‘Circusy Caterpillar’, by Happy Haps Productions

Review from: Underbelly Festival, London; 20th May 2018

Sometimes I feel very lucky that I get an excuse to go and see children’s shows without even having any small people of my own. This afternoon was a case in point. The wonderful circus-theatre production of Circusy Caterpillar is cleverly written and colourful, with a vibrant soundtrack of rock, pop and disco songs that keep the room alive alongside the simple storytelling of mime and rhyming voice-over. The Australian show toured until recently under the more recognisable title of The Very Circusy Caterpillar, which makes the story’s inspiration clear; if you’ve ever read a book about a little wriggly bug who eats more and more each day until transforming into a high-flying beauty, here is your chance to see what would happen if that little bug were born inside a circus tent, aspiring each day towards a different role in the show, eating to build strength with which to walk a slackline, juggle hula hoops or spin a German wheel.

The show is performed now by multi-talented Chelsea Angell, who has taken over the charming one-woman role created in 2011 by Happy Haps Productions‘ founder, Hannah Cryle. Angell smiles and wiggles and cheekily interacts with the male voice of the recorded narration, and there are a couple of well placed moments of play that actively involve us in the audience too.  Tricks become increasingly impressive as each day passes, and the imaginative portrayal of different foods through various circus props keeps me excited to discover what will come next.  Inside the Spiegeltent, with chairs arranged in a semi-circle on the flat performance floor, some of the smaller children need to move away from their seats to find a better viewing position, but attention is held. At the end, when stickers are offered for sale on the way out – by the circusy butterfly herself – several small fans decide to take their own place in the performing area, dancing and rolling on the floor to recreate their own games inspired by the show.

Within the last fortnight the show’s name has been changed, following a request from the estate behind Eric Carle’s classic book, The Very Hungry Caterpillar. This is a great shame for audiences who might appreciate the link to a childhood favourite (on which bookings might be based), and seems churlish to boot considering the quality of the production. This circusy alternative has clearly been made with great love and respect, as well as a skill for understanding the pace, colour and development required by young audiences.  Whilst the gentle characterisation and clear movements are well suited for pre-schoolers, the recorded narration also offers a way in for older brothers and sisters, and the show is advertised for children up to 8 years old (although there are moments too that make me laugh aloud, with humour or delight, at 37).

A small detail that may pass many by, but makes me smile widely, is the refusal to acknowledge traditional gender stereotypes in the circus role models the caterpillar tries to emulate. Girls can juggle, boys can hula hoop and that’s the way the world is. From a small start, you can become something amazing.  And have a great deal of fun on the way.

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