Music: Vikki Stone
Adaptor: Matthew Xia and Vikki Stone
Director: Mathew Xia
Have you ever felt like you deserved a medal for taking and (surviving!) a trip to the theatre with your toddler? Well squirrels you get just that at the “Hey Duggee Live Show!”
Well ok, not an actual medal but I was very proud to receive 6 sticker badges!
Entering the theatre and being greeted by an open stage and a vibrant cartoon set was a perfect welcome for me and my little reviewer. In such a large theatre space to see the familiar backdrops and colours of Hey Duggee not only brought on excitement but also security that we were in for a fantastic hour!
The story of the Live Show is that Duggee, and is well loved friends are to be in a show of their own. This narrative is then well crafted into six sections, and if you are a good squirrel (if you know you know!) you receive a sticker badge at the end of each one, (Singing, A Capella, Costume Design, Chorography, Egg, Space and ultimately Theatre.) This structure kept my little one on the edge of her seat, well my knee, the entire time. Eagerly watching and listening to discover when she can wear the next badge, and predicting what each one would be for. Each segment recreated well-loved moments from the Hey Duggee TV series. I would be interested to discover how many hours of Hey Duggee Xia and Stone had watched, as they really did create the TV show live on stage. And made it arguably more engaging too.
With each section you are introduced to the ad hoc characters, played superbly by Lunga Anele-Skosana, and transported to different scenes and worlds. The most notable being the space badge where you are treated to ‘out of this world’ projections by George Reeve and a really effective light display of rockets and planets by Ciarán Cunningham. If you are lucky enough to be sat in the front of the stalls, you were able to reach out at touch the giant planets as they were sent around the auditorium. If not, be prepared for either A, a little sulk that your toddler couldn’t reach the planets, or B, be prepared to catch your toddler as they leap out of arms to touch them regardless of where you are sitting! I witnessed both.
All cast members puppeteering skills are flawless under the direction of Yvonne Stone, as they swop and change and support one another playing multiple puppets and characters. Not least Benedict Hastings as the top dog himself, Duggee. Wearing what looks like a difficult and cumbersome frame to manoeuvre the large Duggee puppet, he does with style.
Overall the ‘Hey Duggee Live Show,’ did not disappoint! Even if you have not seen the TV show, you can explore the journey, dance to the Duggee songs and enjoy as your little one actually also learns things along the way too. The Sticky Stick Stick rave in the middle may cause confusion, but when you witness 100s of under 4s joining in, you’ll forgive the randomness and reach for the glow sticks!
Runs until 4 Feb 2023 and continues on UK Tour until August.
The Reviews Hub Score
It’s show time Squirrels!
