Jan Carson and Duke Special have reimagined the children’s classic ‘The Velvetten Rabbit’ at the Lyric Theatre. Now set in NI, a bit more contemporary, and bursting with songs. The colours and vibrancy of the stage strike us as soon as we enter the theatre, as the 80s and 90s theme songs ring through the speakers. It all adds together to transport you back to childhood, or in my kids’ case, a childhood so far away they can only imagine.
When Wee Man receives a bunny as a present, he never expects the extraordinary adventures that await them. But with a little imagination, and some Nursery Magic, his floppy-eared friend springs to life, turning the ordinary into the unforgettable.
Join the Velveteen Rabbit, Jack (in the box), Robbo the robot and all their friends in a tale filled with humour, heart and friendship.
The 6 strong cast tonight are acting, singing and creating all the music on stage. No mean feat from a jack-in-the-box, a robot and a giant bunny costume. This musical version stays fairly true to the original bymaking choices that allow it to hold onto its nostalgic feel.
Whilst the action unfolds in the bedroom with the regular-sized toys the human-sized version mimics this to the side of the action, which makes for a clever way to immerse the audience whilst still staying grounded.
The musical numbers, by Duke Special, are phenomenal and have us singing a long and bopping in our seats like they’re old favourites. Rosie Barry’s number about a slightly salt fairy is a particular highlight, bringing humour and warmth as the show nears its end. Through the humour though, the show retains the poignancy of the original and reflects on what it is to grow up, put away childish things and come of age. Going to see the show with my 9 and 10-year-old sons, I think this made me slightly more melancholy than it did the boys, with Alex giving it an 11/10 and Max just wanting to take the rabbit toy home!
The show itself runs just under 2 hours, with a break, which I find is just about right for a family show, the inclusion of subtitle boards at the sides was a nice touch (this may not be there for all performances) that encapsulates the inclusiveness of this production.
The Velveteen Rabbit runs at The Lyric Theatre until 30th March 2025. For more info and tickets see here.
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