Make sure your phone is charged when you go to Ductac this weekend. The showing of Guess How Much I Love You, which runs on April 28 in Dubai before hopping across to Abu Dhabi for a staging at the Abu Dhabi Theatre on May 5, will probably have you reaching for your phones, or your children.
A playful tale that explores the intangible yet powerful force that is the bond between parent and child, and between people and the world is getting an interactive retelling.
Performed by the Sell A Door theatre company, the adaptation of Sam McBratney’s book, which explores the love Big Nutbrown Hare and Little Nutbrown Hare have for one another, aims to give you that warm fuzzy feeling of a good hug. Producer David Hutchinson tells Gulf News tabloid! how the show came about. “We were in contact with Walker Books who were extremely interested in creating a production that was not language heavy, but instead really interactive, using storytelling techniques through physical theatre and puppetry so the story could resonate with audiences across the world. Director Anna Fox was the perfect choice to work on this as her background in dramaturgy lends itself to the working with the limited text helping to creatively adapt and expand into a developed narrative for the whole family to enjoy.” Fox’s dramaturgy works include Two Roads (which showed at the Vaults Festival) and Kidnapped.
Hutchinson adds that the family favourite will introduce its youngest audience members to the world of imagination and storytelling — a great start to discovering literature. “Guess How Much I Love You has been a household name for years because its themes of family, friendship and the importance of the environment, continue to resonate with audiences,” he says.
“What I love about the play is that so much of the discovering and exploring is as new and exciting for Big Nutbrown Hare as it is for Little Nutbrown Hare! Throughout the piece they are learning from each other. I love the message that as adults, we never stop exploring and learning. Also the obvious theme of love between the hares and to see what it is to be loved beyond our own understanding,” adds an excited Nikkola Burnhope, who plays Mother Nature.
Burnhope’s character is not one people will be familiar with. The original, you see, may have a few stunning dialogues including, “I love you all the way to the moon and back”, but it is a tad simplistic. And so the makers have given it a bit of a zing. “We need[ed] to ensure the stage experience is unique and different to the book, without deviating too far from the beautiful original story,” Hutchinson explains.
But the part doesn’t come without challenges. It’s a tough gig to have no lines and have to mime effectively. “It’s been a really fun challenge though, to explore ways in which communication can be clear with only my physicality,” says Burnhope.
Speaking of special additions, Burnhope talks of the environmental hue that the story takes on. “There is a moment in the piece where we see a cardboard box. This is the only thing in the play that isn’t an element of nature, a plant or an animal. I think it’s so interesting to see Little Nutbrown Hare’s fearless curiosity when he interacts with it compared to Big Nutbrown Hare who is really cautious. I love the childlike naivety of Little Nutbrown Hare,” says Burnhope.
So, morals — check. Lovable characters — check. Interaction- check.
Yup, as long as you’ve got your phones on hand and kids along, you’ll get that warm, fuzzy feeling.
Don’t miss it!
Guess How Much I Love You runs at Ductac on April 28. Tickets start at Dh110.
