Review: The Flying Bath, Little Angel Theatre

As the audience arrive in the main auditorium of the Little Angel they are confronted by a gorgeous bright yellow bathroom. Towels hang neatly on hooks, plants sit in corners, and shelves brim with toiletries and loofahs. The pièce de résistance is a freestanding large bath centre stage with a traditional bath/shower mixer tap, which a whale toy watches from the corner. It is everything a small child needs to catch their interest and indeed many of the younger audience spent the time before the show started excitedly pointing out things they recognised to their accompanying adults.  

The action focuses on two actors (Hannah Bainbridge and Jack Heydon), playing young siblings, who make-believe using all the available items on set. They sing, they dance and hop excitedly about whilst ignoring calls from their mother outside the room, who regularly checks to see that they are behaving.  

It is, as to be expected, a testament to the endless imagination of writer Julia Donaldson as stories unfold between the two. The shower head becomes a telephone helpline, which rings frequently for the younger actor to answer it. Each time she answers with a sing song voice and the pair spring into action with their bath toys flying off to the rescue in a smaller white bath with wings (aka a washing up bowl).

Adapted by Samantha Lane from the highly successful book written by Donaldson and illustrated by David Roberts, the stage show encourages the younger members of the audience to revel in the fun available in bathtime, perhaps assuaging concerns from those that don’t like the experience. The siblings tease each other and flick water with occasional shouts, but a quick reminder from the elder that they don’t want their parent to come in is enough to quieten any frustration between the two demonstrating sibling cooperation. For those older spectators, the adventures contain messages about the natural world and the need to protect animals as they experience a whole host of danger. From giving a muddy piglet a shower, to putting out a fire for a frightened baboon, the audience learns that even the smallest act can make a big difference. There is not an item left unturned in the bathroom by the end and it is a glorious example of the unfettered fun that can be found in everyday things. 

Aimed at 2-5 year olds the show runs to about 35 minutes or so. The action is stage bound only and there were definitely some wriggly bottoms from the audience by 25 minutes onwards. I think shortening the show by 10 minutes or adding some interaction with the spectators would help those itchy bums, but nonetheless this was an absorbing and joyous outing for all.

Adapted and Directed by Samantha Lane
Set and Puppets designed by Emma Tompkins
Music by Dominic Sales
Lighting designed by Sherry Coenen

The Flying Bath is aimed at ages 2-5 years and plays at the Little Angel Theatre until Sunday 12 July