How the Koala Learnt to Hug at the Epstein Theatre Liverpool Review
How the Koala
Learnt to Hug
Epstein Theatre, Liverpool
28 October 2015
Reviewed by Alison Curran
My son and I went to see ‘How the Koala Learnt to Hug’ presented by The People’s Theatre Company at the Epstein Theatre in Liverpool and we loved it! Josh is two and a half years old so I was a little dubious about taking him, but I needn’t have had any worries; Josh was the perfect age to get into it. As was I… it was fun for all ages.
‘How the Koala Learnt to Hug’ is a one man show with one man performing the whole play with only his puppets as companions. The story is based on the story book by Stephen Lee, about a koala named Natascha who doesn’t like to hug. With plenty of songs and audience participation, the koala is soon shown that hugging is fun.
The play gets straight into action with the first song being about bubbles, and featuring a lot of … you got it; bubbles! Bubbles came at us from all directions so my boy was straight into it, his attention had been captured instantly. Seeing the auditorium full of bubbles was beautiful, and so fun for the children.
There was plenty of interaction for the children to get involved with the play throughout; lots of songs and games to take part in, and also a giant leaf being passed around throughout the show full of sweets for the children to take one. The children are shown songs with dances, there is a game of ‘hotter and colder’, they can clap along, and of course they’re asked to hug whoever is sat next to them to show Natascha how it’s done!
The play lasted for an hour, so it was long enough for everyone to enjoy themselves but not too long and drawn out for the little ones. Definitely recommended for anyone with young children looking for something to keep them occupied on a rainy day!
Rating: 5/5 
How the Koala Learnt to Hug is currently on tour around the UK, for more information and tour dates visit www.ptc.org.uk/how-the-koala-learnt-to-hug-story.
For other shows at the Epstein Theatre visit www.epsteinliverpool.co.uk.
The Epstein Theatre, Hanover House, 85 Hanover Street, Liverpool, L1 3DZ | 0844 888 4411
