When my two year old daughter found out she was going to see Noddy in Toyland her mouth fell open and her eyes bulged. To her Noddy is a demi-god, movie-star, pop-idol, guru and favourite toy all merged into one. Actually seeing Noddy, well it's as good as Christmas isn't it.
At school when my English teacher was trying to explain how Shakespeare’s audiences responded to the Bard, he went on about something called “the suspension of disbelief”. This basically meant that even though the special effects are rubbish the audience is prepared to believe what they see onstage is real because it makes it makes the show more enjoyable. To someone brought up on Star Wars and everything that came after, this just sounded like an excuse and a feeble apology for live theatre, which just wasn’t as good as cinema at transporting the collective imagination to new worlds. What my teacher should have done is shown me the evangelical frenzy of a theatre full of toddlers whooping, cheering, clapping as Noddy drives his car onto the stage.
The story of Noddy in Toyland is simple enough and when I narrated it to my wife she assured me it was based on an episode of the TV programme. It’s party time and Noddy, Tessie Bear and Bumpy Dog are planning a sing-a-long, dance-a-long party. As usual those two naughty goblins, Sly and Gobbo, are out to spoil the fun (it’s a goblin’s rule number one, you know). Naturally Noddy’s brilliant plan is good enough to foil the goblins and the sing-and-dance party finale goes off with a bang. It doesn’t sound like much to fill 90 minutes, but for the children in the audience it was fantastic fun, which left my eldest for one, wanting more. It was no surprise to me that she found the show wonderful and exciting, but I hadn’t expected her one year old sister to enjoy it as much as she did.
The 60th anniversary live theatre tour will be visiting theatres across the country through to 2010, but if you missed Noddy’s visit to Bromley you can see him as part of Milkshake which will be coming to The Churchill in September.
All the children’s favourites from Channel Five will be there including Noddy and Tessie Bear, Fifi and Bumble from Fifi and the Flowertots, Peppa and George, from Peppa Pig, Rupert Bear and the Mr Men. The hit show which is full of songs and dances for the audience to join in with, sold-out when it came to Bromley last year.
Tickets for September 15 and 16 are available by calling ticket sales on 08448 717 620 or online at ambassadortickets.com/bromley subject to a booking fee.
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