A children’s picture book which has been entertaining little ones for nearly three decades is being brought to life on stage at the Illawarra Performing Arts Centre.
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Singing, dancing, rhythms, rhymes and puppets will be part of the stage adaption of Michael Rosen’s award-winning We’re Going on a Bear Hunt when it stops by Wollongong on February 7 and 8.
The story follows an intrepid family of adventurers and their musical dog as they march through the swishy swashy grass, the splishy splashy river and the squelchy mud, in search of a bear.
Associate director Marc Parrett said he really enjoyed being part of the creation of the production and finding ways to bring the adventure to life through different craft materials.
“It has that first day of [kindergarten] sort of feel,” he said. “It’s all that really lovely playful use of materials but we’re just adults enjoying what kids usually do.”
Parrett plays the role of Dad in the show and also made the puppets, including the “little squidgy pink headed baby with a springy head”.
“I love it, it’s just like a dream job – you get to make toys your whole life,” he said. “I’ve had a weird old career, I went to circus school and I studied trapeze and I did loads of different stuff but puppetry is the thing I really like.”
Running time for the show is 55 minutes with no interval. Tickets of groups of four or more are discounted to $34.90 each plus booking fee.
We’re Going on a Bearhunt, IPAC, February 7 and 8. www.merrigong.com.au