Review: Mrs Armitage and the Big Wave play brings Quentin Blake picture book to life
This morning I felt we were most definitely at the place to be for families with four and five year olds. We were at The Tabernacle in Notting Hill, and soon after arriving we ran into three other families we knew.
The theatre was far from full, however, and I was surprised not more London families had taken the opportunity to start the Sunday early with the stage adaptation of Quentin Blake’s Mrs Armitage and the Big Wave, a Ga Ga Theatre Production.
We had been invited to review the show, which is now touring in London, and had also received the picture book to prepare. I was glad four-year-old Big Girl knew the story from before, as I think the show, which brings the book to life, could have been difficult to follow for little ones unfamiliar with the characters.
It starts with the two actors in the show dressed in long white frocks, pretending to paint on the back wall, and as they paint Quentin Blake illustrations from the book start to appear.
The illustrations and use of digital media was my favourite aspect of the performance, and I enjoyed watching the fun illustrations making up the ever-changing digital backdrop for the play.
I also liked that Mrs Armitage came across how I had imagined her to be after reading the book. I was more surprised to see Breakspear dressed in shorts and baseball jacket and Miranda being represented by a cuddly monkey in the play, but Big Girl didn’t question any of this. After the show, she said her favourite part was seeing Mrs Armitage surf the big wave, and I couldn’t agree more. The surfing, cool surf terms from the book and wave illustrations on the backdrop made us both smile.
Throughout the show, the illustrations helped set the scene, but I couldn’t help feeling a bit confused when the actors pretended to pull down a digital curtain and change characters to explain different concepts to the audience.
With this in mind, I think young children will get the most out of the show if they have read the book before going and can recognise the few times the actors jump out of character.
Overall, the show tells the story of a sweet picture book and offers interesting use of digital media.
Ga Ga Theatre is touring London with the stage adaptation of Quentin Blake’s Mrs Armitage and the Big Wave from 5 to 30 October. The show, designed for children aged 4 to 7, will be playing in South West London venues like Royal Albert Hall and Chelsea Curzon in coming weeks.
(Photo credit: Quentin Blake 1999)
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