Far More Than The Bear Necessities of Fun For Adelaide Kids

This July, Adelaide’s school holidays promise a treat for littlies when Windmill Theatre and Adelaide Festival Centre present Bear With Me, produced by Metro Arts. Lesley Reed reports.

Children are invited to bring their own teddy bears along to the Space Theatre when Brisbane ukelele duo *Tyrone and Wesley deliver this playful and interactive musical tribute to the teddy bear.

Aimed at three to six-year-olds, the show celebrates the world's best-loved cuddly toy through song, movement and plenty of laughs. As the youngsters and their teddies join in the musical romp they also learn about important warm and fuzzies other than their bears: friendship, love, and caring.

Bear With Me was created by writer, composer and musician David Megarrity in partnership with composer and musician Samuel Vincent. Megarrity also performs in the show as ‘Tyrone’, while ‘Wesley’ is played by Markus Karlsen for the Adelaide season. Australian bluegrass fans may recognise Karlsen as the bassist with the band The Company.

From the beginning, the show’s creators recognised much in the teddy bear’s timeless capacity to be both real and magical. A great deal of thought and ‘road testing’ with the target audience as well as with adults ensued before Bear With Me was ready.

Blogs David Megarrity about teddy bears, “I wanted to transcend the kitsch to unlock their soft mystery from the point of view of a child…A bear enables a compelling transformation as the child plays with it- the toy enables him or her to perform as parent and child simultaneously.”

All aspects of the show have been carefully considered, with the songs and music an important component. “Having surveyed some of the great bear songs of history, I made the decision to utilize only original songs in the work, to be played live,” Megarrity writes.

In the blog from which I quote, he relates in much detail the complete, considered and painstaking approach that went into creating Bear With Me. Read it at https://lifeinthelongtail.wordpress.com/2013/09/11/making-bear-with-me-setlist-to-script-to-show/

It seems adults love the show too, as made clear in enthusiastic reviews:

"One of the best shows I have ever attended. Absolutely brilliant!" – Theatregoer

"Tyrone and Wesley make seriously infectious music." - The West Australian

After enjoying Bear With Me audience members can have even more fun by snapping a selfie with their teddies at the special Teddy Pix station in the foyer.

Bear With Me is a must for teddy bear lovers of all ages, but particularly 3-6 year -olds. Maybe make it a family day out by having a teddy bear’s picnic in nearby Elder Park after the show!

WHEN: July 7 to 19, 2015:

Tues-Fri: 10am + 1.30pm; Sat: 10am + 12pm + 2pm; Sun: 12pm + 2pm

WHERE: Space Theatre, Adelaide Festival Centre

BOOKINGS:BASS.net.au or call 131 246

TICKETS: $22 adults; $18.50 concession/groups 6+; $80 family (2 adults + 2 children)

*Performers known as Tyrone and Wesley for Adelaide season; formerly Tyrone and Lesley.