Review: We’re Going on a Bear Hunt, Little Angel Theatre

We’re Going on a Bear Hunt, playing at Little Angel Theatre this autumn, is a revival of a hugely popular show that has been running for over a decade. It’s based on the book by Michael Rosen & illustrated by Helen Oxenbury, adapted by Peter Glanville & Barb Jungr. I’m reliably told by Associate Director Oliver Hymans that it has hardly changed at all in that time. Well, that will be because it’s already practically perfect in every way.

This is a really special production, full of the joy of family and shared adventure, whilst remaining beautifully true to the spirit of the book. The show opens exuberantly with puppeteers Hannah Bainbridge, Samuel Dutton, Rosa Higgs and Edward Wren racing into the space and greeting the audience before introducing us to a family setting off together from their house to explore the outdoors. Anyone who knows the original will recognise the familiar faces from the illustrations, and here they’re given names and personality that add an extra richness to the telling of the tale.

I really wasn’t prepared for the breathtaking beauty of this show. Initially there’s the crafted charm and elegance of Lyndie Wright‘s simply adorable, characterful puppets, each performed with quirky individuality by the team. The fluidity of their movement as they interact to help each other through the many obstacles, and the precision of the scale of the family, all lined up from tallest to shortest, are just astonishing: it’s truly excellent puppetry in both design and performance. The children in the audience loved the different family members but were particularly delighted by Bertie the Baby with his identifying red balloon, and the licky, woofy dog.

The overall design is also stunning, with the exquisite rod puppets set off beautifully by Simon Plumridge’s gorgeous set. We’re not only shown the different environments along the trek but experience them wonderfully in underwater moments where silver fish glint and dart behind trembling gauze; or alongside a sensitive deer, slipping between trees in a woodland carpeted with pine needles where a forest princess reigns. This is a space where young imaginations can truly flourish.

The delightfully familiar alliteration and repetition of Rosen’s verse sees the troop tackle multiple challenges, from long wavy grass that has to be traversed with a “swishy, swashy” sound, to the inviting “squelch, squerch” of thick, oozy mud, and it’s all fabulous fun. The poetry gives the action a perfect pace, but the different atmospheres of each location are then beautifully described through an assortment of songs and musical themes (Jungr). With live accompaniment including guitar and harp, the composition is simply bewitching and makes this adaptation of a tiny book into a much greater special event.

Of course, the dramatic tension builds beautifully throughout, until the characters are chased home by a big bear and hide in the bed. But there’s nothing to be scared of there: as he moves along the aisle to visit the excited audience, it becomes clear he is really a big softie just hoping to make friends.

We’re Going on a Bear Hunt is an absolutely glorious theatre trip for all generations. It’s a celebration of playfulness, family and being outdoors that embraces the sensory magic of muddiness and indulges us in forest bathing. This superb show gives us an opportunity to step outside of our everyday; to embrace imagination and mindfulness of our wonderful world, and of each other. You can’t go over it. You can’t go under it. You’ll have to go to it.

Based on the book by Michael Rosen & Illustrated by Helen Oxenbury
Adapted by Peter Glanville & Barb Jungr
Director: Peter Glanville
Music and Lyrics: Barb Jungr
Set Designer: Simon Plumridge
Puppets Designer: Lyndie Wright
Lighting Designer: David Duffy
Creative Producer: Miranda Pitcher
Associate Director: Oliver Hymans

We’re Going on a Bear Hunt is aimed at ages 3-8 runs at Little Angel Theatre, Dagmar Passage, until Saturday 8 November.