feelings with some help from her mother, until eventually they all share her song.

There’s an abundance of music and singing in the storytelling, with the cast fully invested throughout, moving through the auditorium to make the young spectators feel seen as individuals and inviting them to share in the happiness by participating in song and dance. 

The story is perhaps spread a little thinly because much of the performance style is based on repeating scenes or songs. Subsequently, with a fairly large cast playing multiple characters, the roles don’t really have a chance to become filled out. It’s quite a one note piece, but that note is a buoyant, upbeat one; and indeed this makes it more impactful when Anna gets emotional in her frustration. 

Come the end the audience are asked to get on their feet, to move to the music and celebrate with Anna. It’s a lovely feeling to recognise that even though this tale is clearly in an African setting it is also a universal story of positivity and representation that all children can enjoy.

Adapted for the stage and directed by: Mojisola Kareem
Based on the book by: Atinuke and Lauren Tobia
Puppets by: Amelia Pimlott
Presented by: Utopia Theatre and Sheffield Theatres

Anna Hibiscus’ Song is aimed at ages 3-7 and runs at the Unicorn Theatre until Sunday 13 October. Further information and booking details can be found here.