Hello Beach

Assembly

Gentle, warm-hearted and wonderfully sensory, this is a perfect first theatre experience for the under-twos….

We entered to discover a beautifully handcrafted patchwork beach, complete with knitted squeaky shells, rattly beach balls, shiny tubes of suncream and plenty of lovely little details for tiny hands and curious eyes to discover. Babies and toddlers were free to roam, roll, explore and take in the space at their own pace, which immediately created a lovely relaxed atmosphere.

Storytellers Bran and Tor guide us round the beach and introduce us to some beautiful beachy puppets. Our 18 month old mini-reviewer was engaged and chill throughout – but I think this is a sweet spot for the even littler ones, who loved the sensory elements of experiencing the space where there’s no pressure to sit still and “watch”; instead, the space becomes part of the experience, with sound, texture, movement and gentle storytelling inviting them to engage in whatever way feels right for them.

We also loved the thought that has gone into making the show genuinely inclusive, with built-in audio description and key word signing incorporated naturally into the experience.

There’s something very comforting about Hello Beach. It’s playful without being overwhelming, and beautifully crafted for its tiny audience…. it’s a warm hug of a show – a great day out at the beach. 

(Written by Debs Hahn)