A theatrical love letter to nature, Four Seasons at Corn Exchange Newbury was a great introduction to the world of theatre for little ones

Four Seasons

at the Corn Exchange

from Friday, February 21 - Sunday 23

Review by ROBIN STRAPP

LITTLE Bulb Theatre brought a delightful half term treat for three to seven year olds to the Corn Exchange. Four Seasons is a colourful fun-filled adventure exploring nature’s ever changing seasons.

We are welcomed by the company. As we settle into our seats, they talk to the audience asking for them to help by becoming sheep that will be used later on in the production. Some enthusiastic youngsters were given parts to play out during the performance.

The cast quickly establish a friendly and supportive rapport with the audience. Clare Beresford is assured and confident but not so Vic Llewellyn, as he tells us it’s the first time performing in the show and asks us to support him, which we all agree to do.

The third member is sound artist Enrico Aurigemma who seamlessly provides all the technical on stage backup.

The set is littered with detritus, cleverly used in telling the season’s stories. A dustbin lid becomes the sun, a snowman is created from sheets, trees magically appear and their inventive use of the other props is surprising.

Using Vivaldi’s Four Seasons as a musical backdrop we begin with Spring and the growth of an acorn into a tree and energetic hilarious ‘spring cleaning.’

Summer brings a trip to the beach with deck chairs, stealing seagulls and ridiculously expensive 99’s which made the adults laugh.

The talented cast invent animals using ordinary objects and when the kids recognise them, they gleefully shout out their names.

The puppy dog is followed throughout its life including taking part in the sheep dog trials and an audience dad was persuaded to be one of the sheep to much cheers and laughter of the audience and the collie won a red rosette.

Autumn brings falling leaves from the trees, a fox chasing a cockerel and some clever visual effects.

For Winter we have a snowman, a winter wonder land with fairy lights, falling snow, a highland cow and robins not forgetting prickly holly all impressively realised by this versatile cast.

This was a splendid introduction to the world of theatre for these little ones.