The Lowry, Manchester – until Sunday March 3rd 2019
Reviewed by Julie Noller
5*****
In the Night Garden is a live action puppet educational BBC children’s television series, aimed at children aged from one to six. Featuring a mix of actors in costume, puppetry and computer animation. As it’s name suggests it was aired every evening 6.20 pm during ‘Bedtime Hour’ and coincided with many youngsters bedtimes. Intended as a calming influence amid the stresses the end of day may bring to many. Firstly broadcast in March 2007.
Now 12 years later In the Night Garden begins it’s first ever tour of UK theatres. A brand new story written by Helen Eastman brings all our favourite characters to life in front of our very eyes. Following the very same format that made it so popular back in 2007. We have Iggle Piggle, Upsy Daisy, Makka Pakka, The Tombliboos and the Pontipine family all in front of our eyes, in a combination of actors in costume and puppets; cleverly bringing together a story in fast action segments to keep our younger audience entertained. Don’t be dismayed though if you think heading to this show will be a drag for an hour as you sit and watch your youngsters enthralled. It’s truly a show for all ages from mums and Dads thankful for moments of peace over the years before bedtime; to Nana and Grandad enjoying a trip to the theatre with excited youngsters. A great show that uses simple language from a single narrator and makes no apologies for a noisy audience, for there may have been tears and the odd I’ve had enough wail. But overall chants and cheers not to mention singing outnumbered those, some of the younger audience members were quietly contemplative, clapping and singing as they would at home.
Even though it follows the original format there may have been slight confusion over why one moment IgglePiggle et al were full sized and the next puppet sized, this is a quietly clever touch; for it’s hard to keep a young audience captivated; those small additions along with the computer animation of the twitters (birds singing) break up the bite sized action pieces and allow your attention to wonder before bringing it back onto the story. The action songs are repeated in encouragement for us all to join in, loudly or quietly in our own heads it really doesn’t matter. In The Night Garden Live is all about fun in a warm, bright and safe environment. It is fluffy kittens on a wet miserable day that left us smiling, happy and cheerful. I can’t help but still smile at the memory of when Iggle Piggle and Upsy Daisy hugged every Mum in the audience appeared to collectively sigh and in unison all let out one big awwww.
My children are teenagers now and may be a little too old for such shows, indeed it’s been some years since I’ve watched any television shows aimed at below 6 year olds. But I have to say I thoroughly enjoyed myself, immersed myself into the whole experience, joined in with the singing and let the brightness and cheeriness of each character wash over me. Perhaps next year when the winter blues hit I will self prescribe myself an hour of In the Night Garden and come out smiling willing to tackle winter head on.
We were extremely lucky to be invited to the Official Launch Party after the show and were even lucky enough to meet Iggle Piggle and Upsy Daisy an experience that will be remembered. I saw many extremely over joyed young children with balloons and painted faces helping themselves to cakes and specially made In the Night Garden biscuits not to mention excitedly examining the contents of their goodie bags. As far as parties go this upped the bar and now many parents face the dilemma of how to better meeting the actual real Iggle Piggle who gave High Fives and Upsy Daisy who gave the best hugs.
