Event: Rudolf
Location: Midlands Arts Centre (MAC), Cannon Hill Park, Birmingham, B12 9QH
Dates: 17th November – 31st December 2018
Duration: 60 minutes
Recommended Age: 4+
Ticket Prices: £9.50 – £13.50
Website for more info and to book tickets: https://macbirmingham.co.uk/event/Rudolf
This week me and Jemima went along to watch Rudolf at Midlands Art Centre (MAC). We arrived early and decided to go and treat ourselves to a little something from the very well stocked main café. Jemima chose a strawberry cupcake which she said was like Rudolf nose with a strawberry on top. It’s missing from the picture as she had eaten it already. Ha!
We then headed over to the area where Rudolf is showing, to have a look at the amazing art work on the walls.
Jemima loved exploring the walls and pointing out different animals.
At the end of the space was a giant Rudolf nose which Jemima had to pose by.
Jemima found the stand showcasing the Rudolf merchandise outside the theatre doors (you can purchase them from the shop) and although we didn’t buy any, I thought that they were reasonably priced in comparison to some other shows that we have been to (in previous years) where you can’t buy anything for less than £10. Here you could get a fibre optic snowman light for £2.50.
It wasn’t long until we were invited into the auditorium ready for the show to begin.
A school group were in the 10:30am showing and we were sat on the 4th row behind them.
As Jemima is only 2 and it is recommended for ages 4 and above, it was nice to be able to see how children aged 5 and 6 were enjoying the show too.
The stage, designed by Charlotte Cooke was basic but equally great. Lots wasn’t needed on the stage and especially for children, less is more. And it worked very well.
Mike Akers was behind the writing of this Co-Production between Pins & Needles and Midlands Arts Centre and it was a delightful version of Rudolf.
Rudi the Rudolf (Hannah Bristow) arrives at a Birmingham Safari Park run by The Earl (Tea Poldervaart) in a box. When she gets out of the box she doesn’t know who she is or where she is from. Feeling lost and confused and unsure of which animal group she belongs with, Rudi meets the rest of the animals within the safari park and tries to fit in. Dancing (or at least trying to) like a flamingo, slithering like a snake, being an owl… But she’s not the same as any of them.
Eventually Rudi is put into a show to raise money for the failing safari park that isn’t bringing in enough money. Rudi is renamed Alan and is called an alien. Alan the alien.
Luckily Rudi makes friends with Baggie (Lakesha Cammock) and together they plan an escape.
Do they manage to escape and does Rudi finally find out who she is and how special she is?
Come along to find out.
The show had interactive parts where a few children were invited onto the stage to help broom up, there was lots of laughter and audience participation, singing, dancing and a whole lot of festive fun. It is the perfect Christmas filled production with snow, lights and reindeer.
The cast were great, full of energy and interacted well with their audience, the school children all had huge smiles on their faces. Jemima enjoyed the show too and joined in with shouting bits out like “look behind you” and “you’re Rudolf” when Rudi said she didn’t know who she was.
Jemima eagerly told her sister all about it the moment that we collected her from school and as a result of Jemimas positive review, Matilda now would like to come and see it too.
Well done Pins & Needles and Midlands Arts Centre – you smashed it!! A great Christmas performance.
Disclaimer: We were gifted tickets in return for an honest review. All opinions and thoughts are our own. Photos of the cast were provided by Midlands Arts Centre – thank you.