When was the last time you enjoyed a piece of theatre so much you regularly burst into spontaneous applause, laughed so hard you stole the show and made repeated attempts to rush the stage? It turns out that when the audience members are still counting their age in months, reactions like these are to be expected.
Theatre made specially for the nappy set is still unusual, and Baby Show at the Unicorn was a first theatre outing for my 10-month-old son, Laurie. Created by Sarah Argent and Kevin Lewis, who was also the sole performer the day we went, Baby Show is aimed at the six- to 18-month age group, though there was an utterly entranced four-month-old next to us. As we assembled before the performance, I wondered if one show could hold the attention of a group comprising a baby who couldn’t sit unaided and a toddler capable of delivering a running commentary. A tough crowd.
The Unicorn’s Foyle studio has been transformed into a garden, complete with ivy-covered arch, a soft carpet of “grass” and washing lines – with rows of white linens – criss-crossing the ceiling. We sit on cushions and listen to birdsong. A cooing sound comes from the old-fashioned pram in the performance space as Lewis rocks it gently and sings a lullaby.
The conceit of the (mostly) sleeping baby on stage helps create a remarkably calm atmosphere, given that there are 14 other babies in the room. Argent and Lewis have made a gentle show that captivates while avoiding the dreaded overstimulation.
From the moment Lewis makes eye contact, Laurie is fascinated. He claps, he aaahs approvingly, he attempts to join the performance. We have been politely asked to keep mobile babies out of the way, so I restrain him and expect protest, but it doesn’t come. He is too busy watching Lewis play peekaboo behind the washing line.
Rather than a narrative, the show presents a series of familiar sounds, actions and sensations based on the elements: cold, heat, wind and rain. Simplicity reigns. Lewis repeatedly dropping a pack of wipes produces a level of hilarity that most standups dream of. Laurie hiccups with laughter and flaps his hands like a seal. A pair of long johns seems to come alive, a finger pops through a hole in a jumper, a mitten becomes a puppet (until Laurie stuffs it into his mouth). Every mundane discovery is a drama, full of delight.
At home, I try to recreate the wipes gag, and barely elicit a chuckle. Apparently, the magic of theatre works at any age. Baby Show was the perfect way to launch a theatre-going habit – though I’m afraid Laurie will have to learn not to eat the props.
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At the Unicorn, London, until 19 August 2017. Box office: 020-7645 0560.
