After a few years of just driving past Arc at Stockton and knowing where it was in relation to Domino’s Pizza, last Friday, I finally went inside to see The Dreams of Philomina by Lunabug and Little Mighty Theatre.
The Dreams of Philomina follows a lonely widow who gets the opportunity to say goodbye to her late husband Albert before he boards the train from The Waiting Place to another life. She goes to the waiting place – where things are never quite as they seem, to find him before he boards the train.
It’s the first show I’ve seen that has been written and developed specifically for children, and it’s good to finally have a bit of context to go with the work I have been doing as part of my internship and to see what quality children’s theatre is all about.
I was surprised by how small the set and studio were and how close to the set and the action the front row of children were. I wish I had thought to ask, but I imagine a lot of them will have felt involved in the story – as if they were actually sitting in Philomina’s cottage or watching by the river as she struggled her way across on her quest to find her late husband, Albert. The close proximity to it all meant lots of interaction as they were called upon to answer questions and give directions to help Philomina on her journey. The show was very energetic and gave the children lots of opportunities to join in and give Philomina ideas about how to cross bridges and rivers and point her in the right direction.
By far my favourite part was listening to the children in front of me at the end. One of them said ‘but, she’s back in bed!’ to be met with her friend’s reply of ‘of course she’s in bed! That’s why it’s the DREAMS of Philomina!’ Their enjoyment and emotional investment were infectious.
• What is the first show you went to see?
The first show I remember seeing was The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe at Hull Truck. Particularly the bit where we had to roar. I was pleased with my roaring!
• How old were you the first time you went to the theatre?
We lived in Hull from when I was 4-6 years old so it would have been around that time.
• What is the first show that really stood out to you?
It depends…various shows stood out for different reasons? The City Varieties panto aged 7 where my keenness meant my less than keen mother got dragged up on stage with me and Jeremy Beadle obviously because I got to go both onstage AND backstage….The production of West Side Story aged 12 where I cried so hard my (again) long suffering mother was whispering at me to be quiet. But it was so sad! I still love that musical…A piece of devised work in progress by Theatre de Complicite at WYP aged 15, the first time I’d ever seen anything like it and it blew my mind. I could go on!
• What is the first show you performed in/have you ever performed in a show?
I remember being very bitter about having a role playing the triangle in our primary school musical. I had my eye on the lead! I’ve clearly erased that play from my mind. The next year I managed to wangle myself a more substantial role, in a play that clearly was chosen for the links with our curriculum content studying industrialisation in Victorian Britain.
• Who was the first character you played?
Apart from various strange characters created with my sisters to amuse ourselves, it was someone called Mary Anne in the play about Victorian Britain. I can remember the song lyrics but not the name of the play!
• What was the first play you remember reading at school?
A Shakespeare play? Probably Macbeth in high school.
• What was the first play you remember reading for fun?
I don’t think I’ve ever read a play for fun! I like to go and see plays, and read books.
• What shows do you hope to see in future?
Some of the shows I’m working on – The Boggle by Lawrence Speck is coming up soon, seeing Lunabug Theatre’s new show about Pigeons in the 1st World War come to life will be exciting. That’s the thing about producing – part of it is getting excited not just about what’s been made but what is yet to be made! There’s a lot of shows coming up at West Yorkshire Playhouse which is one of my local theatres, as part of their Transform season that I want to see. They will be happening all over the city. I think I will have to camp in my office during those two weeks!
• What show would you love to be in if you had the chance?
Oh that’s tricky. Nowadays I much prefer being in the audience. I would be really interested to take part in a show called Godhead by Chris Goode, which is just him and a different non performer at each performance. Or if I could suddenly magic up some dance skills, I’d have to say West Side Story!
• What do you think is the perfect first show for children?
Something where you get to join in. I would love to have been small enough to go and see Invisible Flock’s Book of Beasts in The Nighttimes, but I was too grownup to get a ticket. But it’s also lovely to go and see something with all the trimmings of going into a theatre, the lights and the costumes, music. It’s also not just about the show, but how you get treated on your way to the show, and the way out that makes it really perfect.
Tickets are still available for The Dreams of Philomina at Selby Town Hall, Barnsley Civic and Harrogate Theatre throughout May. For more details, go to Lunabug's website: http://lunabug.co.uk/shows/
Blog by Rachel Glew, Theatre Hullabaloo Intern.
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