Writer: Joe Brumm
Music: Joff Bush
Director: Rosemary Myers
The stage show that every child under 7 (and their Mums and Dads) have been eagerly waiting for finally arrived on the stage of Alhambra Theatre, Bradford this evening – Bluey’s Big Play. Complete with a brand new, original story from creator Joe Brumm, score from Bluey composer Joff Bush and voiced by the original voice artists, it’s impossible not to delight this very young audience.
Bluey has become an international phenomenon since it first aired in Australia in 2018. The joy of Bluey is that it is loved equally by children and their parents, it’s something the whole family can laugh out loud at. Episodes are packed full of playful family fun, whilst sharing life lessons.
From the outset the music, by Joff Bush sets the scene, in fact it is the music that stands out throughout as a vehicle to transport us from upbeat, feelgood party scenes, to the sensitive, emotive scenes between Chilli and the children as they discuss sibling relationships and how they sometimes don’t go the way we plan.
The structure of the show really helps to keep the younger audience engaged. The introduction ‘for real life’ is an absolute joy, it has become iconic in so many households and the children loved getting involved and shouting out the character names. The show follows Bandit searching for his mobile phone that he’s become addicted to, something that many families can relate to, but it does steer away from the Bandit we know and love from the TV series who is nothing short of the perfect, fully engaged, fun parent. Bluey is annoyed at her little sister wanting to copy off her which leads to a heart-warming story and some gentle guidance from Chilli (Mum) about sisterly relationships.
Alongside this we are treated to appearances from show favourites Lucky’s Dad, the Gnomes and of course no celebration of Bluey would be the same without Rita and Janet driving their car. There is a lovely simplicity to the performance, it’s sensitive, innocent and fun and has a lovely moral to it.
The puppets are the perfect representation of the characters, they are exactly how children would want to see the Heelers. The puppeteers work well together and really bring the puppets to life. There are occasions where the sheer number of puppeteers required to operate each puppet does distract from the characters, but this is a small gripe.
The show is short at only 50 minutes without an interval which is perfect for an audience of this age, however, there could have been a little more content to the story, The last 10 minutes was taken up with passing giant balloons around the audience, which was absolutely thrilling to the children who got to partake in a giant game of keepy uppy, and meant the audience left on a high but I would have preferred more content.
Overall, a fun and entertaining show, fans of Bluey certainly won’t be disappointed.
Runs until 6 March 2024
