You may have read about our adventures when we tried to see the “In the night garden live” show in Richmond a week ago when two broken generators stopped play: http://www.allinlondon.co.uk/blogs/showblog.php?post=2776
Dad and the twins went along to the rescheduled show on Saturday and here’s their report:
“Two intrepid reporters (well, 4-year-old twin sisters) went on a very sunny Saturday to see 'In The Night Garden: Live!' in a big tent in Richmond's Old Deer Park. They had a great time.
The show is based on CBeebies' bed time hour, with all the usual characters (both puppets and actors in costume), music, narration and background footage skilfully cut together. The dome of the big tent is used to good effect for this, as an enormous sky-filling projection screen, while the children (with their parents, grandparents and carers sitting next to them) all have a good view of the stage.
Anyone with small children will probably know about In The Night Garden, with its reassuringly familiar routine, night after night. If you don't have small children, so don't, let's just say it’s aimed at toddlers and nursery age children and reinforces messages of good behaviour as children prepare for bedtime. There are a limited number of characters (with very strange names) who always do the same good things, regardless of the plot.
The story brought out all the signature cameos of the characters. Iggle Piggle in his little boat and red blanket, Makka Pakka cleaning everyone's face with a soap and sponge, Upsy Daisy, the Tombleyboos cleaning their teeth to a rhumba, the miniature Pontipines, the Ponky Ponk airship and a guest appearance by the Ninky Nonk model train. Music, short songs, little dance routines, bubbles and more.
The show is well organized, with lots of cheerful staff. It lasts just under an hour, so not too long for small children. The loos are very clean and very parent friendly, and there is another enormous tent just as a buggy park. Richmond has a tube, train, parking and is at the end of the M3. There are several children's playgrounds right next to the tent, and lots of big shady trees - great for a picnic.
So what did the guinea pigs make of it? 'I love the part where Makka Pakka washes Iggle Piggle's face and loses his sponge' says twin # 1. 'I liked all of it' says #2. Even though at the upper end of the age range, they were truly delighted by the whole experience. Oh to be pre-school again.
Tickets are not cheap; and then there are plenty of opportunities to explore the remnants of the parents' wallets with exit gifts shops and chances to meet the characters. But as a birthday treat, and a summer version of panto, puppets or trip to father Christmas, it was a great day out”.
The show continues in Richmond until 14th July http://www.nightgardenlive.com/
