Easter is coming up fast and if you are looking for ways to entertain the kids – Taunton Brewhouse has some wonderful shows for all ages.
Everyone loves a superhero – and Aidy The Awesome (19 – 20 April) is certainly that, although she has yet to discover her powers. Aidy thinks she is a normal 8-year-old girl… but one day she discovers a family secret that changes everything. Aidy and her granny embark on an adventure that turns their world upside down. They even begin to question what normal is. After all, who wants to be normal when you can be SUPER! Aidy The Awesome is a stunning aerial theatre show that all the family can enjoy.
And if superheroes don’t appeal – how about pirates? A young boy sets off one day to become a pirate. He will never make it! Or will he? Ernie’s Journey (20 – 21 April) is a magical circus theatre adventure for family audiences. The seamless integration of story-telling, circus, physical theatre, stage magic, poetry and puppetry will appeal to kids and adults alike, but will be particularly enchanting for 4-11 year-olds (although the high-skill circus will amaze even the most cynical teenagers!). Join the cast for a FREE circus skills workshop after the show. Learn how to throw, catch, balance, juggle, spin and roll a whole host of traditional circus props.
If you are after something more gentle, have a look at this dance performance, created as part of the Little Big Dance programme. It’s ok (19 April) is an intimate piece performed in a Perspex cube, especially for children aged 0 -5 years and their families. It’s ok invites us to follow Laura on a journey of discovery as she navigates feelings of uncertainty, fear, excitement, anger and joy whilst being supported and encouraged by Claire every step of the way. Join the performers as they discover that no feelings are right or wrong; they’re just feelings and it really is ok to feel them.
Would you trust a talking cat? You never know, he might turn you from a pauper to a prince just like the hero of this story, Puss in Boots, (22 April) brought to vivid life on an incredible sloping stage.
Using smoke and mirrors and hidden trapdoors this sure-footed feline fools both the King and the Ogre to take his master all the way to the top. With a host of puppets, a working windmill and an avalanche of fruit and nuts come and see this classic furry tail, it’s the cat’s whiskers!
If your kids are bursting with energy – how about Dance Day coming up on 23 April? The first was so successful Taunton Brewhouse have decided to do it again. For ages 7 – 18, there are classes in everything from Street Dance to Musical Theatre. A great opportunity to try out different styles over the day and see which one appeals. See what past participants had to say:
‘I loved doing Dance Day! I just had a lot of fun. Thank you I really enjoyed it.’
‘I really enjoyed today, it made me more inspired by dance…’
Most kids prefer holidays to school but Oi Frogs and Friends (26 – 28 April) might make them change their mind. School can be fun!
‘Cats sit on mats, hares sit on chairs, mules sit on stools, gophers sit on sofas and frogs sit on logs’
It’s a new day at Sittingbottom School and FROG is looking for a place to sit, but CAT has other ideas and DOG is doing as he’s told. Little do any of them know that chaos is coming… Who knew there were so many rhyming rules and what will happen when FROG is in charge?
Join FROG, CAT and DOG in this Olivier Award nominated action-packed stage adaptation of Kes Gray and Jim Field’s bestselling books. Expect songs, puppets, laughs and more rhymes than you can shake a chime at.
★★★★
‘This ZANY, SILLY, GOOD-NATURED show had my two and a half year old
jumping out of his seat.’
The Times
And finally running over Easter, Taunton Brewhouse’s 45th Birthday Exhibition starts on 19 April – on display there will be an archive of programmes, pictures many productions that have been showcased here, as well as costumes and props from some of their very own shows. You might even be able to spot a few famous faces amongst the display! Youngsters (and adults too!) will be invited to dress up in the special wardrobe area and add to the memory wall for future generations to come.
