Home Song is an interactive and immersive musical for babies aged 6- 18 months. We follow young Adwoa and her mum as they embark on a multi-sensory journey to discover the meaning of home, travelling from the bustling streets of Kumasi in Ghana to the vibrant heart of London, England. Blending puppetry, interactive soundscapes and beautiful a cappella singing, this soothing yet vibrant musical invites babies and their grown-ups to explore the sounds, textures, rhythms and feelings of belonging together. Audience members are encouraged to participate in the set as our cast, Monet Marquis (Adwoa) and Nkara Stephenson (Mother/New friend), perform for us on this colourful set. There was an intimacy in the way in which both Marquis and Stephenson sang with softness and gentleness that called for us to feel at home; to feel safe in our new surroundings.
Adwoa and her new friend are presented through puppetry, which really brought the story to life and the use of egg shaker instruments gave the babies an opportunity to engage with the production on a musical level. The singing stood out as it incorporated Adwoa’s native language as well as English, whilst the use of props and textiles to engage the young audience really gave the show its intended vibrancy. The babies seemed engaged without being overwhelmed, which is no small feat.
Now of course, when you give babies freedom you can expect moments of chaos, but even in the midst of those moments the set design and sensory props ensured that for the most part they all stayed within the borders of the story…a subtle and endearing irony given the theme of the show. Whilst grown-ups weren’t centred, we could of course sing along and encourage interaction, which was lovely. I went with a 4-year-old, who despite observing that there were a lot of babies, still enjoyed it, and for me, watching the babies stay so engaged was enchanting!
We loved the way the journey between Kumasi and London was depicted. Home and belonging are central to the story, and when Adwoa makes a new friend, we realise that home can truly be anywhere if one is made to feel welcome; much in the same way that the babies were made to feel welcome.
I absolutely recommend this production and hope that it is one of many introductions to the dynamic world of performing arts for babies.
Written, directed and composed by theatre-maker and composer Cassiopeia Berkeley-Agyepong, Home Song returns to the Unicorn Theatre following a sold-out run last year.
