Review: Tweenies Live! Top of the Tots, The Journal Tyne Theatre

by Jane Hall, Evening Chronicle

Tweenies Live! Top of the Tots, The Journal Tyne Theatre, until July 28.

REMEMBER the images of hysterical female fans shouting and screaming at Beatles gigs in the 1960s?

Now there’s a new Fab Four on the block who are having the same effect on fans.

Except these devotees can barely see over the seat in front of them and this quartet of mop tops prefer belting out the likes of Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star to A Hard Day’s Night.

What’s all the fuss about? Tweenies Live! Top of the Tots, every pre-schooler’s favourite act.

Yes, Milo, Jake, Bella, Fizz and Doodles the Dog have left behind the comfort of the BBC’s CBeebies channel and set out on the road to meet their teenybop addicts.

And they couldn’t have had a more receptive audience than the scores of fresh-faced boys and girls who packed into The Journal Tyne Theatre last night.

From the moment the curtain rose this show packed a slick punch. Bright colours, larger than life characters, special effects and the stars’ infectious musical approach to learning through play, helped keep young and old alike entertained.

But Milo, Jake, Bella, Fizz and Doodles aren’t the only stars – they want everyone to join in the fun by singing, dancing and copying the actions.

The premise of the spectacle which celebrates a decade of the Tweenies (is it really that long?) is about picking a song to be Top of the Tots.

There are plenty to choose from: Incy Wincy Spider, Gonna Build a House, The Wheels on the Bus and Do the Lollipop are just some of the ‘hits’ served up in this pop concert for pint-sized audiences.

This was my two-and-a-half-year-old son’s first introduction to the theatre – and while I would be lying to say he enjoyed every minute of the extravaganza that unfolded before his wide-eyes, there was enough of interest to elicit squeals of delight.

The real treat? Seeing his hero Milo in the flesh in all his brightly-clothed, iridescent-booted and spiky-haired wonderfulness.

For those adults willing to enter into the spirit of the occasion and sing along, not only to the songs that peppered their own childhood but some Tweenies’ originals, then this is an entertaining, fun, imaginative, family friendly and infectious spectacle.

Be warned, however. The first sight to hit you as you walk through the doors is the merchandise stand – as hypnotic to a small child as anything the Tweenies can belt out on stage.

Anyone want a Milo fibre optic wand?