Little Red Riding Hood Retold

 Little red riding hood set out into the deep dark forest to Grandma's house.

She had filled her basket with things for Grandma.

 She wore the red cloak her Grandma had made for her.

She promised her mother she would stick to the path and not talk to strangers

But then the wolf appeared

 He wanted to be her friend, he could show her a short cut through the deep dark forest.

When Little red riding Hood #1 and #2 got to Grandma's house, Grandma was no where to be found, so they tidied her dressing table.

 And played dressing up with the clothes in her wardrobe

 And wished they had a bedspread as lovely as Grandma's

 And fiddled around in her treasure boxes.

 And arranged some beautiful flowers. Until...

The wolf appeared...quick run!

These photos were taken in the current installation at Nottingham Lakeside arts centre.  It was created by local school children, with an arts facilitator, to complement the current production of Little Red Riding Hood, by Oliver award winning writer Mike Kenny. 

Theatre Review

Kenny has done a fantastic job of reinterpreting the classic fairy story.  A girl and her brother stay over at their grandmother's house, and using their imaginations, props they find in their grandmother's spare room and some doughnuts they steal from downstairs, they bring the story bursting to life.

At first I was wondering if the story was just too dark, the bedroom setting too claustrophobic. Would this be too terrifying for the group of 5 year olds I went with, would it give them nightmares? I was proved completely wrong.  The adaptation plays with children's fears, whilst breaking the tension in exactly the right places.  I don't think I have ever seen such imaginative and hilarious theatrical tension releases, absolute genius.

What's magical is the way the adaptation explores children's play and storytelling using the concepts of dressing up, role play and object play. There are just two actors, who play the children, both of whom completely captured the irresistible energy and enthusiasm of children.  These two child characters, and their toys, then play the characters from Little Red Riding Hood, which perfectly diffuses the fear factor.  

The set is beautiful, and coupled with the lighting it creates some breathtaking festive magic.  The singing is spine tingling, not surprising given the music was composed by Charlie and Lola's Julian Butler.

Combined with a cup of tea and a cake in the cafe, and an hour spent playing and exploring the installation, this is an absolute must do 'experience'. The children I went with absolutely loved retelling and reinterpreting the story afterwards. They even tidied up Grandma's house afterwards, without being asked, they were so impressed by the whole afternoon.   

Little Red Riding Hood runs til 31st Dec.  Age 4+, although my 3yo was also spellbound.  Knocks the socks off pantomime.  And made me want to be Drama teacher again, so badly...

You're late! You're late! Your late! For a very important date.

As the White Rabbit in Alice In Wonderland would say.  And indeed today has been one of those days, where we have been late, after late, after late, but we did have a marvellous adventure in a rabbit warren which I must blog about.

Architects of Air's Luminarium

Each June Architects of Air erect a huge inflatable sculpture, outside the Lakeside Theatre in the grounds of Nottingham University. It looks like a cross between a circus top and a bouncy castle, but it's actually a series of tunnels flooded with different coloured lights, kind of like futuristic rabbit warren or chill out zone.

This is the first year we have made it in, mainly because, theatre being my thing, I have normally just booked to see loads of performances for the children's theatre festival.  Although, just like the theatre festival, the Luminarium was magical.  I would have liked to have spent more time in there, as soon as I went in I felt my mind clearing.

Unfortunately I don't have children who cling to my heels, or have the faintest notion of what getting lost in a seamless rubber maze might be like.  So I spent quite a lot of time trying to keep track of them.  Still they loved it as you can see from the video. And apart from going from shopping, to a play, to this, to swimming lessons, with no time to process it all, so did I.

Wish they wouldn't always run off in opposite directions though...



The Wheee! Lakeside Theatre Festival runs this weekend In Nottingham, and is packed with children's theatre performances as well as plenty of free entertainment   The Luminarium is open from now, until Sunday, with sessions for children and adults only too.

Silent Sunday

M6 theatre Sunflowers and Sheds

I love taking my two to the theatre. Theatre is my thing, I studied it at uni and taught it in secondary school until I had kids. We have discovered some seriously clever children's theatre out there.

Today I took Miss L to see Sunflowers and Sheds by M6 theatre company at the Lakeside Arts Centre, Nottingham. It did us both the world of good.  Sitting in a darkened room for an hour while we both sat spellbound. I didn't realise how much I needed that.

Today, even though I say I love theatre, it was a real effort to leave the house.  I had a little Prosecco hangover after celebrating a good friend passing her driving test.  I also had a parenting hangover after a week on my own with the kids.  I was beginning to feel like I had lost myself in the mists of motherhood again.  But I am so glad we went.

The moment Miss L slipped her hand into mine in the car park and started bouncing with excitement I perked up. My head's been so full of those irrational niggling doubts about my parenting this week, but hearing her say 'We always go to the theatre it's exciting',  reminded me I am sharing something very special with her, my thing, my passion. (Mr A is currently sharing his with her, teaching her how to use the Nintendo DS).

She also told me a story in the car, and stories are another passion of mine. I'll admit, like many parents I am sure, I don't always have the patience to tell kid's ones. Those times where I have made up a story when I am trying to drive or make dinner, seem to be paying off though.  Miss L's was a good story, The Tiger Who Came for Tea meets the Alexander family meets Harry and his Bucketful of Dinosaurs.

So Sunflowers and Sheds. It was beautiful. Written for my mood today.  Full of reminders to appreciate beauty, magic and friendship. A old man befriends a Russian girl on the neighbouring allotment and the friendship gives him the courage he needs to make a change in his life. It really proved that children's theatre doesn't need to involve cartoon characters, puppets and silly songs. Although that can be fun, but nowhere near as nourishing to the soul. Miss L enjoyed it too, especially the music, friendship theme, the flowers growing in wellies, the russian dolls and the glitter ball.

Pictures by M6

Its heading to Runcorn, Brighton, London and Birmingham next.  Suitable for 4+.  Click to catch the magic!