Review: The Hunting of the Snark for a comical half-term family show

‘There was a bird!’

When we were talking to Daddy T on loudspeaker after going to the musical comedy The Hunting of the Snark, which we had been invited to see at Rose Theatre in Kingston, Big Boy was eager to tell him about a rainbow-coloured and charming bird called Jub Jub.

Musical comedy The Hunting of the Snark, based on the poem by Alice in Wonderland creator Lewis Carroll, is playing at Rose Theatre in Kingston this half-term, and the ultra modern adaptation of the story takes theatre-goers on a journey to Snark Island–the destination a money-loving banker wants to travel to in order to hunt for the valuable Snark.

The banker, who at the start of the show sings “for every problem in the world bankers have the answers”, searches for someone to take with him on the trip, and decides to bring a knowledgable explorer on the expedition. In addition, his son wants to come along, and when he’s not allowed to he has to sneak onto the ship instead.

Along the way the group meets a range of funny characters, including the explorer’s friend–a beaver who loves knitting–and the likeable Jub Jub bird who lives on Snark Island. The animals are both big favourites among younger theatre-goers, who may find some of the other characters scary, such as the mean butcher on the ship who sings about preparing food and eating a variety of animals.

When the funny Jub Jub bird or the knitting beaver were on stage, I felt Big Girl was laughing non-stop though, and I was thrilled the high-energy show seemed to be a hit with her.

A fast-paced and comical family show!

The Hunting of the Snark is recommended for theatre-goers aged 4 to 94, and it is playing at Rose Theatre until 28 October.

Photos by Simon Annand

Tags: Children's theatre, Half term, Kingston, Lewis Carroll, Review, Rose Theatre, Rose Theatre Kingston, The Hunting of the Snark