It has been said by many theatre-practitioners (and most recently by David Wood in an interview with Lyn Gardner) that creating theatre for younger audiences is not only one of the most rewarding experiences, but also one of the most important in the arts. Making theatre accessible for little ones not only nurtures their creativity and its possibilities, it also creates a very important alternative to the  anti-social spot of one-way communication created by iPads and watching TV for too many hours a day. A new trend in theatre land is luring families into theatres by adapting favourite stories and bringing them to life. Some say it’s for box office reasons, but I believe having the opportunity to watch their favourite bedtime story live is not only rewarding for the children, it’s also an easy option for parents who know their little darlings will have the time of their lives.

What the Ladybird Heard is one of the newest additions to the line-up of children’s book adaptations, and based on the award-winning picture book by the queen of children’s stories, Julia Donaldson, it’s sure to have a large audience interest. Audience interaction is key when trying to engage children in a performance and the cast of four sure masters it to perfection. A cast member is missing so they turn to the audience for help, in the end having an usher (another actor) on stage so they can move on with the story. What the Ladybird Heard is a farmyard treat teaching children about the different animals and what noises they make, having a small ladybird as a silent but key figure. When two thieves try to steal the farmer’s fine prize cow in the dark of night, the ladybird plans to fool them with the help of her farmyard friends.

Using puppetry and song What the Ladybird Heard captivates its audience from the very beginning. The puppetry is beautifully created in the style of the book’s artwork and cleverly creating most of the animals out of various objects on stage is not only fun to watch for the children but also an inspiration for creative activities at home. All performers sing and play instruments throughout creating a colourful and exciting soundscape for the play, with a genius musical score that’s catchy, well-choreographed and full of warm, bubbly energy making the theatre a loving place for children to be excited about storytelling and the arts. The audience interaction is fun and educational and children and adults alike join in with the fun of finding the famous ladybird and voicing her many animal friends. It’s got charm, verve and a very obvious love for a younger audience which is infectious and uplifting to watch. It goes on tour so make sure you catch it before it ends – either by finding a child to escort you or, defying the age group target, go on your own and have an hour’s witty adventure.

What the Ladybird Heard played at the Richmond Theatre and continues its tour until 28 September. For more information and tickets, see the official What the Ladybird Heard Live website.