Christmas at The Sherman is really special to us as a family. It is such a warm, cosy and welcoming space and it is the perfect place to introduce your little one to theatre. Their children's performances are really relaxed and kept short so that little ones don't lose interest and I love that they champion the Welsh language.
(Photo credit: Mark Douet)
We were invited to the press performance of Goldilocks for the purpose of writing this review. All opinions are honest and our own.
This year's Christmas offering for younger children is Goldilocks. This is a favourite story with my youngest (3) at the moment so he was beside himself with excitement when I told him what we were going to see. Of course he expected the traditional story...but we all know that theatre doesn't always work like that!
The stage is set simply in the Studio Space which was laid out to accomodate children on large soft mats at the front and adults on benches at the back. From experience I know that this works really well as young children can fidget a little and they have the space to do this on a mat. It also means that they all have a great view of the action!
While everyone is coming in and sitting down the actors pop out onto stage to interact with the children, keeping them engaged and preventing them from getting bored. They are funny and it pique's the children's interest in what is to come!
This version of Goldilocks is a modern interpretation. Goldilocks is from Goldentown where everything is yellow - everything people eat, wear or do is yellow, which is great until the day that Goldilocks begins to sprout blue hair!
Feeling forced to 'the periphery' Goldilocks enters the woods and discovers the three bears, whom she has always been told to fear because they are 'different' with their bright clothes and bright, differently coloured hair. Goldilocks discovers that she enjoys being different and embraces her new hair colour. She returns to Goldentown with the three bears to enlighten them and to introduce them to colour - and the idea that being different is okay!
While the premise of the story might seem lost on the younger ones, the idea is that by normalising stories like this at a young age they will grow up to be naturally more inclusive and accepting of being different. If young people are inspired through beautiful storytelling like this then they will hopefully go onto create a brighter, more accepting world.
Goldilocks is showing at The Sherman until the 31st December 2022 and tickets are available here. As always at The Sherman there are inclusive performances including relaxed, audio described and BSL interpreted. Goldilocks is also showing in Welsh too!
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