Maddie Moate’s Very Curious Christmas at the Apollo Theatre, Shaftesbury Avenue is a brilliant children’s show for all those old enough to ask, why? Information about how things work and how bodies work is presented as enormous fun with much laughter as the children in the audience join in enthusiastically. A chant of ‘science, science, science’ is encouraged and at times fills the theatre, which in itself is pretty spectacular. Older children will learn curious facts to remember to entertain the Christmas dinner table while the attending accompanying adults are also bound to discover things they didn’t know.
Maddie Moate is a popular, BAFTA-winning TV presenter, the host of the CBeebies TV series “Maddie’s Do You Know? and CBBC’s “Show Me the Honey”. She is the charismatic heart of this happy show, and she goes on work experience to Father Christmas workshops, working alongside two accident-prone elves. The workshop descends into chaos at times as things stop working before they are fixed. There’s quite a lot of what adults might consider rude humour about the digestive system but which fully engages and amuses the children.
There are some surreal moments as special effects are launched over the audience’s heads. It is worth getting a ticket in the open stalls (where there’s nothing overhead) to get the full effect. Perhaps even more could be thrown from behind because, with the incline of the stalls seating, everything thrown into the audience moves rather too rapidly towards the stage. Arriving in your seats in good time is rewarded as about fifteen minutes before the show starts there is the most fabulous Christmas quiz which gets everyone joining in. All the things you probably didn’t know about Christmas is a terrific warm-up.
It’s a great family show. Tickets are available from £15. Highly recommended for all those aged four and over, including older children who probably won’t stop laughing.
Review by Marian Kennedy
Maddie is on work experience in this winter wonderland, and she’s got her hands full with two hilarious elves: Tinker, the trainee toymaker, and Goggles, the Head of Elf Safety.
But with Christmas just around the corner, the workshop is a whirlwind of mishaps! The snow machine is out of control, the crackers have lost their bang, and the Christmas lights won’t twinkle. To top it all off, Mrs Claus is on her way for a surprise inspection!
With the clock ticking, Maddie and her young audience must use science, curiosity, and a sprinkle of Christmas magic to help Tinker and Goggles fix the workshop in time for Mrs Claus’ big visit.
Packed with festive fun, science demonstrations, and plenty of giggles, this family-friendly show is the perfect Christmas treat for kids and grown-ups as they work together to save Christmas!
MADDIE MOATE’S VERY CURIOUS CHRISTMAS
Apollo Theatre, Shaftesbury Avenue, W1D 7EZ
6 December 2024 to 4 January 2025
60 minutes no interval
