The Three Bears -Review- Northern Stage

The Three Bears

Northern Stage

Kitchen Zoo theatre

 
3O October 2021

From the moment we step through the doors of stage 3 we are greeted by the bears & transported to an immersive magical land of fairy tales.
Walking past trees, grasses & the three bears washing lines, we are asked to sit down, big bears on the seats & little bears on the floor where they can explore a wonderful array of tactile materials, perfect to keep little paws interested & busy.
Kitchen Zoo’s adaptation of the classic ‘Goldilocks & the three bears’ is just simply perfection!
Aimed at the under 5’s this captivating performance was really entertaining (note there was just me & my Mum, no little bears in sight!)

This lovely take on this familiar story is expertly delivered using both actors & puppetry. Goldilocks being an especially naughty puppet who blows raspberries at a delighted audience!
The bears allow us to peek into their lives down in the deep dark woods, where they go collecting & re-cycle their finds into a variety of useful implements in doing so positively re-enforcing enviro friendliness. Mummy bear also found these tools useful whilst building their home, a nice touch of role reversal & a bit of girl power!

The performance follows the bears through their expected activities but also explains why a small girl like Goldilocks happens to be walking through the woods alone. She has in fact ran away from the circus and so ensues an hilarious scene involving the ring master & the various acts.
The performance was true to the all familiar story but added some new refreshing twists that brought the tale into the twenty first century.
There was also plenty of audience participation & my personal highlight was watching my Mum join in with the ‘bear bottom boogie’ that made my day!
It was a delightful forty five minutes that I would thoroughly recommend. It was so lovely seeing all of the little ‘bears’ in the audience dressed in their bear onsies & clutching their teddys, whilst enjoying a meet & greet with the bears after the performance.
My Mum & I absolutely loved it! Go see!

 

Alison Stanley