Taking my two young children, Alice (age 5) and Leo (age 4), to see Winnie the Pooh: The New Musical Stage Adaptation was a delightful adventure that brought the beloved characters of the Hundred Acre Wood to life in a charming and visually captivating way. The show, clearly designed with young audiences in mind, offered a simple yet heartwarming story, beautiful puppetry, and a set that vividly captured the essence of Pooh’s world.
The narrative is straightforward, focusing on Christopher Robin heading off to school while Pooh embarks on a quest for honey. Along the way, Pooh encounters all the beloved characters from the Hundred Acre Wood, including Piglet, Eeyore, Kanga, Roo, Tigger, Rabbit, and Owl. However, the plot felt a bit thin—essentially, it’s a series of interactions with his friends as Pooh searches for honey, with the story moving through different seasons.
While the simplicity of the story might be appropriate for very young children, it did lead to some restlessness in the audience. My son Leo, for instance, seemed to lose interest at times, though he also had moments of overexcitement, especially when his favourite characters appeared on stage.
The true stars of the show are the puppets. They are incredibly detailed and capture the essence of the classic characters beautifully. Tigger was my personal favourite, not just because of the vibrant and energetic puppet, but also because he had the best songs in the show. Leo, on the other hand, adored Rabbit—likely because of his fondness for rabbits in general. Alice was smitten with Piglet, possibly because of the character's pink colour.
The set design was also a highlight, even though it was mostly static. The Hundred Acre Wood was brought to life with seasonal changes—fallen leaves in autumn, snowflakes in winter—that were subtle but effective. Leo especially loved the falling leaves and the bees on sticks.
Unfortunately, the music was a bit of a letdown. Aside from the iconic "The Wonderful Thing About Tiggers," the other songs were not particularly memorable. In a show billed as a musical, this was a significant shortcoming.
The atmosphere in the theatre was another issue. The noise level from the young audience was so high that it was sometimes difficult to hear the dialogue. While it's expected that children will talk and react during a show, the constant chatter made it hard to stay fully engaged with the performance.
Despite its flaws, Winnie the Pooh: The New Musical Stage Adaptation was a charming experience, especially for children who love the characters. The puppets and set were the standout features, and they alone made the show worth seeing. However, the simplistic story and unremarkable music mean that this production might not hold the attention of all children, or adults, for its entire duration.
Would I recommend it? If you have young children who are fans of Winnie the Pooh, absolutely. They’ll likely be enchanted by the puppets and the familiar faces from the Hundred Acre Wood. However, if you’re an adult considering attending without kids, you might find the experience less satisfying, unless you’re a die-hard Pooh fan.
Overall, I’d give this production 3.5 stars. It's a lovely show, but it could benefit from a more engaging storyline and stronger musical numbers.
Winnie the Pooh: The New Musical is on at the Manchester Opera House until Wednesday 26th July 2023, you can purchase tickets by clicking on the button below.
If you would like more information about the show including where it will be touring click the button below.
Photo Credit - Pamela Raith
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