The Lady & The Bear
When I was a child, I hoped that when I grew up I’d be a famous actress. Making my West End debut was something my dreams were made of. But I never actually expected the dream to become a reality. So when I do, finally, have the opportunity to do just that, I am unbearably excited – and more than a little nervous. Especially as rather than playing Cleopatra or Juliet – I am starring as a bear.
I am invited to appear in Sally Cookson’s stage production, We’re Going On A Bear Hunt, and I am starring alongside Duncan Foster (Dad), Rowena Lennon (the daughter), Gareth Warren (the son), Ben Harrison (dog/musician) and Gavin Swift (the usual bear) at the Lyric Theatre on Shaftesbury Avenue.
Adapted from the much-loved book by Michael Rosen, the production has toured America and Dubai and is full of music (most of the cast can play an instrument), laughter, songs, rhythms and rhymes; with puppetry, paints, water and mud, not to mention a bear – played, for one day only, by yours truly. I have no doubt that this news boosted ticket sales.
Gareth Swift, who usually plays the bear in the production, is my mentor for the day.
‘The most important thing about playing the bear is to keep all of the actions really big,’ he explains. ‘The kids have been waiting for the whole show to see the bear, so it has to be as big and exciting as possible.’
And so with that in mind, I spend the duration of my rehearsal flailing my arms and legs around as I run about. I am getting inside the head of a bear – and I like it.
Doubtless, I look like a member of Monty Python’s Ministry Of Silly Walks, but it is an awful lot of fun all the same. At least until I put the bear suit on. I imagine that the suit is rather toasty on a normal day, but on the hottest day of the year so far… Well, I can see why they told me not to overdress. Baking hot and being chased around the stage by the other cast members, I wonder how Gavin does it every day.
Stage Debut
Once inside the bear suit, I can’t see much. A bankcard-sized hole, covered with a thin mesh, is the only window to the outside world. There are times when my only hope is that I don’t run blindly off the back, or the front, of the stage.
Rehearsals over, it is time for the real performance. With butterflies building, I watch from the sidelines as my fellow cast members begin the bear hunt. They run through the swishy swashy grass, the splishy splashy river and the squelchy mud – and all the while they are looking for me.
And so, waiting in the wings for my cue, the nerves really begin to kick in. I run through what I have to do in my head, hoping that I don’t trip over my big bear feet when running around the stage – although I’m sure the children would find that just as amusing.
Until… ‘It’s a BEAR !’ they cry.
My time has come. Leaping into the limelight, I pull the most fearsome bear pose I can muster, then chase the cast members around the stage.
A Natural Talent
‘Run to stage right, bear pose. Run to stage left, bear pose. Don’t fall over my own feet,’ I find myself muttering, while growling a bit, too. No one can hear my ferocious bear noises, but clearly wearing the costume is having an effect on me.
Chasing dog/musician Ben Harrison offstage, I catch my breath and wait for the final scene. On hearing my cue I bound back on stage, only this time instead of a chase scene I join in the dancing during the final number, waving to the children in the audience who are screaming with excitement.
Curtain call done, my fellow cast members help me out of my bear outfit and my West End debut is over. I’m not sure my childhood dreams ever involved playing a bear – but then we all have to start somewhere, don’t we?
We’re Going On A Bear Hunt is at the Lyric Theatre, Shaftesbury Avenue, London W1 until 8 September: 0844-412 4661, www.nimaxtheatres.com
I am invited to appear in Sally Cookson’s stage production, We’re Going On A Bear Hunt, and I am starring alongside Duncan Foster (Dad), Rowena Lennon (the daughter), Gareth Warren (the son), Ben Harrison (dog/musician) and Gavin Swift (the usual bear) at the Lyric Theatre on Shaftesbury Avenue.
Adapted from the much-loved book by Michael Rosen, the production has toured America and Dubai and is full of music (most of the cast can play an instrument), laughter, songs, rhythms and rhymes; with puppetry, paints, water and mud, not to mention a bear – played, for one day only, by yours truly. I have no doubt that this news boosted ticket sales.
Gareth Swift, who usually plays the bear in the production, is my mentor for the day.
‘The most important thing about playing the bear is to keep all of the actions really big,’ he explains. ‘The kids have been waiting for the whole show to see the bear, so it has to be as big and exciting as possible.’
And so with that in mind, I spend the duration of my rehearsal flailing my arms and legs around as I run about. I am getting inside the head of a bear – and I like it.
Doubtless, I look like a member of Monty Python’s Ministry Of Silly Walks, but it is an awful lot of fun all the same. At least until I put the bear suit on. I imagine that the suit is rather toasty on a normal day, but on the hottest day of the year so far… Well, I can see why they told me not to overdress. Baking hot and being chased around the stage by the other cast members, I wonder how Gavin does it every day.
Stage Debut
Once inside the bear suit, I can’t see much. A bankcard-sized hole, covered with a thin mesh, is the only window to the outside world. There are times when my only hope is that I don’t run blindly off the back, or the front, of the stage.
Rehearsals over, it is time for the real performance. With butterflies building, I watch from the sidelines as my fellow cast members begin the bear hunt. They run through the swishy swashy grass, the splishy splashy river and the squelchy mud – and all the while they are looking for me.
And so, waiting in the wings for my cue, the nerves really begin to kick in. I run through what I have to do in my head, hoping that I don’t trip over my big bear feet when running around the stage – although I’m sure the children would find that just as amusing.
Until… ‘It’s a BEAR !’ they cry.
My time has come. Leaping into the limelight, I pull the most fearsome bear pose I can muster, then chase the cast members around the stage.
A Natural Talent
‘Run to stage right, bear pose. Run to stage left, bear pose. Don’t fall over my own feet,’ I find myself muttering, while growling a bit, too. No one can hear my ferocious bear noises, but clearly wearing the costume is having an effect on me.
Chasing dog/musician Ben Harrison offstage, I catch my breath and wait for the final scene. On hearing my cue I bound back on stage, only this time instead of a chase scene I join in the dancing during the final number, waving to the children in the audience who are screaming with excitement.
Curtain call done, my fellow cast members help me out of my bear outfit and my West End debut is over. I’m not sure my childhood dreams ever involved playing a bear – but then we all have to start somewhere, don’t we?
We’re Going On A Bear Hunt is at the Lyric Theatre, Shaftesbury Avenue, London W1 until 8 September: 0844-412 4661, www.nimaxtheatres.com