Format: Children’s Show
Genre: Children’s
Date: June 4 2019
Location: Floral Pavilion, New Brighton
The longtime family favourite show In The Night Garden has ridden into the Floral Pavilion via The Ninky Nonk, and it proved to be a massive hit with attendees.
The one-hour production brings the CBeebies television programme to life, as the young children in the crowd get to see all of the characters that they know and love. Igglepiggle and his trusty red blanket leads the way, and he is joined by Makka Pakka, Upsy Daisy, The Pontipines and The Tombliboos. The narrator provides context to the fun they are looking to have, which is simply to enjoy one another’s company and have a good time playing around on the stage.
The kids were ecstatic to see Igglepiggle and company, and their gasps of amazement were combined with huge smiles when their heroes came onto the stage in a lifesize form. Some characters are taller than others, as viewers of the show will attest to, which created an interesting dynamic and demonstrated that real thought had gone into the production. This includes puppet versions of Igglepiggle and Upsy Daisy running through the Night Garden together.
The backdrop used a screen to showcase the authentic background, and was joined by pieces of greenery on stage, with tree tops and colour-changing flowers adorning the top of the auditorium (and The Tittyfers singing away as only they can). The Floral Pavilion is an ideal setting for a show like this, because there is plenty of room for manoeuvre, as well as it making for a comfortable surrounding for the children, some of whom were very young indeed, meaning that this would have been their first ever live show – and what a show it was!
The highlight came just before the ending with the arrival of The Pinky Ponk. Even the adults were wowed by how this unique mode of transportation was incorporated into the show, and while I won’t spoil it here, I will say that everybody who goes along has to look out for this moment. The extended dance routine and night-time well-wishes, as seen on the programme itself, closed out the performance.
For those with young children, In The Night Garden is a real treat and a show that I strongly suggest you take the kids along to enjoy. It is simply a great experience, and the perfect live recreation of In The Night Garden.
Overall Rating: 10/10 – Perfect