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Will you be soft or spiky?

In our Community View column in the Docklands and East London Advertiser, Communications Manager Stephen reveals how research behind the theatre’s new production for babies will reveal what type of person you are.
Read the Docklands and East London Advertiser e-edition

Will you be soft or spiky?

Have you ever wondered what question you would want a baby to answer? Or even what question you would want to ask a baby? These two simple questions were put to new parents as part of the initial research for Half Moon’s new baby show Soft or Spiky?, a co-production with Polka Theatre in Wimbledon, South London.

What evolved through these conversations was a world full of unknowns: parents unsure of what questions to ask and, even if they did, how would grown-ups interpret the answers?

The production explores how two different experiences of the world – either a world of soft or a world of spiky – can evolve and grow to understood each other. Plus, what happens when they discover their worlds don’t need to be so divided?

Daryl Beeton, who devised and directed the show, explains: “I wanted to create a show which explored how two different experiences of the world can evolve, connect and grow to understood each other over time.”

His own company, Daryl & Co, is an inclusive company making work for young audiences. They are known for their visual, physical and non-verbal approach to storytelling, so this is where the ideas for the production begun.

Inspired by the bouba-kiki effect, a way we unconsciously associate certain sounds and shapes as being either soft or spiky, we worked with the show’s creative team to create a world full of sounds, shapes and textures that allowed our character to be either in a world of soft or a world or spiky.

We hope the show isn’t just for babies and is as meaningful and enjoyable for the families and grown-ups who accompany them, ensuring no one is left out. Plus, at the end of the performance there is a stay and play session where audiences can enter the sensory landscape of the production.

The show has been in development since 2023 and opened with a four-week run at Polka Theare last year. It embarks on a 19-venue nationwide tour at the end of January – in fact, it starts in just under two weeks time at Half Moon. Will you be soft or spiky?!

Soft and Spiky? is at Half Moon Theatre on Wednesday 29 and Thursday 30 January. Tickets cost £8.

Stephen Beeny is the Communications Manager at Half Moon

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