This Spring the Polka Theatre presents Tidy, a collaboration with Theatr Lolo based on the best selling picture book by Emily Gravett. A heartwarming woodland tale of three animal friends with a soulful and profound message at its core, we couldn’t wait to head over to Wimbledon to bring you our Tidy Polka Theatre Review.
Tidy tells the story of Pete, the Badger with a penchant for order and proud winner of ‘The Tidiest Forest 2023’ award. The opening autumnal scenes see Pete pruning the heads off of flowers that do no match and hoovering up fallen leaves.
But mother nature has other plans. When leaves fall faster than he can sweep them up and a furious flood tears through his home, fastidious Pete sets to work to tidy up. But poor Pete’s obsession with ‘tidy’ soon becomes a force for destruction, leaving the forest drowned under concrete and barren of life.
In this cautionary tale, Pete with the help of his friends the Rabbit and the fox, learns the value of preserving and respecting the natural beauty of the forest. Clare Pointing‘s giggly Rabbit is played with fun and frivolity in opposition to the tormented and often grumpy Pete. The children of the audience revelled in her cheeky endeavours to wind Pete up whilst allowing him to indulge in his ruthless cleaning with a silent knowingness throughout.
Jack Benjamin‘s guitar playing fox provides a wonderful soundtrack throughout, keeping a sense of pace and building momentum when needed. Robert Penny is masterful as the deluded albeit well-meaning Pete and the cast do a wonderful job at blending song, storytelling, puppetry and physical theatre with seamless ease and authenticity.
The other star of the show has to be the wonderful set (Rachael Canning), which sees trees adorned with umbrellas full of leaves and building props operated by the performers which lunge out above the heads of the first rows of the stalls, delighting the young audience. A clever play – I am yet to find a toddler who does not light up at the sight of diggers, drills and cement mixers!
The badger puppet is another big crowd pleaser for the targeted 3-7 yr old audience, allowing the performers to simulate Pete’s dramatic near drowning in the flood but also used to great comic effect. My children loved watching him shake and shimmy to the soulful trumpet in one particular scene.
This 50 minute show is a wonderful treat for all the family. Children will love the funny woodland characters, clever puppetry, diggers and audience participation whilst learning vital lessons about protecting nature and seeing beauty in imperfection.
An enchanting show with important life lessons you won’t want your children to miss!
Tidy is showing at the Polka Theatre now until 24th March. Recommended ages 3-7.
Cast and Creatives:
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