'Paw-fect' half term full on family fun

Family friendly full on fun, in shape of popular production The Bear, provides polar opposite answer to half term boredom.

Ever wondered what it would be like to ride a burly bruin's back, better yet give it a bath, worst still clear its poo, are among questions answered.

And, in some style by Pins and Needles Productions, award-winning team behind successful Father Christmas show, also from Raymond Briggs' beloved back catalogue.

Heart-warming and humorous in equally appealing measure, the tale starts when sleeping Tilly is joined, by way of an open window, by our eponymous big beast.

"It has a long black tongue and a yawn as big as her head. But, still, she’s not scared!"

Dazzling puppetry, dreamy story-telling and more laughs than Antarctic penguins ensue.

Current cast includes ... Abby Wain (Tilly) – All That’s Solid Melts Into Air (Tangled Feet, National Theatre), Alice’s Adventures Underground (Les Enfants Terribles, The Vaults), A Tale of Two Cities (Red Shift Theatre Company, Hong Kong), Fried chicken (Bounce Theatre, Kingston Theatre), Alice in Wonderland (Derby Theatre)

Elena Stephenson (Mum / Puppeteer) – Wendla in Spring Awakening, Hecuba in Trojan Women. Noted portrayals include Hero in Much Ado About Nothing (Trickster Theatre) and Desdemona in Othello (Trickster Theatre), Elaine in Breathing Corpses (Sweet Venues, Edinburgh Fringe), Netflix US, in the role of Claire Morris in Nurses Who Kill and in the upcoming film Redcoat, which will be available to view on Amazon Prime.

John Winchester (Dad / Puppeteer) – Oi Frog & Friends (Kenny Wax Productions/ Pins and Needles Productions); The Scarlet Pimpernel (Pimpernel Productions); Cinderella (Imagine Theatre); A Christmas Carol and Lovers (Cumbernauld Theatre); Dick McWhittington (Perth Theatre), The Demon Headmaster (CBBC); Anna and The Apocalypse (Blazing Griffin Films); A Long Long Crime Ago (CBBC); Grandpa in my Pocket, The Ha Ha Hairies (Adastra Creative/CBeebies).

This magical story continues to be imaginatively brought to life on the recently renovated to tune of £15.8 million venue's Courtyard stage until Saturday - visit leedsplayhouse.org.uk or contact 0113 213 7700.

"The Bear is a not-to-be-missed experience for the whole family and a perfect introduction to theatre for little people [teddy bears also welcome] with big imaginations," say production team.

They're not wrong, The Stage's four star review enthusing: "The delightful notion of a polar bear about the house is beautifully explored in this witty, inventive production."

And "out of the mouth of infants" verdict of this family's pint-sized critics Harry, two, Ella, four, and Ava, eight ... "paw-fect!"