Introducing children to the theatre is such a treat. To watch their faces as a story comes alive is pure joy and as a qualified English teacher it is something I encourage parents to do. Erin is an articulate, creative little thing. She loves writing stories and reading. Sadly we all know that the creative arts have been squeezed out of the curriculum and therefore I look for more opportunities to fill this gap myself. Therefore I jumped at the chance to go and see Wind in the Willows At The Everyman Theatre, Cheltenham. The Everyman has commissioned Box Tale Soup to tell this well loved tale.
Box Tale Soup use a unique blend of puppetry, physical theatre and traditional performance. They will transport
you into a theatrical world like no other. Formed in 2012, they seek to create productions that are affordable without
being compromised in quality or originality. And that is exactly what they have done with Wind in the Willows at the Everyman Theatre.
The show is designed for those younger theatre lovers aged 4+ and takes place in the small intimate venue of the studio. It is a friendly venue that allows children to sit at the front and see the story unfold right in front of them. This helps the children feel the story, characters and plot, without feeling intimidated by a huge stage. It lasts about an hour which is perfect for little ones with a shorter attention span.
The play was wonderful, with handmade teddy characters which cleverly switch roles with the three actors. The attention to detail kept the young audience entertained. Many of us would know the story of Mole, Ratty and Toad but the language can be complicated for young viewers. Yet through the storytelling the timeless story comes alive. Children hear the words and the tale unfolds which delights and stimulates their growing minds.
It is not too late to get your tickets there are several more performances this week, click here for show tickets.
Educational Benefits of the Theatre
- Field trips to live theater enhance literary knowledge, tolerance, and empathy among students says a recent study in Science daily.
- We practice sitting down, paying attention and learning from other people’s actions
- The theatre teaches children about Science, about history, about literature.
- It is great for developing confidence.
- Encouraging creativity
- The theatre helps children think of new ideas
The theatre is an explosion of the senses for little people. We loved this adaptation of Wind in the Willows. The singing was beautiful, the characters believable and the children all left with huge smiles plastered across their faces.
We would like to thank Box Tale Soup for the tickets and for giving us an enjoyable afternoon.
