Scooby-Doo Live Assembly Hall Theatre Review
Scooby-Doo Live
The Mystery of the Pyramid
Assembly Hall Theatre
Tunbridge Wells
4-5 April 2014
Reviewed by Amanda Hayes
This morning we set off for the 11am showing of Scooby-Doo Live at the Tunbridge Wells Assembly Hall Theatre, we had an inkling of what to expect as we had already checked out the website www.scoobydoo-live.co.uk and looked at the Facebook page. We passed through the normal selection of merchandise for sale, light sabres and stuffed toys, and went straight to our seat. Tunbridge Wells Theatre is great as you always get a good view wherever you are, even on the flat area where we were seated.
We were hoping that the characters would be like the cartoon and we weren’t disappointed, they were all very alike, especially Shaggy from his clothes to his voice and mannerisms. The story was also as the cartoon a mystery to solve and Shaggy and Scooby being too scared and too hungry to want to solve it!
The show started with the Scooby, Shaggy, Fred, Daphne and Velma all arriving on stage in the Mystery Machine to a great round of applause. They leapt out and from that moment it was singing and dancing all the way, there was loads happening to keep the children entertained, and lots of audience interaction from the usual “its behind you” shouting, to clapping and singing along. The songs were all easy to follow and several times the cast came down into the audience to the delight of the children, it was great to see their faces as Scooby came right past them dancing.
It was a simple story as Scooby-Doo always is, but was complicated enough to stop older children and adults getting bored. There was also lots of humour, some aimed at adults and the audience was laughing through most of the show.
The show is set in Egypt with the scenery doing a good job to portray that, with Pyramids, mummies and desert camps. The mummies did some really good dance routines which kept my little boy staring at the stage with his mouth open.
The show ended with return of the Mystery Machine and a song and dance finale, we then all filtered out of the theatre. Just as we were wondering why the queue was so slow we realised that Fred, Daphne and the Mummies were outside so they could have their photo taken with the children. This was a great end to the morning and Ethan had a lovely picture with Fred.
The website states that this show is suitable for families of all ages and I totally agree, the timing is right at 90 minutes plus interval. Not too long for smaller children but enough to feel that you have got your money’s worth.
Scooby-Doo Live is running nationally everywhere from Brighton, to Inverness and Belfast so I recommend to go and see it nearby if you possibly can as a fun time was had by all.
Rating: 5/5 
Scooby-Doo Live is on tour nationwide until 31 August 2014. For more details or to book tickets visit www.scoobydoo-live.com.
Assembly Hall Theatre, Crescent Rd, Royal Tunbridge Wells, Kent TN1 2LU | 01892 530613
