WE'RE GOING ON A BEAR HUNT Comes To Life 7/8-8/16

Michael Rosen's best-selling, much loved children's picture book We're Going on a Bear Hunt is brought to life for the West- End stage in a strictly limited summer season.

The charming, 55-minute adaptation of this award-winning book plays in daytime performances at the Duchess Theatre from July 9th 2009. Written by Children's Poet Laureate Michael Rosen and illustrated by the award-winning Helen Oxenbury, We're Going on a Bear Hunt has become a timeless classic that has entertained young children since 1989. This production is suitable for children aged three and over.

Vividly and noisily realised on stage by Sally Cookson's direction and Benji Bower's quirky, versatile score, the story follows a family's excitement as they wade, splash and squelch through a variety of imaginative environments in search of a bear. Cookson describes the production as a "celebration of play". With designer Katie Sykes, they decided that the design should utilise a host of everyday objects and materials in order to draw young audiences into this thrilling, imaginary world.

Author of over 140 books, Michael Rosen has enjoyed a successfully diverse career as writer, poet and broadcaster. Involved in educational campaigns and a firm believer in making poetry accessible to children, he has made numerous visits to schools throughout the UK and abroad. Filled with rhythm, repetition and onomatopoeia, We're Going on a Bear Hunt has been praised for its ability to engage and entertain young children of all learning abilities.

Helen Oxenbury is an eminent illustrator of many classic picture books, including the Kate Greenaway Medal-winning Alices's Adventures in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll, and the Nestlé Smarties Prize-winning Farmer Duck, by Martin Waddell.

Sally Cookson directed We're Going on a Bear Hunt for a successful run at the Bristol Old Vic. Her directing work has included previous collaborations with designer Katie Sykes and composer Benji Bower, such as Aesop's Fables (Scamp Theatre), The Ugly Duckling (Tobacco Factory) and Papa Please Get the Moon for Me (Bristol Old Vic).

This summer season of We're Going on a Bear Hunt at the Duchess Theatre follows the highly successful Christmas season of The Gruffalo at the same theatre.

We're Going on a Bear Hunt
Duchess Theatre, Catherine Street, London, WC2B 5LA
Box Office number:0844 412 4659
www.nimaxtheatres.com
Prices: £14.50 and £11.50
(Prices are plus a 50p restoration levy)
Groups of 10+ £8.50
School rate of £8.50 and teacher goes free