Last week I was lucky enough to go along to see Hammerpuzzle‘s new adaptation of The Owl and the Pussycat at the Everyman Theatre, Cheltenham. It was absolutely brilliant and my two year old, Alex, couldn’t have agreed more.
From the moment we walked in, we were immersed into Edward Lear’s nonsense world. The Owl was sat waiting in a chair, completing a crossword (as you do) and interacting with the numerous children sat in the front row. Naturally they thought it was great! What’s more is that because The Owl and the Pussycat takes place in the Irving Studio at the Everyman Theatre, it is much more intimate and they have even set smaller chairs out for the little ones to sit on the front row.
As the play starts, we get to know both title characters as they embark on an adventure to find a new home where they feel they fit in and can be friends with whoever they’d like. As well as the incredible two leads, there is a super-talented third actor who plays a very convincing whale, pig and turkey. In fact, one of our favourite moments of the play was when the whale “swallowed” some washing-up liquid and of course, plentiful bubbles ensued!
Alex, as I said, is two. She has been to the theatre once before but when she was a tiny baby and therefore was fairly easy to please. I was slightly nervous to take her to anything other than soft play given how excitable she is at the minute and yet, my gorgeous wild child sat for a whole hour in complete awe of what she saw in front of her. We have read The Owl and The Pussycat almost every day since as she enjoyed it so much, to the point that her older sister genuinely feels like she missed out.
Not only do the three actors give a brilliant performance, but they also interact with the younger audience like absolute pros. They got them singing, rhyming, popping bubbles and giggling like you can only imagine. It was truly magical to see. And whilst the kids were enjoying themselves, I sat back and enjoyed the nostalgia of a poem that I knew by heart as a child, imagined in a totally new way.
The Owl and The Pussycat is showing at the Everyman Theatre, Cheltenham until 31st December. It will then move to King’s Theatre, Gloucester for two very special performances on the 11th Jan. Click here to book now for Cheltenham.
The Everyman Theatre, Cheltenham.
*** I was gifted these tickets for the purpose of a review but all opinions are my own ***
