The National Children’s Theatre in Parktown is housed on a large garden property. Long before COVID Moira Katz, CEO, mentioned that she had a vision for an outdoor theatre in the garden.
COVID turned this dream into reality and I was deeply resentful of the lockdown which prevented me from attending previous productions. This time I managed to join real live people for a breakfast picnic in the garden to see A Year with Frog and Toad.
Outdoor performances have quite a different feel to indoor ones. They have more distractions. It also seemed to attract younger audiences.
Recommendations regarding age seem to agree that four years old is a great time for children to start attending theatre. Six months either way is how I have done it depending on the individual child’s ability to sit still. Not such a crisis outdoors but still distracting when littles run across the garden in front of the stage.
The show itself was a one act affair, fairly short, and it felt perfectly timed for the two children in my party. I enjoyed the whole event, both the production and the picnic vibe.
The actors were miked for audibility outside and the older of the children with me commented favorably on that point. The sound by Jane Gosnell was superb. She was also the stage manager assisted by Gideon Moyo.
The production felt bright and cheerful and I am undecided whether that was the sunshine or the costumes and set by Sarah Roberts. When in doubt, the credit probably actually belongs to the director, in this case Ivor Jones who was also responsible for the choreogrphy. The musical director was Christine Ludwig. The music was excellent. Those mikes make all the voices sound strong and confident.
Devon Flemmer (Frog) is an old hand at children’s theatre and I heard moms and dads exclaiming how good he was as we were leaving. I concur. However, he was not alone in putting in a performance to delight. Gamelihle Bovana was an excellent Toad. The three members of the supporting cast were also pleasing in every way.
I personally hope that the garden venue continues to be used on a weather permitting basis for a variety of productions long after COVID is just a hideous memory. I can see it being used for Shakespeare school productions as well.
In the interim, take your own picnic, or support the tuckshop. Take sunscreen, umbrellas (for shade) , sun hats and a blanket. There are chairs for those who fear getting down and up again. If you need disabled access you can phone ahead and they will permit you to park close by but you will need a pusher (staff will assist) as there is grass to be traversed.
National Children’s Theatre 3 Junction Avenue, Patktown, 0114841584.
There is also a special Carol Sing on 10 December 2021 at 17.30 and 11 December 2021 at 18.30.
Z😏
What I do, see, hear, eat and drink. 