Theatre / Reviews
Review: Gorilla Gardening, Old Vic studio
Gorilla Gardening is a witty and inventive take on what it would it be like if real gorillas were behind the guerrilla gardening craze.
For those not down with the horticultural kids, guerrilla gardening is gardening on land you aren’t really allowed to cultivate, like roundabouts and wasteland.
Gloucestershire company Dot & Ethel turn musical instruments into insects and creepy crawlies as they tell the story of a young woman who discovers the joys of gardening compared to her malfunctioning phone.
is needed now More than ever
Unusually for a children’s show, there were prolonged moments of silence mixed with catchy songs and those clever musical puppets manipulated by performers Mark Curtis, Charlotte Ellis and Hebe Dickins.
Worms made of long and short pieces of string were also found on the floor and colourful flowers grew from city council regulation brown bins, as the set designed by Harriet de Winton burst into life in typical guerrilla gardening fashion.
Young audience members’ attentions were just about kept on proceedings throughout the 45-minutes, and then when it was over it actually wasn’t, with the actors staying on stage and inviting up anyone who wanted to join them, chatting away and introducing them to the puppets and set.
This two-day visit to King Street are the first dates of a national tour for the show, which could well see young children emulate these gorillas and get gardening.
Gorilla Gardening is at Bristol Old Vic studio at 10am, 1pm and 4pm on Wednesday May 27. For tickets and more information, visit www.bristololdvic.org.uk/gorillagardening.html.
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