Slightly Fat Features - Variety in the Tobacco Factory Theatre, Bristol

We got to the Tobacco Factory Theatre early to bagsy prime seats in the centre front row of the auditorium. And then, I couldn’t help but wonder whether this was an ill-advised move at a comedy variety show.

They were kind. Although, as we left the theatre, the Slightly Fat Feature’s drummer, Matt, did comment that my 5-year old looked a bit less scared now it was all over. She wasn’t scared but I did get my fair share of cuddles of unsurety throughout the performance, especially when said percussion man had offered her one of his knocked out Tic-Tac teeth (we’d just eaten a whole box between us, coincidentally).

As is her way, she sat opened mouthed through much of the utter silliness before her. I giggled throughout the majority of the evening. The show reminded me of being in a festival circus tent, such as Watchet has to offer: nothing too rude, definitely OK for young children, in all its pantoesque innuendo.

Initially, I cringed mirthfully when two of the performers put a row of toy dogs in a line to smash them with a hammer to play out “How much is that doggie in the window.” She got it. I got it. We were there.

50 magical tricks in 5 minutes, all completely awful and fun – congratulations. Evel Kenil on his unicycle jumping 4 double decker buses, so slapstick. A duel for the love of Anna, a female member of the audience, entertaining and a little jumpy up there at the front. Escapology, what a build-up. A Vegas Elvis harping on about healthy eating, spear that pepper! Miniature Cowboy, please sit on my lap next time.

Guest performer, Les Bubb, was excellent. Mime and comedy done well. “Balloons aren’t really that heavy, are they, Mummy. Is he pretending?” No flies on my daughter.

On our way back to the car, she gave thought to how a man could really be sawn in two. “Maybe there were two men. One on was on his knees and another one in the other box?” she said sleepily. You’d have to stay up all night to catch these kids out. Wayne Marvell, you were her absolute favourite, something about the eyes ...?

Slightly Fat Features in the Factory runs at the Tobacco Factory Theatre until Saturday 29^th October. And yes, it’s very much recommended if you like a laugh, whatever your age.

Review by Becky

Rip Fold Scrunch

A big cheer! We've been to the Tobacco Factory Theatre again today and you know how much we love that place. Not just for its community feel, the market, the cafe and the chance to peep in at the classes going on there but, mainly, because it brings us innovative and fresh theatre productions at an affordable price.

This morning our treat was Rip Fold Scrunch, a three-person performance that uses paper to inspire children at play. Half Moon Young People's Theatre taught us a thing or two. Like, just what is it possible to do with a sheet (or several dozen) of paper?

Well, to start you can rip it, fold it, scrunch it and the show, aimed at 2 to 5 year olds, used a movement based mantra to illustrate this - even a toddler with limited vocabulary would have grasped the meaning of those three words - Rip. Fold. Scrunch.

Once you have your raw material, you can make rain or you can dance, maybe fish for creatures, throw and catch it, swim in and through it or fight with it. Butterflies, kites, umbrellas, masks, spirals - all of these things are possible with a bit of paper. Set to the cello, played live on stage, we watched our hosts fashion all sorts of wonderful shapes. The dance was fun and the dancer's ankles were adorned with bells, making her tinkle everywhere she moved.

Little voices laughed as the cast teased each other, using facial expression and emotion that was so relevant to its audience.

We went with friends and our three reception year girls sat on the front row, giggling, whispering and nudging each other.

"Are you thinking about the end?" Emelia asked her pals. Yes, they were thinking of exactly that because they understood that, then, they too would get to go on the stage and play with the paper, letting loose their own imaginations.

My highlight was the Wizard of Oz moment when the white paper used throughout became paper of colour. Every colour. And then ....

The performance was over but, for the kids, the fun was about to reach its heights. It was so interesting to see the girls express their own individuality, those personalities unique to each of them bursting through. Emelia, the thinker, could be found sitting on the floor of the stage, ripping a small piece of paper incredibly slowly and noting the result as it made a tiny noise, the jagged edges being guided this way and that by her steady little hands. Celeste, the artist, found the biggest piece of white paper she could and arranged small, coloured squares upon it. Ada, the communicator, couldn't wait to talk the performers, she played the cello, she asked questions of the cast and interacted with the awe-inspiring confidence.

After the show, we sat down for a cuppa or an ice-cream and I had to ask my own question, though I knew the answer.

"What was your favourite bit?"

"When we got to play with the paper," it came in unison. Paper. These children use it everyday but now they might just think a little more whenever they put a pencil to it.

Upcoming Tobacco Factory Theatre shows can be found on their website.

For more information about Half Moon Young People's Theatre, see www.halfmoon.org.uk

Written by Becky Condron

Malina's Dream by Angel Heart at The Tobacco Factory Theatre, Bristol

Being a Sunday, the journey to was effortless along the A370, so we arrived at The Tobacco Factory Theatre with an hour to spare, which was very lucky because a market of books, food, home-made craft wear and even bicycles was in full swing in their outside area. We sat in the courtyard amongst the lovely smells and hustle and bustle and ate a little of our mammoth sized picnic, enough, it turns out, to last the whole day.

Inside, after queueing with all the other excited families, we took our chosen seats at the very back of the theatre, with a great view: this theatre is small and well-planned enough to ensure that everyone can see the stage. My Girl worked out that there was an igloo on set plus a lake and possibilities of fishing. We guessed as to the animals that might live here: fish, seals, penguins, polar bears. Polar bears! Without realising (I think), she had opted to bring her Mummy Polar Bear, a bag that unzips to reveal Baby Polar Bear nestling inside, so they got to sit on our laps and watch the entire show about their "home."

Angel Heart Theatre presented Malina's Dream, the story of a little girl and her Grandpa and all the creatures Malina counts as her friends - Yes! Penguins, seals, a polar bear and a very smelly Walrus, who kept blowing off, to the delight of everyone in the arena. The two actors used the puppets with great skill and it was enlightening to see the expressions on their faces as they played their parts. I have never seen this done before and it really worked.

We were treated to some lovely pieces of live music, including the flute, the concertina and a sweet lullaby. The music punctuated the sometimes intense scenes and at one point we all got to clap along. The two scenes that could have proved a bit scary were well handled, though she did reach for my hand when Samuel, the yellow haired sailor man, went down with his ship, surrounded by Whales: "How did that get there?" she asked.

The yellow haired man, his spirit lost in the Land of Dreams, was saved by the metamorphosis of Grandpa into an eagle and went on to play a part in young Malina's life. "But where is the land of Dreams?" asked my spellbound companion. "Wherever you want it to be," my reply.

The show lasted for about an hour and, two minutes before it finished, she asked, "Has it finished yet?" I guess you could say then that it was the perfect length.

After the show, we were all invited by the actors to come and meet the puppets, so we took Mummy and Baby Polar Bear to meet the huge ice-bear, quite possibly, for us, the star of the show.

The Tobacco Factory Theatre is an excellent venue, with so much to look at in the building. And the tickets to Malina's Dream cost just £5 each. Once more, an absolute bargain.

We stayed for an ice-cream and a cup of tea and then headed up to Greville Smyth Park to burn off some energy on the very impressive play areas on offer here - an absolute must if you have the time!

A very successful and fun-packed day for both of us.

Weston-super-Dad, Nutty Noah, continues his "Magic, Music and Mayhem" tour at the Tobacco Factory Theatre on April 10th, 11am and 1pm, £5.

Review by Becky Condron

Love Food Spring Festival from a Food Lover's Perspective

So finally we got around to getting out of Weston to check out The Love Food Spring Festival. Easy to get to it was in Brunel's Old Station - for those of you who may remember it used to house the Science Museum many years ago.

As we get there its early and relatively quiet still, a couple of stalls are outside selling sausages and plants, so we sneak a quick peak then go in. Slightly smaller than I had expected but lots crammed in and, as we wonder around, the aroma of all the different stalls starts to soften my somewhat fragile state this morning. The stalls range from Jamaican food, pies, wine, locally sourced fruit & vegetables and even Greenpeace showed up so it was certainly eclectic. My interest lies in the food and to be more specific the cakes and wow I was not disappointed: the Beach House Bakery cup cakes were so beautiful you didn't dare touch. However, Crumpet Cakes were so simply irresistible, it was all I could do not to scoff my way through the entire selection.

Cakes aside, we did peruse Smokey Joes, the delicious B-B-Q Sauce stall, Kernow Kreperie, Franks & I enjoyed a tomato cheese & spinach sensation and finally we tried the drip filter coffee. Lovely way to while away a couple of hours this morning and great to have possibly found a new supplier of cakes that is relatively local and definitely independent.

Review by Weston-super-Mum, Clare Morris, Owner of Coco Browns in Regent Street, Weston-super-Mare

Three Little Pigs at the Brewery Theatre, Bristol

"Following last year’s sell-out success and multiple sell-out performances of The Little Red Hen and The Enormous Turnip, the inexhaustible Stuff and Nonsense Theatre Company bring us a brand new re-telling of the favourite children’s story"

(via the Tobacco Factory Theatre website)

We opened our picnic before the train even left Weston-super-Mare station: I was just amazed that the sandwiches went before the chocolate. My daughter was so excited - a train journey AND a trip to the theatre to see Three Little Pigs.

The walk to the Brewery Theatre in North Street was NOT 20 minutes from Temple Meads, as the website promises. Well, not with a 4 year old skipping and pulling and stopping to point at the river. But it was do-able and we'd allowed ourselves plenty of time. It was all part of the day.

Once in, we sat in anticipation, surrounded by lots of other enthusiastic little people and chilled out parents, who must have known that this theatre is perfected suited to the smaller variety of the species - the angle of the seats makes sure that everyone can see the stage, eyes well clear of those in front, no "Mummy, I can't see! Can I sit on your lap?"

The music was jazzy, old school, fun. We waited, the seats filling up around us and then ... here's Gwen and Adam, our actors, dancers, comperes, mime-artists, fun-givers and puppeteers, dressed in the most ridiculously English old-fashioned with a 70s twist outfits.

The pigs introduced themselves and built a house of straw to knowing giggles from the audience. But, oh dear, here comes Adam, dressed in a grey furry coat and red sunglasses, deplete of Bacon Fries, fresh out of PIG. Do we know of any pigs around here?

"Yes, behind you," screamed young voices. Oh, no! The pigs are supposed to be our friends, we should be protecting them, shouldn't we? But so goes the show and what a fun-packed hour. My companion just sat there, mouth hanging wide open for almost the duration of the show, she didn't miss a heartbeat. Although, I would like to borrow Gwen and Adam because when they told the kids to hide, the wolf was coming, she took a dive to the floor, ducked behind the seat in front and pulled her coat over her foetal positioned little body. Marvellous, such commandeers.

The interaction of the audience was spot on in a pantoesque sense and they were all completely absorbed. So many children, from babies to about 7, and no crying - how DO they do that?

Thanks Gwen and Adam. That's the best £6 each you could spend!

Three Little Pigs is on at the Brewery Theatre until Saturday 26th February. Various showings

- Review by Becky Condron

Prepare to be Entertained - Panto in Bristol and Weston

Hooray: it’s panto season once more. If British campery, shouting at the top of your voice, rubbish jokes and self-deprecation is your thing, then the West is the place to be.

This year, those living in North Somerset are lucky enough to have easy access to two very different and highly entertaining pantomimes: Dick Whittington at the Bristol Hippodrome and Cinderella at the Playhouse, Weston.



Dick

You don’t expect to be handed a pair of 3D glasses when you go to the theatre to see a traditional panto, do you? That’s what happened when we collected our tickets to Dick Whittington at the Bristol Hippodrome. We were in for a treat.

With her trademark tottering walk, her love of huge hair and that high-pitched, unique cackle, Barbara Windsor is an inspired choice as Fairy Bowbells. One of the first things we hear is that famous, and more than a little annoying, giggle of hers, which transports so many of us back to the days of Carry-On humour. And Eric Potts, the scriptwriter, who has cast himself as a proper pantomime dame in the role of Sarah the Cook, don’t ‘alf milk Babs’ lengthy career to delightful effect.

Here she comes, sitting upon a star, floating high above the stage while the well-choreographed and exquisitely dressed dancers move gracefully to the EastEnders theme tune. She tells us all about the 16 year Nightmare she’s just awoken from (yes, you’ve got it), before joining the troupe to do the “Lambeth Walk,” Oi! From then on there are Walford and Carry-On jokes aplenty, particularly ones involving breasts.

And that Dick loves a good old singsong too! Throughout the performance, Owain Williams, in the title role, unleashes his trained-for-theatre voice onto us, belting out a catalogue of songs by anyone from Take That! to Michael Buble (uh-huh).

For the second year running, it’s Andy Ford who truly steals the show as this year’s panto fool, Idle Jack. With his West Country accent, his silly expressions and his perfect timing, he delivers the mostly deliberately terrible gags with comic genius. Eric Potts makes sure Jack doesn’t forget Portishead in his repertoire but my favourite joke of the night (apart from all the ones about willies) is, understandably, when the cast is about to sail the oceans. “Bristol for the Continent,” shouts Jack. “Weston for the incontinent!”

My four year old was made up with this trip to the theatre and particularly with Dick’s dancing cat, courtesy of Omari Bernard. She shouted at the stage along with everyone else and, when it was time to put on the 3D glasses, she gasped, “They’re coming in my eyes. Are they coming in your eyes? They’re magic glasses.” Spellbound.

The set is spectacular in all its symmetry and sparkle and the costumes simply beautiful on one hand and outrageous on another: I’m thinking here of Sarah the Cook’s outfits, particularly her terrible lime green bikini! Cue Carry On Camping with absolute predictability but, hey, this is pantomime.

At the end of the show, we all have a sing song in ship-shape Bristol fashion. Oh, what fun to shout “Gurt Lush,” and “Cheers Drive,” as loudly as you can and with no inhibitions. Ooh, saucy.

Cinders

The Playhouse, Weston, delivers a less lavish production than the big city 20 miles up the road, but it’s no less enjoyable because of this. I noticed it last year; the way panto in Weston juxtaposes ballet and dance with absolute tomfoolery to great effect.

And because this year the Playhouse brings us Cinderella, we get two pantomime dames for the price of one in the form of those delightful Ugly Sisters: Ravishing Rita, played by Mark Two, and Wicked Wanda (Jamie Steen). And they cause havoc, those two hags – spraying the audience with super-soakers or with water from their boobs and at one point threatening us with a hosepipe (“Thanks, Linford”), tormenting poor Cinderella, and dressing in the most hideous outfits of leopard and Dalmatian skin, Christmas tree/cracker, cakes and birdcages, among others.

The scriptwriters, Keith and Ben Simmons (with additional material by Lee Waddingham) have done their homework on the local area and jokes about the Bourneville and Bleadon are thrown in, as well as mentions of the outlaying villages. Buttons is played convincingly enough by Sean Wilson (Martin Platt from Coronation Street) and his on-stage presence demands unavoidable reference to Corrie and sour-faced Gail.

Costume design is good, with glitter and twinkle in all the right places. The best scene must be when the girl in rags turns into a princess, accompanied by falling snow and a very cute white Shetland pony. “Did they come from the beach?” asked the four year old who once again wiggled, sang and shouted her way through the show, as much of the audience did.

In the role of Cinders, Kelle Bryan, formerly of the band Eternal, gives good voice to many a tune, the majority of which I’d thankfully never heard before, and this is when the production really comes together, so convincing are Kelle and the cast of dancers, with children from the Tina Counsell School of Dance and Drama completing the family feel.

We boo-ed, we hissed, we cheered, we laughed, we screamed, we shouted our “Behind yous” and our “Oh, no, he didn’ts” but the biggest hysteria from the adults came when the Ugly Sisters, Baron Hardup (John Lyons of A Touch of Frost fame) and Buttons failed to get to sleep in a haunted house. Deliberately misplaced props and costume calamities caused uproarious laughter from the audience, who had completely thawed out by this point.

And now we’re on fire. So much so that I think we’re going to go to the ball all over again!

Oh yes we are!


HAPPY CHRISTMAS!

Dick Whittington is on at the Bristol Hippodrome until 9th January 2011
Cinderella is on at the Playhouse, Weston until 9th January 2011