The church hall venue for Bach for Kids made me feel as if I was stepping back in time to being a little girl when my Fringe festival enthusiast father dragged my kagoule wearing family to yet another show with the aim of broadening our little minds. Certainly little minds were in for a treat with Bach for Kids.
Geoffrey Thomas is keen to keep classical music alive by introducing it to the general public through the use of drama and storytelling. Thomas, a classically trained fortepianist, leads his little, and not so little, audience members through the life story of Bach, bringing him to life for children in a most beguiling manner. He tells of Bach duelling, both physically and musically, having twenty children and knocking off the organists wig in church. All this is cleverly interspersed with short interludes of Bach’s music.
For the majority of the time tiny eyes were glowing as this crazy man leapt around the stage in a white wig, frock jacket and, inexplicably, what appeared to be a kilt. The length of the show was just right for the kids - short enough that their attention didn’t wane, although there was some thumping around and sighing towards the end. At the end children are invited to come and have a look at the piano, ask questions and generally be curious which was a nice touch. I took this opportunity to ask some of the kids what they thought. “Wonderful,” said a very eloquent seven year-old. “I liked it very much. It was funny,” said a music loving nine year-old whilst parents thought it was a fantastic way to introduce kids to classical music and “not too long”. Bach for the future? I think so.
4/5
Cath Wood
