by Silvia C Di Frisco
A children’s story about parents being too busy to listen might feel even more relevant today than when Not Now, Bernard was first published in 1980. More than four decades later, David McKee’s much-loved picture book has arrived at The Egg in a wonderfully playful adaptation that had its young audience hooked within seconds.
For anyone unfamiliar with the story, Bernard has a problem. There is a monster in the garden, but no matter how hard he tries to tell his mum and dad, they are simply too busy to listen. So Bernard decides to deal with the monster himself. What could possibly go wrong?
The cast manages to connect with the children almost immediately. From the opening moments, laughs, shouts and enthusiastic responses come from all around the theatre. That connection never really drops during the 55-minute performance, which is no small achievement for a show aimed at children aged three and over.
Turning such a short picture book into a full stage production could easily have felt stretched, but Roustabout Theatre has found a wonderfully inventive way around it. Each character gets their moment through sequences of mime and physical comedy, accompanied by live music, voices and sound effects created from instruments and everyday objects at one side of the stage. Watching imaginary actions come to life through sound becomes part of the fun, while Makaton signing is woven naturally throughout the performance, never feeling forced or out of place.
Fans of the book will also immediately recognise David McKee’s world. The bold set and costumes remain incredibly faithful to his original illustrations, making it feel as though the colourful pages of the book have suddenly sprung to life around you.
Unsurprisingly, the monster steals the show.
Its arrival prompted some of the biggest reactions of the afternoon. Despite its enormous size and deep, booming voice, the giant purple monster is far funnier than frightening, with children responding to its every move with laughter and excited shouting.
With children so involved in the action, the auditorium can get quite lively. I noticed that the noise and activity became a little overwhelming for some children, which made the relaxed nature of the performance particularly valuable. Families are free to move around or take a break, and a separate quiet space offers somewhere to retreat when needed. It was reassuring to see that flexibility working naturally in practice.
What I enjoyed most is that underneath all the silliness, noise and purple monster chaos, the heart of McKee’s story remains completely intact. Children get a funny, colourful and highly interactive show that keeps them engaged from beginning to end, while adults are reminded just how important it is to stop and listen. Forty-six years later, Bernard is still trying to get his parents’ attention. Perhaps we should listen this time.
Not Now, Bernard runs at The Egg, Bath, from 26 September to 4 October 2026, before continuing on a UK tour through February 2027. The production runs for approximately 55 minutes, is recommended for ages 3+ and all performances are relaxed.
