We're Going on a Bear Hunt
Lyric Theatre, London

THERE can't be many parents who haven't turned the pages over again — and again and again — of We're Going On A Bear Hunt, first published in 1989.

Having been brought to life as a cartoon a few years ago for a Christmas special on TV, it now has a well-established reputation for being a firm children's favourite on stage too, with this year marking the 10th anniversary of its first production.

This latest show is a wonderfully energetic and engaging adaptation, with a cast so full of enthusiasm it's hard not to squelch, splash and swish along with them. Although Rosen's delightful tale about a father, his son, daughter, baby and dog heading out on their journey to find a bear is only about 10 minutes long on the page, director Sally Cookson has managed to stretch it out for just under an hour without the audience becoming too restless.
 
There's enough packed into this production to stop the kids from yawning or running up and down the aisles in sheer boredom. Even the audience is allowed to get in on the action, with paper butterflies chucked our way, a snow machine blowing fake snow on us and, as for the river scene, no spoilers...