There’s A Bear On My Chair Review

Reviewed by Giada

There’s A Bear On My Chair marks the first stage adaptation of Ross Collins’ eponymous, award-winning children’s book, and its sequel There’s a Mouse in My House, as part of the Southbank Centre’s Imagine Festival.

Toby Oliè’s creative genius brings this joyously illustrated story to life, capturing the comical rivalry between a bear and a mouse forced to deal with each other – am I going mad, or are they a GoGo and Didi from a parallel universe? Their relentless attempts to get rid of one another spiral into hilarious antics, only for them to realize that, despite it all, they actually enjoy each other’s company and end up becoming friends.
 
While the pacing feels slightly uneven – the second half lingers compared to the snappy, vignette-driven first half – it’s doubtful any child in the audience noticed. They were too mesmerized, laughing along, fully immersed in the magic of the puppetry. Kids don’t need the leap of faith that we, as adults, sometimes require. For them, it must have felt like an epiphany—a doorway to a world of wonder where animals talk and embark on adventures just like they do.
 
For the adults, this immersion is seamless thanks to Oliè’s (also behind Spirited Away) and Charlie Tymms’ stunning puppet design. The bear and mouse feel strikingly human, instantly evoking empathy—the bear, a massive, clumsy chowderhead; the mouse, a small, sharp-witted troublemaker. The actors breathe life into them, their voices (and grunts) effortlessly transferring human emotion onto the puppets. Dressed in light blue to blend with the background, they remain visible yet fade into the scene, making the magic feel even more organic.

This production is a testament to the creative drive of everyone involved, each digging into their imagination, and perhaps their inner child. It beautifully reconciles the tension between our need for fantasy and our adult reluctance to embrace it, reminding us that even the simplest, most absurd vignettes and nursery rhymes can offer delight. If you want to share something truly magical with your little human, There’s a Bear on My Chair is an experience you can’t miss.