A refreshingly 21st century sensory experience for babies and their adults. Smiles all round!summary
Rating
Excellent
You can never start them too young eh? This joyful performance of Soft or Spiky? at the Half Moon invites children aged 6-18 months and their adults to step into the theatre, perhaps for the very first time.
Devised and directed by Daryl Beeton, the piece is more a sensory experience than a tale with narrative, which suits this age range perfectly. It encourages the audience to explore ideas of shape and texture – what is soft or spiky (there’s a clue in the name!). Babies and adults sit together on colourful cushions around a stage area dotted with shapes and textures, both flat and 3D. There’s a selection of mats, along with pointy triangles and curved, layered shapes to give variety and interest.
It’s all refreshingly 21st century: there’s no patronising tone here, just great use of simple vocalising using only a few words plus some sounds and a brilliantly funky soundtrack by Miss Jaqui that is quirky and evocative. It’s the perfect music for Stasha Dukic to really explore through her movement and in her interaction with the audience.
And her performance is just delightful! She’s enormously charismatic, engaging instantly with the babies using a direct but gentle style. As she moves through the space, physically depicting ideas of soft and spiky, their attention shifts with her. They giggle and jiggle, totally captivated by her changing, clearly defined facial expressions and her fluid moves.
Dukic’s dance is at times elegant and balletic, then angular or even acrobatic. It’s tactile, funny and fluid, moving between the participants and objects to draw connections or see shapes in a different way – sometimes even on her head, where there’s a definite comic peekaboo moment! She cautiously approaches the small spectators, giving them exciting individual attention while being highly sensitive to their responses. Themed objects are offered for the babies to explore, so they share in the performance, and the adults are asked to help them consider which features are soft or spiky
Jonathan Chan’s lighting design is subtle but active, enhancing the playful world of movement and music being created: a world where the very young have a safe opportunity to enjoy sensory exploration of objects in a new, excitingly theatrical environment. It’s also a chance to share space and relationships, creating friendly awareness of the company of other children and their carers as the audience navigate a simple question all together. The production also feels like a very inclusive event: because it is largely non-verbal it’s suited to all sorts of people, including anyone who is d/Deaf or perhaps for whom English isn’t a first language.
A post-show ‘play and stay’ opportunity allows time to imagine ways to explore further, with some additional props made available along with Dukic’s pleasant company. This is a lovely two-in-one package of performance and play that will heighten the senses and bring happy smiles to very young faces.
Presented by: Half Moon and Polka Theatre
Devised and directed by: Daryl Beeton
Set and Costume Design by: Ingrid Hu
Lighting Design by: Jonathan Chan
Sound Design by: Miss Jacqui
Soft or Spiky? Is aimed at ages 6-18 months and is now on tour, with dates available here.
