Calling all StageSiders, welcome back to another review here at StageSideUK. This time around we are talking about the audio version of Errol’s Garden. So settle in, and get ready to hear all about Errol’s Garden. Errol’s Garden has been seen by over 18,000 children and has toured the UK several times.
Taken from their website, the show focuses on Errol and his love for plants, but there just isn’t enough space for all of those plants in their small flat. Golden Toad have taken Gillian Hibbs and injected it with amazing music. The vibrant descriptions work well in an audio only context and the narrative really flows well in this context too.
“Errol loves plants so much that he has them growing out of every pot, pan and teacup he can find in his small flat, to the dismay of his family. He knows that plants need water, sunlight and space. They need a garden. Errol and his sister Tia search through their block of flats for the perfect space, and discover a neglected rooftop full of rubbish. After Errol and Tia clean up the space, they imagine building a community garden, but first, they will need to convince all of their neighbours to pitch in and help. A grumpy neighbour and some garden pests try to stand in their way, but Errol is determined to make his dream a reality.”
Errol’s Garden, the audio version, is a musical created for audiences aged 3-8 and features some really catchy songs and a great narrative! The musical is cleverly written, to take audiences through various settings, with really vivid descriptions and great sound effects.
The show stars Nicholas McLean (The Addams Family, Wicked) and Grace Mouat (Mean Girls, Six The Musical), who are the voices of Errol, Tia and a cast of other characters such as Joe, Mrs Higgles, Mr Higgles, Missy and Scary Mary. Mouat and McLean do a great job at brining the characters to life using just their voices. The accents, tones and vocabulary are all so specific to each character, making them even easier to identify.
Each chapter is around 7 minutes long, serving as a great mini story, or a bitesize piece of the larger show (if you want to play it through all in one go). The sections are really great on their own but work really well in the bigger picture too!
The music is really upbeat and matches the energy of the chapter, like a self contained sound track for each individual episode. Sitting and listening to the soundtrack, you can really imagine the action and get a clear picture of the action taking place in the musical.
Some of my favourite songs are Come On In, This Is How We Grow and Munch Munch.
This is a great, accesible introduction to theatre for young audiences and their adults too! If you think theatre isn’t for your child, perhaps this is a great place to start. The story isn’t oversimplified or stripped back just for the younger audience, the musical really is suitable for everyone aged 3 and up.
Errol’s Garden is available across all major audio platforms, and from wherever you get your podcasts. Visit: www.errolsgardenmusical.com / https://linktr.ee/ErrolsGardenMusical
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