We're Going on a Bear Hunt

Synopsis

An adaptation of Michael Rosen's best-selling children's story. Join one happy family as they wade through grass, splash through water and squelch through mud on the hunt for a big bear. Are you brave enough to journey with them, and discover what scary surprise is waiting for them on the other side of the dark forest? Recommended for ages 3-7

Our Review:

Michael Coveney - 9 July 2009

While the Ronald Harwood season continues at the Duchess, the stage has been commandeered for morning and (on Sundays) matinee performances of this popular story  by the outgoing Children’s Laureate Michael Rosen, ideal for anyone three years old and upwards.

Quite a few two year-olds survived the bear hunt, too, as Dad and the kids, and baby and dog, tramped through various terrains, sang songs and found a bear in a narrow, gloomy cave before hurrying home to bed with their nursery teddies.

There’s no attempt to reproduce the glorious colour wash of Helen Oxenbury’s illustrations for Rosen’s 1989 book by the director Sally Cookson and designer Katie Sykes (their adaptation was first seen at the Bristol Old Vic three years ago).

Instead, we have a curtain of shiny green strips for the long grass, a blue river of towels, pails and watering cans, a squelchy art class of brown paint and Tyrolean yodelling for the muddy swamp, a ...

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Latest User Review

SHEILA MALONE - 27 July 2009:

I took along 2 other adults and 4 children aged between 2 and 8, each and every one of us loved every second of the whole glorious story. As the adults all work in early years we loved the staging and props coming away inspired to make our next telling of Bear Hunt as interactive and enjoyable as the one we witnessed this afternoon. Not too sure about the Dad appearing from the Bear, obviously all part of the 'game' he was playing, but all faith restored when the small bear and card puppets of the characters appeared to reverse the story all the way home. Thank you everyone involved, a most enjoyable way of spending an hour of a Sunday afternoon. ...

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