REVIEW - Bluey is perfect for all ages to enjoy and experience live family fun theatre!

On Wednesday, we went to The Lowry, Salford to watch Bluey's Big Play. Read what our reviewer Leanne Parker had to say about this brilliant family show...

Ask almost any parent of a child under 4 and the name ‘Bluey’ will be a familiar and oft used one. Little ones love it and even adults speak with sentimentality and fondness for it. This big-hearted animated series, which originated in Australia follows the lives of a family of Heeler Dogs, including namesake Bluey, the loveable pup who lives with her Mum Chilli, Dad Bandit and little sister Bingo. I think the things they got right with ‘Bluey’ that many insipid, one dimensional, repetitive and even annoying children’s TV shows aimed at this age group, is that it’s all about the feels, tackling relatable emotions and life situations in ways that adults connect with, and children learn from. I think this is probably the ultimate kids show for adults. From what I have heard from parents, most of them would watch it even without their child! I know I have sneaked a few episodes! My own little man, aged 4 has somehow, managed to completely bypass the Bluey obsession and in fact, refuses point blank to watch a single episode, so I admit to being both hopeful and excited that this live show might make him finally let me watch it (I’m not quite willing to sit and watch it all alone no matter how much I’d quite like to!).    

Bluey’s Big Play is a brand-new adaptation of the Emmy® award-winning children’s television series for the stage as we join the Heelers in their first live theatre show. The production features lovely sets which the children could easily recognise, and brilliantly created and handled puppets. This really is Bluey as you’ve never seen it before, brought to real life in this UK premiere and the reaction of the younger audience members just gives it something special for sure.

The stage show is an original story penned by Bluey creator Joe Brumm (Causes, The Meek, Bluey), with new music by Bluey composer, Joff Bush (Australian Survivor, The Family Law, The Strange Chores) but is comfortingly and cleverly wrapped up in familiarity. It has been produced by Andrew Kay (Cat in the Hat, Bananas in Pyjamas, Giggle and Hoot) and Cuffe & Taylor, one of the UK’s top 10 live music and event promoters), with Windmill Theatre Co for BBC Studios.

As the lights go down, bird puppets dance and twirl to music and it’s a captivating opener taking the auditorium from a loud and chaotic frenzy of noise and chatter to almost complete silence. Little humans all around me, including mine, were wide-eyed and mesmerised – it really was lovely to see and brought the first of several tears to my eyes, marshmallow mama that I am. The small puppetry throughout, is as good as this opening scene suggested it would be and is enchanting. The entrance of the large puppets depicting the main characters we have come to know and love in living rooms up and down the country, was greeted by much excitement and chatter from the young audience members. They couldn’t quite believe it! The puppetry of the larger characters was also very good. I was surprised to be honest, because it was very, very evident that humans were controlling the characters, and I wasn’t sure how authentic this would feel, or how confusing the young audience might find it. I worried – would it ruin the illusion? It would appear not and for that, I do credit the humans behind the puppets, who moved in a constant dance throughout, telling the story if each character and somehow, making the characters feel real. They were visible, but not obtrusive, clearly there and yet somehow, allowing the characters to take the focus. I must commend them on this.  
   

The core theme of the story is one that some parents might have felt uncomfortable with, even judged by – as Bandit spends too much time on his phone rather than giving attention to his daughters, which we see affecting them quite strongly, finding that hard. A secondary theme of being a good sibling runs alongside this, both as a child and an adult. There are plenty of moments that hit you in the feels, which was to be expected. Parts of this story make more sense or would have hit stalwarts of the show itself more deeply, especially those familiar with the episode ‘Onesies’, which provides some content to the backstory of Chillies’ strained relationship with her sister, Brandy, who struggled with fertility, driving a distance between the sisters, and confirmed Bluey’s status as a ‘rainbow child’, which hit close to my own heart. Younger audience members would miss this entirely but again, it's the adults who feel it the most here and more emotional themes are well tempered with plenty of fun, crazy dance moves, some lively music, a bit of audience participation and the sound of gasps and giggles from the young audience members wrapping it all up in a sweet little package.    

The theatre-wide game of keepy-uppy at the end and thousands of bubbles dropping, was chaotic, super-fun and joyful. It was a bit of a shame that the front of the audience in the stalls didn’t think to pass the huge bouncy balls backward so the littles further back could have their moment of fun too, as I heard a few rather disappointed and upset children as a result of the front half almost keeping it for themselves, but I noted and appreciated theatre staff trying hard to make the access a bit more equal. 

What I loved the most about this experience, was seeing how the little ones, especially my own, experienced it. As adults, we go to the theatre with high expectations, but these littles take all their experiences as they come, revel in the moments and feel the wonder in all of it. And that’s just glorious to behold. I urge anyone with Bluey loving littles to not even hesitate to take them to see this show. At 50 minutes, it’s the perfect length, and of all the theatre patrons this morning, from almost newly born, right through to older grandparents, no-one left without smiling. One word of caution- prepare to join huge queues for the merchandise!   

WE SCORE BLUEY'S BIG PLAY...



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