Review: Bluey’s Big Play at The Lowry Theatre in Salford Quays*

[Ad-gifted] Yesterday, I took my 2-year-old son to see Bluey’s Big Play at  The Lowry Theatre in Salford Quay, Manchester. As big family fans of the Emmy® award-winning animated series, we were excited to see how Bluey and her family would come to life in this theatrical adaptation.

The play follows Bluey, her sister Bingo, and their parents, Bandit and Chilli. When Dad feels like a little bit of Sunday afternoon time out, Bluey and Bingo have other plans! They pull out all the games and cleverness at their disposal to get Dad off that bean bag.  This original story by Bluey creator Joe Brumm is filled with the same heartwarming and humorous moments that make the TV show so beloved. For families attending, it might be helpful to watch the emotionally charged “Onesies” episode beforehand to understand the backstory about Chilli’s sister Brandy, who the show alludes to at points, ever pulling at the heart strings of the audience members and bringing the adult audience in.

What did we think of Bluey’s Big Play?

The actors did a fantastic job portraying the beloved characters, using brilliantly created puppets to bring Bluey and her family to life. The performances were enhanced by new music from Bluey composer Joff Bush, adding an extra layer of enjoyment. My son was particularly enchanted by Bluey and Bingo’s playful antics. Despite the play being for kids, it still packs an emotional punch for adults.

The set design was vibrant and colourful, perfectly recreating the familiar settings from the show. The costumes and props were cleverly designed, making the characters feel real and engaging. This UK premiere of “Bluey’s Big Play,” produced by Andrew Kay and Cuffe & Taylor with Windmill Theatre Co for BBC Studios, truly brought Bluey to real life like never before.
The show is interactive and engaging and performers related wonderfully with the audience, keeping the children engaged throughout.

My son was captivated, clapping along and even laughing out loud at several points. The play’s grand finale involved a fun game of audience keepy-uppy with huge bouncing balls thrown into the crowd, there is a note on the shows information that gives parents the option to opt out of this, as fun as it was, its very stimulating and may not be suitable for all children to take part in. This caused manic screaming and wild laughter, and my son was especially pleased he managed to touch one of the giant bubbles. A huge spray of bubbles covered the crowds and added another fun layer to the shows ending.

Our overall experience was fantastic. My son was thoroughly entertained, and I enjoyed seeing the joy on his face as he watched his favourite characters live on stage. The emotional depth of the story caught me by surprise, but the lively finale ensured we left with big smiles and cherished memories. The play is suitable for young children, holding their attention with its engaging and dynamic performance.

I highly recommend “Bluey’s Big Play” to any parents of young Bluey fans. It’s a delightful and heartwarming experience that captures the magic of the animated series. Despite its emotional moments, the play’s fun and interactive elements make it a must-see for families. We left the theatre with big smiles and cherished memories.

“Bluey’s Big Play” is a suitable for families to watch as it is lively, interesting performances and interactive methods will bring you joyful and unforgettable family moments. If your children enjoy shows such as this or the characters in it, you may want to give them a surprise by Custom Patches. 

You can incorporate your favourite characters or drama elements into the design of the patch. The character’s lines or iconic actions can also become the design elements of the patch. Of course, you can complete these design processes with your children, which will be another parent-child time full of memories.

Cast and Creative Team

Cast

Laura Raineri, Tess Oliver and Shakira Alleyne – Bluey
Miroe Fuches, Charlotte Rae and Laura Hyde – Bingo
Helena Mitchell, Sophie Blythe and Lucy Whitney – Chilli
Adam Ryan, Jon Godsi, and Aarod Vawser – Bandit

Creatives

Produced by Andrew Kay and Cuffe & Taylor – Windmill Theatre Co for BBC Studios.
Directed Rosemary Myers
Set and Designed Jonathon Oxlade

How much are the tickets?

Tickets are priced from £18.50 to £25.50.

To book tickets please call The Lowry at 08432086000 or via their website here.  To book accessible performances, please email access@thelowry.com or call 0161 876 2183.

How long is the show for and what are the timings?

The show will be running at The Lowry Theatre until Sun, 11 August 2024 with performances at 11am and 2pm.  There is a Signed (BSL) Show on 2 August at 2pm and Audio Described Show on Thursday, 8 August at 2pm while the Relax Performance is on Friday, 9 August at 2pm. The show will have an approximate running time of 50 minutes with no interval.  All ages welcome. Babes in Arms: 18months and under

Where will the performance be held?

The Lowry
Lyric Theatre
Pier 8
The Quays
Salford
M50 3AZ
Manchester
Tel: 0843208 6000

• The Lowry welcomes all visitors regardless of their disability and strives to meet all individuals needs where possible.
• They welcome assistance dogs.
• The Lowry website is fully accessible and features BrowseAloud.  Browsealoud adds speech, reading and translation support, facilitating access and participation for those people who need support reading print, dyslexia, low literacy, mild visual impairments and those with English as a second language. To use this feature, simply click on the grey ear logo located in the footer.

• If you are driving to the show, we would recommend for you to park at The Lowry Outlet which is opposite the theatre, but be aware as there is lack of signage from the car park area to the theatre, so best to ask someone or use google maps to find your way.

  Pre paid car parking tickets can be purchased up to 24 hours prior to your performance. Please note they are unable to sell pre paid tickets on your performance date, and you will need to pay at the ticket machines in the car park. The tickets can be booked at the same time as your seats via their website, or over the phone on freephone 0343 208 6000.

About The Lowry Theatre

The Lowry is a registered charity committed to using visual and performing arts to enrich people’s lives. They present audiences with a diverse programme of theatre, opera, musicals, dance, music, comedy and visual art as well as events and activities to expand the horizons of audiences and artists alike.  At the heart of their work is a commitment to the local communities and young people.

Tapping into the work on their stages and in their galleries, they offer thousands of free creative participation opportunities each year. They are passionate about nurturing talent, developing creative professionals of the future and raising aspirations.

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Photo Credit: The Lowry Theatre/Darren Thomas