FIVE STAR REVIEW Adventures in Moominland at Southbank Centre

Five stars

There is something truly magical about the Southbank Centre’s latest immersive exhibition. Adventures in Moominland takes visitors on a relaxing, calm and wonderful journey through forests, woodland, lakes and mountains to explore and find out more about the world of Tove Jansson’s famous creation, Family Moomintroll.

It starts by visitors entering through a giant page in a book, a doorway that takes you into what feels like an underground cave. This cave leads to another room or area which leads on to another scene, and so on.

In small groups you go through each area with a guide who is on hand to answer questions, as well as listening to an audio narrative by Sandi Toksvig and written by children’s author Laura Dockrill.

Sandi’s voice is particularly soothing though you can hear the cheekiness and humour come through as she describes the places you visit, some of the artefacts and the tales themselves.

Each room or scene you go into is different and they focus on different aspects of the Moomins, these rather curious looking creatures, and of Tove herself, but all feature original drawings, paints, books and other artefacts from Tove’s studio in Helsinki and her family island of Klovharu.

More than half of the objects in the exhibition are being shown in the UK for the first time including some of the very earliest Moomintroll dolls, Tove’s painting palette and flower headdress.

There are also sketches and magazine articles as well as furniture from her studio. The drawings are particularly beautiful.

Throughout the tour, you get to know the Moomins, how they were created and began life, first as a character to be feared but then as a character that inspires peace and understanding. It’s also a chance to find out more about Tove’s inspiration for these delightful characters, and their development through her stories. 

But there is also a chance to find out more about Tove herself, what inspired her, the relationship she had with family, friends and lovers not to mention the social, economic, political and cultural backdrop of the time which defined the narrative of the stories.

The stories were written during the Second World War and Moominvalley offered a refuge from the hardship and terror of what was happening in the world at that time. 

The exhibition is interactive and immersive and has been richly observed and lovingly created. It is utterly delightful and entertaining as well as educational and there is so much to enjoy and explore during the hour long tour. It also doesn’t feel rushed so there is plenty of time in each setting to explore and get to know the Moomins better.

And it doesn’t matter if you are a Moomin fan or have never met them before, this exhibition is designed for everyone - and will delight anyone, young or old - and comes highly recommended.

Adventures in Moominland is on at Southbank Centre until April 23. It is part of Nordic Matters, a year long exploration of Nordic art and culture at Southbank Centre. Tickets from £12. Visit www.southbankcentre.co.uk for full listings.

Half term fun at The Globe

DURING the summer The Globe held its first family literary festival Telling Tales. Its aim was to bring people together of all ages to explore storytelling in all its forms.

Such was its success that the Bankside theatre has decided to revisit the festival this week with its October half-term event, Tales for Winter.

Director of Globe Education, Patrick Spottiswoode tells me it’s based on the same principles as the summer festival with authors and illustrators leading a programme of talks, workshops, immersive storytelling and even a winter circus.

“We saw a stunning response from our pilot event, Shakespeare Telling Tales Festival which was wonderful,” he says. 

“We had a fantastic group of authors last time who were very popular but audiences were also drawn to the workshops which was very heartening. It was lovely to see the reactions of those who came along.

“So I was thrilled and its success prompted us to revisit it for this half term.

“And indeed as the nights begin to draw in, there’s no better time to continue to celebrate our best told stories so once again, we’ll be introducing children to Shakespeare’s stories and to living storytellers who, will hopefully inspire them with the various ways in which to tell and listen to a story.”

Among the highlights of the festival which starts today (Tuesday) and runs until Saturday, are illustrator Sav Akyuz who will discuss the mischievous rapping bear at the heart of his book I Am Bear before teaching audience members to draw Bear themselves, and Matt Forbes, associate director in puppetry and movement for the National Theatre’s smash hit War Horse who will show families how to bring inanimate objects to life in his introduction to puppetry inspired by Shakespeare’s Macbeth.

Elsewhere Tamara Macfarlane, owner of award-winning children’s bookshop Tales on Moon Lane, in Herne Hill will pull characters out of suitcases as she helps those taking part draw a winter circus setting from their wildest imaginations and Alex Bellos, author of much loved Alex’s Adventures in Numberland and Alex Through the Looking Glass will explore everything from Shakespeare and history to biology and maths through the prism of football.

Marcia Williams, author of bestsellers Mr William Shakespeare’s Plays and Bravo, Mr William Shakespeare! returns to the Globe to retell Shakespeare’s tales which have inspired us for four centuries and as well as Macbeth, there will also be retellings of Henry V and A Winter’s Tale.

“We have a lovely mix of events from family workshops to author talks and question and answer sessions so I hope there is something for everyone,” says Patrick.

“I love the fact that children who come can be inspired by the various ways to tell a story - whether it is through listening to someone read, or seeing a puppet show or even drawing something from their imaginations.

“Everyone loves a story and we hope that not only will it introduce Shakespeare and his plays to younger members of the family but it might also inspire their parents too, or get people to see them in a different way. 

“But we must remember that Shakespeare was just one of many storytellers of his day. He wasn’t the only one but his plays have inspired so many since which is why it’s important for us to celebrate contemporary storytellers who will share their ways of telling stories. It’s going to be a lot of fun!”

Tales for Winter is on at The Globe, Bankside from Tuesday, October 21 until Saturday, October 29. Tickets are priced individually for each event, with a discount for multiple bookings. Visit www.shakespearesglobe.com/education/events/family-events/tales-for-winter or call the Globe box office on 020 7401 9919 for full listings.

Real to Reel: A Century of War Movies, Imperial War Museum

IN the 100th anniversary year of the release of The Battle of the Somme film, it is perhaps fitting and certainly timely for an exhibition that looks at and examines how wars of the past 100 years have provided inspiration to film and documentary makers.

Real to Reel: A Century of War Movies, which has just opened at the Imperial War Museum, is an interactive and immersive exhibition which goes behind the scenes of some of the war films that have captured the imagination of audiences across the generations.

Featuring some of the most celebrated and provocative war movies from the past 100 years, it shows how film-makers have used war’s inherent drama to translate stories of love and loss, fear and courage, triumph and tragedy into blockbusters for the big screen.

Alongside 200 items including a combination of film clips, costumes, props, scripts, sketches and designs, the IWM opens up its own extensive collections to bring original archival material and artefacts to new audiences.

Accompanied by immersive audio-visual installations, the exhibition will explore the film-making process and how war movies have shaped popular perception of conflicts.

It will also include items from iconic films such as The Dam Busters, Where Eagles Dare, Apocalypse Now, Battle of Britain, Das Boot, Casablanca, Jarhead, Atonement and War Horse.

It has been put together by historian and curator Laura Clouting who says that it has proved a fascinating subject to bring to the museum’s visitors.

“IWM has wanted to go back to look at the subject of war films for a while,” she says. “We felt it was important because the cinema is one of the main ways of getting a visual impression of what war can be like.

“What this exhibition does is explore the enduring fascination of war on the big screen, and why film makers have been inspired to make such movies and how these stories have influenced our understanding of war.

“It has been a fascinating process putting it all together and delving into the archives here at the IWM to bring out some items which we don’t normally see. It represents a unique opportunity to see these items which as well as our own include props and costumes from other organisations.

“What was important when creating the exhibition was to make sure there is a real mix and breadth to it - so it features the impact of documentary film such as the Battle of the Somme film as well as blockbuster Hollywood films.

“In 1916 the Battle of the Somme film was put together for audiences who did not know what was going on in the front. It is important to remember that cinema was very new during the First World War and people were desperate for news. They had been used to getting it through newspapers but film became a way of getting a sense of what their loved ones were going through. It was an important way of understanding what it’s all about to live through war.

“The equipment they used was very heavy and they had to go to a position of safety to shoot it. In fact some of the scenes were recreated elsewhere, but it was an incredibly important film and really paved the way for what has come since."

There are five sections which make up the exhibition - Introduction: the war film genre; Inspiration: why are war films made? Making a film: how do film makers bring stories of war to life? Release and reception: what impact do war films leave? and Finale: through a montage of final scenes and endings drawn from films across the century, this section shows how film-makers put an end to their war stories.

All of them explore how war has proved a profoundly compelling subject since the earliest days of cinema.

And while many might think that war films are just about the battles, it provides a chance to prove that this is not the case - and in fact that war can act as a backdrop and scene setter.

“War shapes peoples’ lives in ways that are far beyond the battlefield,” says Laura. “For example Casablanca is not about any battle but war was the backdrop for the story and it determines the course of that love story.

“The biggest surprise for us when collating all the various parts of the exhibition was that although we have all seen or have heard about a lot of war films, when we began to dig we realised just how many there are.

"And equally fascinating is that we see the way films have changed over the years - for example the sense of futility, waste and terrible slaughter in World War One had gone by the time it comes to World War Two.

“And of course some have been much more heavily covered than others. World War Two for example is a case in point, as is the Vietnam War - both have provided inspiration for films both fiction and non fiction.”

Laura hopes that the exhibition will fascinate both those who are film buffs as well as those who have not seen any war film.

“We want it to be approachable for everyone,” she says. “It is a big exhibition and is visually very striking and there is much for people to enjoy and take away whether they are avid film fans or are new to the subject.

“It’s an opportunity to understand the inspiration behind the films and there will be something there for everyone.”

Real to Reel: A Century of War Movies is on at the IWM, Lambeth Road until January 8, 2017. Tickets cost £10 for adults and £5 for children. Visit www.iwm.org.uk or call 020 7416 5000 for full listings.

Half Term activities in South London

Surrey Docks Farm

As usual there are plenty of family activities lined up at this working farm. Family sessions include cooking, nature crafts in which those taking part can make a bird feeder or grow an edible cress field complete with a scarecrow, a piglets club for young farmers and a baby music class.

Elsewhere there is a chance for those aged between eight and 13 to become the ultimate survivalist with Wilderness & Survival Skills. Those taking part can learn how to build their own fire, do some wilderness cooking and make shelters from plants and trees.

There is also a Ceramics Workshop for those aged between five and 13 to learn how to mould and create objects from clay.

Throughout the week the livestock team will be on hand to introduce visitors to rabbits, guinea pigs, ferrets and poultry on the farm.

Visit www.surreydocksfarm.org.uk/half-term-holiday-activities-15th-19th-february-2016/ for listings.

Herne Hill Velodrome

The weather may not be great but that doesn't mean kids should be inside. The Herne Hill Velodrome has sessions for children aged between eight and 16 this half term. The sessions run from 10am to 3pm, and are suitable for all abilities, from complete beginners to track riding and mountain biking, to experienced racers. Riders will be able to choose between mountain-biking and track cycling.
It costs £15 per child per day. Bike and helmet hire included. Those taking part need to bring a packed lunch, plenty to drink and warm, suitable clothes.

Visit www.hernehillvelodrome.com/ or email bookings@hernehillvelodrome.com to book a place.

Horniman Museum

An exhibition which shows what great parents dinosaurs were is set to open at the Horniman.

Dinosaurs: Monster Families aims to reveal the fascinating family life of dinosaurs through interactive exhibits, authentic specimens from around the world and life-size models. Visitors will be able to view an amazing collection of fossils including the longest dinosaur eggs ever discovered, meet a replica of Baby Louie which is the near-complete skeleton of a dinosaur hatchling, dig in the discovery pit and get face-to-face with T-Rex’s relative – a life-size Tarbosaurus skeleton cast.

Alongside bird and crocodile specimens from the Horniman’s collection, visitors can also see a fossilised egg of the extinct Elephant Bird, on loan from Sir David Attenborough’s private collection.

Tickets cost £4.40 for children, £7.70 for adults or £18.70 for family tickets. Visit www.horniman.ac.uk for listings.

Design Museum

Visitors to the Design Museum in Shad Thames will have a chance to see two exhibitions this half term.

Cycle Revolution showcases famous bikes, the latest cycling innovations, and the voices of celebrated cyclists, both professional and amateur, to tell the powerful, personal and sometimes remarkable stories of cycling today.

There are also free Insight Tours running alongside the exhibition. People can join a volunteer-led 20 minute tour of the Cycle Revolution exhibition, featuring personal insights behind selected bikes and exploring key design features unique to the bikes of the four tribes featured in the exhibition.

Designs Of The Year showcases 76 projects and encompasses architecture, fashion, graphics, product, transport and digital design. It features some of the industry’s biggest names alongside rising stars and little-known practices.

Explore Kits for children aged five to 10 will guide them through the Designs of the Year exhibition. Full of fun design activities and challenges, they are available free of charge from the admissions desk.

Email tickets@designmuseum.org or call 020 7940 8783 for full listings.

The Albany

SMASHfestUK will make a welcome return to the Albany in Deptford this half term.

Essentially it's a mash up of science, technology and maths with the arts in which kids and their families will be shown how to survive with no means of electrical communication - no internet, no electricity, no phones or computers and no social media.

Among the attractions will be a human power station, comedians, poets and astronomers, human-sized mutant fruit flies, Cracking the Code: The Genetics of Superheroes, solar storytelling, solar graffiti, Cosmic Jives, electric paint, an Aardman animator and a Mutant Generation Unit.

There will also be events running all week at the Deptford Lounge library, including the SMASHfestUK planetarium, the Mechanical Mobile Phone Exoskeleton, a code-club, a solar exhibition, an artist's residency and a film programme, all themed around the imminent solar storm.

There will also be a chance to stay, play and bounce after the show.

SMASHfestUK takes place at the Albany between Thursday, February 18 and Saturday, February 20. All events are either free or ticketed on a Pay What You Want basis with 20 per cent of tickets non-bookable so audiences can drop-in on the day. Visit www.thealbany.org.uk/ or www.smashfestuk.com for details.

Imperial War Museum

Over February half term, families can get political and create a collage or drawing in the Lambeth museum's Family Art Workshop − Protest and Survive. They'll hear from celebrated political artist Peter Kennard, subject of retrospective exhibition Unofficial War Artist, about how he creates his work, and get hints and tips on creating protest artworks. All materials are provided and no previous art experience is required.

The free workshop takes place between 2pm and 4pm from Saturday February 13 until Sunday, February 21. The exhibition runs until May 30.

As well as the free workshop the rest of the museum will be open offering a chance to visit some of the ongoing free exhibitions.

Visit www.iwm.co.uk for listings.

Woodlands Farm

Youngsters will have a chance to turn sparrow detective, visit animals or go wild in the woods at the Woodlands Farm this half term.

Sparrow Detectives featuring activities to explore why the numbers of house sparrows in London have decreased will be held on Wednesday February 17 from 1pm until 3pm.

Families can just drop in for the event, which costs £2.50 per child, and also includes a farmyard trail.

A day inspired by the story of Farmer Duck takes place on Thursday February 18 with slots from

10am to 12noon and 1pm to 3pm which cost £4 per child and must be booked in advance.

On Friday February 19 children over the age of seven can have a go at wild cooking and shelter building at the Get Wild in the Woods event. Tickets cost £4 per child and must be booked in advance.

Email education@thewoodlandsfarmtrust.org or visit www.thewoodlandsfarmtrust.org or call 020 8319 8900 for details and full listings.

Southbank Centre

To celebrate the 100th anniversary of the birth of Roald Dahl, Southbank Centre will host a series of events and activities in homage to the great man as part of its annual Imagine Children’s Festival.

The centrepiece of the celebrations is a new interactive experience The Wondercrump World of Roald Dahl which takes visitors on a magical journey through seven different immersive worlds that explore the writer’s life and the world of his iconic books.

There will also be a day long reading of his famous book Matilda and a performance of his final book The Minpins accompanied by live animation and the music of Sibelius performed by the London School’s Symphony Orchestra.

Elswhere there will also be plenty of workshops giving children the opportunity to try their hands at a range of activities including making animated films, clay sculpture, writing poetry, illustrations and learning sign language.

Visit www.southbankcentre.co.uk for full listings.

Vault Festival, Waterloo

This weekend children and their families can disappear into the leake Street tunnels underneath Waterloo and take part in a whole host of activities as part of this year's Mini Vault Festival.

Amongst the many events - many of which are free - are a magic show in which Michael Jordan treats audiences to astonishing illusions, the BAC Beatbox Academy, A Pony For Your Thoughts, a new physical comedy show for children and Poetry Pie in which one of Britain's best loved poets Roger McGough will entertain all the family with puns, word play and sharp observations on all aspects of life. There are also free workshops on dance, magic and drama, circus shows, storytelling, games, live music and interactive installations not to mention face painting and theatre shows.

Visit www.vaultfestival.com/mini-vault/ for full listings

SEALIFE London Aquarium

Join the Sealife staff this February half term for Clownfish Clues, a fun and educational family trail around the aquarium featuring these bright and colourful fish who inspired the characters in hit film Finding Nemo. All Child tickets include an activity booklet to complete whilst exploring the attraction. Will you spot all the clues?

Don't miss our daily talks and feeds, including our Coral talk at 3:30pm in Nemo's Kingdom.

February is also Turtle Month at the Aquarium. From the largest, the Leatherback sea turtles that visit UK waters each year to gorge themselves on jellyfish to the smallest and rarest, Kemp's Ridley sea turtles, and everything in between staff will be on hand to teach visitors more about these incredible animals and fundraising for turtle conservation.

The trails are on between February 13 and 21.

Visit www.visitsealife.com/london for listings.

Imagine Children's Festival back at the Southbank Centre

THE life and work of one of Britain's greatest storytellers is to be the centrepiece of a major children's literature festival.

Readings, workshops, performances and a new interactive experience celebrating the centenary of the birth of Roald Dahl will be the undoubted highlights at this year’s Imagine Children's Festival.

Imagine is back at the Southbank Centre for a 15th year and will take over the 21-acre site for two weeks from February 10.

As well as the homage to Roald Dahl, Imagine will be packed full of events spanning theatre, dance, art, music and installations alongside readings and workshops with some of the country’s top children’s authors.

Among those taking part will be David Baddiel, Judith Kerr, Rastamouse, Cressida Cowell, Mary Hoffman, Laura Dockrill, Cerrie Burnell and Ben Bailey Smith.

For the fourth year in a row children will play a major role in the organising and running of Imagine. The Mini Festival Makers, a group of children from eight local primary schools, have helped programme, promote and produce key events throughout the two weeks.

They have worked alongside programme director Tamsin Ace who says she’s excited about what this year’s festival has to offer.

“It’s been a lot of fun putting it all together,” she says. “Every year we try and tweak and develop it a bit and this year we wanted to bring in and involve more kids.

“They are only eight and nine and have made lots of suggestions, will run the building, take tickets and work in the box office.

“To have them run the building with us and have them involved in the process has been invaluable. They are the best people to be involved – they underpin the very essence of what Imagine is all about – a festival by children for children.

“It also gives them great experience of what it's like to work in the arts. We always see performing roles with people on stage but there is a whole range of jobs within the creative industries which being involved in this festival will give the children a chance to see and experience.”

This year more than half the programme will be free of charge offering families and schools access to literature, music, theatre, poetry, dance, interactive installations, workshops and a whole lot more besides.

“We want people to come along and dip their toe in and try things out and see what it’s all about,” says Tamsin.

“Stepping into a big building like this can be intimidating so we hope that by making many of the events and activities free it encourages people to come in and see what’s on offer.

“Everyone loves stories, being read to or reading to someone. This year we have some fantastic authors coming in to do readings and Q&As. Laura Dockrill will be one I can’t wait to see but we have so many it’s hard to choose.

“We’ve also got a lovely end to each day with a bed time story. It’s always really busy, crazy and overrun with families during the festival so we thought that this year we would invite different authors to come in and read their favourite bedtime stories.

“It’s been inspired by the BBC’s Cbeebies Bedtime Hour and I hope it will bring a sense of calm to the building.”

Elsewhere Tamsin says there are plenty of things to see and do. Author Judith Kerr will be in conversation about Mister Cleghorn’s Seal, her first illustrated novel in 37 years, Michael Morpurgo’s I Believe In Unicorns will be brought to life by theatre company Wizard Presents, Theater Gnaffel will present their double bill of Roald Dahl’s Little Red Riding Hood and The Three Little Pigs performed by life size puppets, the Fantastical Story Factory will bring their improv comedy-inspired show which gets the audience to decide what happens next and there will be an interactive reading experience hosted by Michael De Souza, co-creator of Rastamouse.

There will also be plenty of workshops giving children the opportunity to try their hands at a range of activities including making animated films, clay sculpture, writing poetry, illustrations and learning sign language.

But for Tamsin the undoubted highlight will be the events focusing on Roald Dahl.

“This year is extra special because it is the centenary of Roald Dahl’s birth and we wanted to celebrate that so we have a range of events inspired by his amazing legacy,” she says.

“Everyone has read him and I think what makes his books stand the test of time is that he believes in children as being the most powerful and important people within the narrative.

“His books are quite dark and nasty people get their comeuppance in them but children love that sense of naughtiness and he’s a brilliant mischief maker.”

The centrepiece of the celebrations is a new interactive experience The Wondercrump World of Roald Dahl, commissioned by Southbank Centre in partnership with Wales Millennium Centre.

The experience takes visitors on a magical journey through seven different immersive worlds that explore the writer’s life and the world of his iconic books.

Featuring exclusive archival material from the Roald Dahl Museum and Story Centre, including original manuscripts, personal letters, drawings, photographs and cherished objects, the exhibition offers a unique insight into the inspiration behind some of his best loved characters and stories.

The exhibition will launch with Imagine on February 10 and will run until July 3, before travelling to the Wales Millennium Centre.

Other highlights of the Roald Dahl celebrations include a performance of his final book The Minpins accompanied by live animation and the music of Sibelius performed by the London School’s Symphony Orchestra.

And for fans of Matilda, Dahl in a Day will see a whole host of people reading this iconic story throughout the day accompanied by dance, illustration and music.

“Working with archive material from the Roald Dahl Museum has been extraordinary and a real privilege,” says Tamsin.

“But the whole festival has been amazing to work on. To have so many events and activities dedicated to reading and literature, I hope it inspires a new generation of storytellers."

Imagine Children's Festival is on at the Southbank Centre between Wednesday February 10 and Sunday February 21. Visit www.southbankcentre.co.uk/imagine for full listings.

Butternut squash, lemon and almond muffins

These are great especially if you have kids who are fussy eaters and who are not great at eating your veggies.

You will need a muffin tin lined with paper muffin cases. You can also use gluten free flour and probably if you are allergic to nuts you could probably substitute the ground almonds with flour. I also don’t bother with the almond on the top even though my kids love almonds. I also drizzle the honey on the top of the muffins when they come out of the oven rather than heat in the pan. It’s up to you!

300g squash, peeled and diced weight.

125g unsalted butter, softened at room temp

125g light brown soft sugar

3 eggs beaten

1tsp almond essence

Finely grated zest of two lemons

125g self raising flour

150g ground almonds

1tbsp clear runny honey

12 whole blanched almonds, toasted in a deep frying pan until lightly golden,

Steam or boil the diced squash for 15 minutes until very soft

Drain, leave to cool, then mash with a potato masher

Preheat the oven to 200degC.

Cream the butter and sugar together in a large bowl until pale, light and fluffy.

Gradually beat in the eggs.

Stir in the almond essence, lemon zest and squash.

Gently fold in the flour and ground almonds.

Spoon roughly equal measures into the muffin cases.

Bake for five mins then turn the heat to 180degC and cook for about 20 mins until golden.

Leave to cool

Gently warn the honey in a small pan and then brush a little over the top of each muffin and top with an almond.

Vault Festival preview

DEEP under the streets of South London, a series of tunnels are about to play host to a six-week festival of dancing, music, theatre, circus, comedy and cabaret.

Said event is the Vault Festival, back for a fourth year, and this time organisers say it’s bigger and better than ever.

Boxman, LoopsEnd, The Mmorpg Show, The Princess and the Pea, Pirates of the Carabina, Comedy Club 4 Kids, Trgyve Wakenshaw, Felix Hagan and the Family and The Misfit Analysis are just some of the many performers, shows and attractions which can be found in the eight performance spaces in the Leake Street tunnels underneath Waterloo, which also includes three bars and a restaurant.

The festival is co-directed by Andy George who says he anticipates about 40,000 people will come down into the depths to explore what’s on offer over the six weeks from January 27.

“It’s grown exponentially since we launched in 2012,” he tells me. “The first year we had 9,000 people come over a three week period.

“This year we are running for six weeks and we are expecting 40,000 people through the door to see and take part in 150 shows and events – it’s mad but fun and exciting and we are really looking forward to it.”

Between 50 and 60 per cent of the acts taking part applied to do so with the rest through invitation. It is a system that Andy says gives the audience a chance to see a broad range of talent – from those who are new to the circuit, and to the festival, to those who are more established and some who have done Vault before.

“This year we were inundated with applications,” he says. “It was really difficult because people had clearly invested so much time and thought in them.

“It’s hard on the soul as you want to give people the best opportunity you can so the process was tough.

"But it's great that Vault has now become an established brand and has been so successful."

He puts this success down to a combination of sourcing the best talent, giving it a community feel and the unique nature of the venue.

And with ticket prices averaging the £10 to £12 mark, Andy says it also represents great value for money.

"The reason we started was to create a fair platform for people to create and present work where the financial risk isn't all on their shoulders," he explains.

"We want it to work as much as they do. From an audience point of view part of the fun of it is the excitement of going underground. It's an unusual venue - a bit like escaping down Alice's rabbit hole.

"Money is also still tight for many people so we want to make Vault as accessible as possible which means keeping ticket prices as low as we can."

This year he promises an "incredible" and packed line up that has "plenty for everyone".

“We don’t have any headliners which means all the acts have equal billing," he says. "I think we have something for everyone and I’m really proud of that.

“Some are returnees which is great to continue the relationship but there are many new acts which we are really pleased to bring to new audiences.

"For me it's all one big highlight," he adds warmly. “However, I am looking forward to Bpolar show which is coming from Israel in the first week and is doing a visual re telling of the Diary of Madman. It’s the first year we have been able to curate and bring in work from outside the UK so it’s a landmark show.

"Then there is Echoes by Henry Nayler and Gilded Balloon which is an interlinking story about modern jihadi brides and Victorian colonialists which I am looking forward to and then we have cabaret act Denim which is here for a two week run.

“In terms of comedy we have Loren O’Brien who is very funny and one to watch. I'm also looking forward to the physical comedy of Squidboy."

As well as the main programme, this year the team has introduced the first Vault Film Festival which will include both long and short form screenings, drama, documentaries and animation and which Andy says has already had "an astonishingly positive response".

Not only that, from 10pm Vaults Lates kicks off with a series of events including barnstorming ceilidhs, an all night silent disco, a New Orleans Mardi Gras or a Valentines Ball.

"What’s great is that you can come down at about 6pm and see some comedy or drama, have something to eat, or a drink at the bar, and then stay and enjoy a cabaret or music and dancing making it a whole night event," says Andy.

And following on from last year’s success, Mini Vault is also back, to make sure that the younger members of the family are catered for - including newborns and toddlers.

This side of the festival is co-directed by Rose Alexander who says that it has doubled in size from last year’s debut and has an emphasis on fun.

"We were delighted that there was such a fantastic reception last year as it was the first children’s event in that space," she says.

"The tunnels are amazing and will feel transformative so it’s the perfect place for a party, and people especially kids, find it such an adventure.

"This year we have got three weekends of fun with a variety of events going on, some of which are free and some of which are ticketed.

"We also wanted it to be aimed at the whole family rather than just at children with an emphasis on the whole family having fun together, so to programme along those lines has been really exciting."

Among the many highlights is poetry by Roger McGough, music from BAC Beatbox Academy, comedy from Comedy Club 4 Kids and circus magic from Pirates Of The Carabina.

Elsewhere Rose says there are mime artists, fancy dress and face painting and a chance to make costumes.

"Big Fish Little Fish is doing a big family-friendly rave and then we are launching Under The Sea Mini Rumpus which will take over the entire space - it's going to be an amazing club event for all the family.

"There is lots of live music and this year there is a more carnivalistic gipsy feel to the festival. We have circus and an opportunity to learn circus skills, marching bands, installations and light shows and a soft play area for babies plus lots of amazing storytelling.
"We've also got loads of workshops as we wanted to encourage families to come in and stay and play all day.

"It’s going to be like a secret party that everyone is invited to!"

Vault Festival takes place in the Leake Street tunnels, Waterloo, between January 27 and March 6. visit www.vaultfestival.com for full listings.

Go Ape review

ANYONE with young kids will know how much energy they have – they are like dogs, they need to run and bound about. They are also for the most part pretty fearless.

So, what to do when you’ve exhausted all the parks, adventure playgrounds and soft play areas?

Well, help is at hand in the form of Go Ape. For those not familiar, Go Ape is one of the country’s leading forest adventure companies where days out are about having fun and living life at full throttle with family and friends.

There are 28 Go Ape adventures dotted around the country all set in one of Britain’s many and spectacular forests.

They consist of assault courses complete with zip wires, rope ladders, wobbly crossings, bridges, tunnels and swings and all about 10m off the ground.

No two courses are the same, they can vary between an hour and three hours long and all have height and age restrictions. What they all promise though is the wow factor and an adrenaline rush unlike anything else.

The Go Ape adventure began in 2001 when founders Tris and Becs Mayhew were on holiday in France with their six-month old baby. They came across a French family swinging through the trees and from the looks on their faces, it was clear all of them were having the time of their lives.

It inspired Tris and Becs enough to quit the London rat race and Go Ape was born. Now, 28 locations later they are still adding adventures including Forest Segway Experience safaris, Zip Trekking Adventure and Tree Top Junior courses for kids.

It was this last activity that I thought might be good to try out and so last weekend husband Martin and I took our two kids, Lucy aged 10 and Tom aged six to Bedgebury Forest near Tunbridge Wells to see if we could entice them up into the trees for an hour.

The Tree Top Junior course takes kids on the same kind of adventure as the adult version but specially tailored to their abilities.

First up we had to read the safety instructions very carefully – we were tested by one of the instructors before we were allowed up the steps – and then we were given harnesses. Onto this was fastened a wire with a metal trolley which ran along the zip wire - that was our safety net.

Then, when we were ready to be let loose, we were allowed up the steps and into the trees to begin our adventure.

There were two routes to go round - the first was designed to be short enough to ease us in and get us used to it, the second a bit longer and slightly more challenging.

Looking from the ground up it didn’t seem too bad – indeed it looked like a piece of cake. What could be difficult about stepping off the small circular platform that surrounded the tree and onto a series of planks that seemed an alarming distance apart from one another before reaching the next tree and its circular platform?

As it happens, in my case, quite a bit. I made the fatal mistake of looking down and had a really bad case of vertigo.

Knees quaking, hands sweating and practically frozen to the spot, I ended up retracing my steps and spending most of the rest of the hour on terra firma - much to my embarrassment and annoyance.

Lucy was also very nervous at first and almost followed me down the steps. However, to her credit, she was coaxed round the course after a pep talk by Tess, one of the brilliant instructors. Before long she was up and around both the routes like a pro.

Despite Tess’s valiant efforts, she couldn’t persuade me to take my foot off the platform and although I did try again, it just wasn’t to be.

Tom however had no such problems. He may be small but he was very agile, like a young gazelle, nimbly negotiating his way round both routes. The first was a short route to get to grips with the wobbly nature of the crossings. Most consisted of planks of wood attached to wires although one was made up of just a net – had that been the first one I’d come across I might just have had more confidence to give it a go. The final leap into the unknown was the zip wire which looked a lot of fun and the kids gave it a great big thumbs up.

The second route was a bit more challenging and included a single wire much like a tightrope between the trees which you had to walk across. To help you do that, grab ropes were suspended from another wire at regular intervals - it was by far the most tricky to negotiate and wasn't for the faint hearted!

This route was about double the length of the first and also finished with the zip wire.

Tom was a natural and he raced through in no time at all. Indeed I lost count of the amount of times he went round both routes.

Martin was initially a bit unsure and nervous but he too got round both routes although he admitted the tightrope wa a bit hairy.

Most of the kids there were having a great time – and the amount of laughter and squealing with delight, particularly when they’d got round was great to hear.

One mum told me that she comes fairly regularly because she wanted to get over her own fear of heights and not pass it on to her children.

And although I was not brave enough to do it - for which I'm somewhat embarrassed about - it was a great day out nonetheless and I would heartily recommend it. The hour zipped by all too quickly but there was no reason to rush off because Bedgebury Forest offers so much else to do so you can make a whole day of it.

There are plenty of walks for various abilities, bikes can be hired to ride on specific routes and there are two adventure playground areas as well as a lovely cafe.

As for the Go Ape challenge, I am determined to conquer the fear and one day hope to do the adult course which is also at Bedgebury and which appeared to have plenty of happy customers.

And as for the kids, at the end of the hour both Lucy and Tom got a certificate to show they’d conquered the course, and both immediately said they wanted to do it again. Praise indeed.

Go Ape has adventures all over the country. Visit www.goape.co.uk/ for full listings and prices.

Against Captain's Orders - National Maritime Museum

FIVE STARS

IF you’ve ever fancied yourself as an explorer, detective or sailor, an interactive show at the National Maritime Museum gives you a chance to be all three.

Against Captain’s Orders is a show which is about as immersive as they come, blending performance, storytelling, adventure and intrigue and is designed for all the family but especially those aged between six and 12.

It has been conceived and put together by theatre company Punchdrunk who have plenty of experience in staging innovative and immersive theatre and this shows off their not inconsiderable talents to the full.

I took my two kids, aged six and 10 to the show and we weren’t disappointed.

On arrival our 30-strong audience was split up into four nautical groups and asked to don the corresponding life-jackets - Midshipmen, Salvage, Ship’s Watch or Navigation.

Although we were never separated from the other groups and went through the 50-minute adventure together, it did allow us to do certain tasks according to our group.

We were met by curator Arthur and Glan (played on our visit by Matthew Odell and Sammy Kissin) who were to take us on our adventure.

It starts off in a pretty ordinary way. We were escorted through a dark door and in our groups were invited to sit in small wooden boats. Each had a mast and within each mast is one of the National Maritime Museum’s treasured exhibits and artefacts – in ours was a pair of drumsticks – each pertinent to the story that was about to unfold. The other boats had a glass bottle with a letter inside, a telescope or sextant.

As Glan and Arthur begin their story and encourage us to find out more about our objects Glan decides – against Museum orders – to take the bottle out of the mast. It is then that the fun begins for as she tries, the objects vanish and the museum appears to go into lockdown with sirens, tanoy announcements and a mist that starts swirling ominously.

As the sound effects begin to get louder we are herded out of the boats and through a door that takes us to the Dispatches Room where our adventure really begins.

This is the first of many rooms we get taken too and explore and it is amazing.

It is strewn with artefacts, objects, maps, papers, and Bertha, an enormous machine in the centre with lots of buttons to press, flashing lights and noises.

We are charged with finding the telescope in amongst all the other objects but we are given clues to do so.

Once found it goes into Bertha and we are taken to the next room. And so it goes on until all four objects are safely returned to the museum’s stores.

It is fascinating not least because of the impressive sets – something at which Punchdrunk excels. The attention to detail is incredible with each room stuffed to the gunnels with props a plenty. We were also taken down a rabbit warren of endless corridors and through the multitude of rooms including one full of maps and globes with a giant compass which we had to use to find the artefact, past the swashbuckling parrot room, evident from the coloured feathers spilling out from underneath the door, and even one which seemed to be made up entirely of sails hanging from the ceiling which we had to navigate our way through - with no real idea of where we were going.

It was dark at times, some rooms smelled, there were loud noises, crashes and bangs, ghostly drumming, it was disorientating and disconcerting and for some of the younger members of the audience, my six year old included, sometimes a bit frightening.

Indeed towards the end when we had but 90 seconds to get out before the museum locked us in, was tense for all of us! Would we get out alive? My six year old had his doubts.

But it was undeniably exciting and a huge amount of fun. Not only that we really felt as though we were on an important mission and thanks to the interactive nature of it we all felt included – indeed even the adults got a bit competitive wanting to be the one to find the rooms’ hidden treasures!

It was brilliantly put together, had a lovely story to it and was a proper adventure that not only entertained but allowed us to use our imaginations and our brains to look for clues so we could find the objects and get out in one piece.

As we had been commanded to be right at the beginning by Glan, we were brave, we were loyal and we were true - and we’d do it all again in a trice!

Against Captain’s Orders is on at the National Maritime Museum, off King William Walk, Greenwich until August 31. Tickets cost £19.75. Visit www.rmg.co.uk/ for full listings.

PREVIEW - The King Of Tiny Things

IT was reading a bedtime story to her young son that provided Poppy Burton Morgan with the inspiration for her latest show.

The King Of Tiny Things is based on the children’s book of the same name by Jeanne Willis and Gwen Millward.

It is being staged by Poppy’s theatre company, Metta Theatre, at the Udderbelly Festival from Saturday ahead of a five month nationwide tour which includes a date at Greenwich Theatre in October.

It is also the third production as part of the company’s Metta10 – the staging of 10 shows in one year to celebrate the 10 year anniversary of the company which Poppy set up with her husband William Reynolds in 2005.

The King Of Tiny Things combines music, circus and puppetry to tell the story which is that of two young sisters who huddle together one magical midsummer’s night as they camp in the garden.

To begin with they are frightened about what the darkness holds but then suddenly a mysterious winged creature appears and leads them on a moonlit adventure.

Together they rescue juggling slugs, contortionist worms and caterpillars, a collection of daddy long legs and a trio of acrobatic baby bats. But while they are busy doing all this, they overlook their new friend, the fairy King who really needs their help.

For Poppy, this enchanting story was a chance for her to showcase Metta’s skills in combining a host of ways to tell the story.

“I was given the book by a friend for my three-year-old and every night I read it to him,” she says.

“It is a beautiful and emotionally rich story which completely engaged my son night after night.

“It has so many layers to it and the more we read it, the more I began to wonder if I could turn it into a family show and I started to think of all the different circus disciplines I could incorporate into it to bring it to life.

“I got in touch with Jeanne Willis and she seemed really keen on the idea so we started to create it.”

The piece now includes eight original songs which have been composed by Jon Nicholls and features four circus artists who not only do acrobatics and show off other circus skills but they also sing songs and operate the puppets at the same time.

Each creature is represented by a different circus discipline, for example the daddy long legs is a stilt walker and the bats do acrobatic tricks.

“Music and singing is a big part of the show but so is the circus and puppetry so it was a challenge to find artists who could sing and hang upside down at the same time,” says Poppy cheerfully.

“However, Metta is known for its cross-art form productions so we are used to these challenges and we have some amazing artists in this show.”

What was more of a challenge was adapting the story for a younger audience but that would appeal to adults as well.

“There is some great theatre out there for young audiences but we wanted to create something that would be enjoyed by everyone no matter how old,” says Poppy.

“This is a story with such great themes and it’s a question of teasing them out so that all age groups can relate to them.”

These include on a very basic level that of someone being afraid of the dark and exploring and overcoming those fears.

However, Poppy is keen to point out that there are also wider issues about gender, disability and equality which she also wanted to be represented on stage.

“In many ways it’s quite a dark story,” she says. “It’s about children being afraid of the dark – something that most children can identify with – but it also looks at how they overcome that fear and begin to help other creatures who they encounter in that darkness.

“There are many layers to the story and a lot of symbolism. It explores growing up and the fears associated with that, as well as what it means to be kind and respectful and to be inclusive and considerate to other people and their feelings.

“One of the other reasons I wanted to do the show was because my three year old had a nervous relationship with insects and mini beasts.

“He was really freaked out by them at one stage so I wanted to create something that would help him overcome that. By turning them into a big circus event I hope we can encourage a whole new generation of insect lovers!

“I hope everyone who comes to see it will go away thinking insects are actually really cool and interesting and realise how important they are for the environment and the world. That’s a really important message.

“It has been such a joy to put the show together - I’ve tried to make it as engaging, visually stimulating and beautiful to watch as possible. It’s a very physical piece with a lot of humour, though of course there are a few moments of drama and I hope we’ve created an atmosphere where children aren’t afraid to interact with what’s going on.”

And she says she’s delighted that the show will get its world premiere at Udderbelly.

“I think it’s a great festival and so supportive of circus acts which audiences are embracing more and more,” she says.

“British circus is having a bit of a moment and companies in this country are making more and more circus-based shows which is great.

“I get really excited about the storytelling possibilities within circus so it’s great to be here doing this show.”

The King Of Tiny Things is on at Udderbelly, South Bank between July 11 and 13. Visit www.udderbelly.co.uk for listings and tickets.

REVIEW - Shrek's Adventure!

FIVE STARS

THE popular film Shrek has delighted audiences across the world and spawned several sequels. It is now an imersive storytelling attraction too thanks to the new Shrek's Adventure that has sprung up on the South Bank.

And for someone who is a bit cynical about such attractions, it is quite something - and I mean that in a positive way.

The attraction, which has just opened, plunges visitors into the Kingdom Of Far Far Away where they meet Shrek, Donkey and all the other characters from the films and it is all brought vividly to life.

It combines live action, a really brilliant 4D bus ride to get to the Kingdom as well as plenty of fantastic special effects and lots of interaction for kids and their adult companions.

Everyone who goes on the tour is invited to play their part in the adventure as a story unfolds before them with lots of twists and turns along the way.

It starts with a ride in a bus - which is absolutely great. Piloted by Donkey, we flew through the air, circled over London, dodged witches on broomsticks, saw flying pandas and plenty of other creatures before we inadvertently crashed in the forest.

From there we had to make our way through the trees to find Shrek. Along the way we went through a series of rooms with their own adventures - the best being the room of mirrors which was truly stunning - it was designed as a maze and everywhere we went we were confronted with mirrors and no idea which way to go. It was a bit scary but lots of fun and really imaginative.

Elsewhere there were crystal balls, a swampy toilet, the Muffin Man's House, Princess Fiona, Pinocchio, bubbling cauldrons, magic spells and wizardry plus lots of jokes, laughter and mystery and intrigue as we went through the 90 minute adventure.

It was brilliantly put together, incredibly atmospheric and really brought the story to life.

And after the adventure there is a chance to meet some of the characters from other films such as Kung Fu Panda, the Penguins of Madagascar and the dragon from the film How To Train Your Dragon in what is known as the Arrivals Hall.

It was enchanting, fun, engaging and my kids, aged six and 10 absolutely loved it.

Shrek’s Adventure! London is at County Hall on the South Bank next to the London Aquarium and the London Dungeon. Tickets cost from £18.72. Visit www.shreksadventure.com for full listings, times and prices.

Comedy Club 4 Kids

CHILDREN and stand up are not words you might think go naturally together but comedian Tiernan Douieb says you should as they do.

And he should know for he is the main man behind the legendary Comedy Club 4 Kids – a collective dedicated to bringing the comedic delights of stand up to a younger generation.

“The idea for the club came from comic James Campbell,” says Tiernan. “In 2005 he persuaded a few comedians to do shows for kids at the Edinburgh Festival and it paid off.

“It is brilliant because for the children, they can see proper stand up comedians doing proper stand up comedy just for them in a proper venue.”

The idea is that the shows are suitable for anyone over the age of six and their parents.

“There is a compère and then about three other acts who come and entertain plus we have a selection of kids from our comedy workshops who have a go too,” explains Tiernan.

“It’s run very much like an adult stand up show but without any of the rude bits.

“It’s very silly and bonkers and there is also a lot of audience interaction but it’s never patronising.

“We try and get a big mix of acts. There are some solo artists and some sketch groups plus musical acts and improv acts who create scenes based on audience suggestions.

“Once we had a sketch that was about a sausage who goes to a jungle. It’s brilliant!”

The club is currently in residence at the Udderbelly Festival on the South Bank – a venue Tiernan says is “perfect” for the shows.

“What could be funnier than seeing a group of very silly and hilarious people do their stuff in a purple cow,” he chuckles.

“It’s brilliant and already even before you start, everyone is in a good mood because they are in a cow!”

This season they have a stellar line up of acts including regulars on the circuit such as Sara Pascoe, James Acaster and Morgan & West.

“I’m thrilled about this Udderbelly season,” says Tiernan.

“We’ve been going 10 years this year and it’s the fourth in a row we’ve been at Udderbelly and each one we’ve had bigger and bigger names on the bill which is fantastic.

“This year we’ve got some great names such as Jared Christmas which I’m really looking forward to.

“He’s brilliant and he does double act with beat boxer called Hobbit and they get kids up to do their own theme tune.”

So have any of them slipped in a rude word I ask?

“No, amazingly not!” laughs Tiernan. “I think most comedians who do the shows find it quite liberating not to swear or be rude.

“I think a lot of us are just big kids anyway and love being silly so the shows are the perfect forum to be like that.

“Adults sometimes just want you to make them laugh but kids are happy to be there and don’t heckle maliciously. You can go down the sillier and weirder routes. It’s really lovely.

“Also the parents tell us that they love it too – it’s always very relaxed.”

The shows have been so popular that the club decided to set up comedy workshops. Based at the Menier Chocolate Factory in Southwark they enable young wannabe comics to have a go themselves and hone their skills with help from the professionals.

“We show them how to find the funny in life and their own experiences, and turn this into confidently-delivered stand-up and sketches," says Tiernan.

“We’ve seen some amazing kids come through the ranks - some are frighteningly professional and good - and it has made me fear for my own career on a few occasions,” he laughs.

Comedy Club 4 Kids is on at Udderbelly until July 12. Visit www.udderbelly.co.uk for full listings.

PREVIEW - Circus Geeks, Udderbelly Festival

TAKE three jugglers, some chairs, a tea bag, graphs, statistics and even some fish and what do you have? Circus Geeks and their new show Beta Testing.

The threesome – Matt Pang, John Udry and Aaron Sparks – will be bringing the show to the Udderbelly stage later this month where they aim to wow audiences with their incredible tricks and share their obsession with throwing and catching.

Funny, geeky and smart, Beta Testing aims to lift the lid on life as a juggler and give an insight into how the tricks are learnt by mixing music, theatre, comedy with circus skills and a bit of maths thrown in for good measure.

“It’s a bit difficult to describe us and our act,” says Aaron cheerfully.

“We always mix elements of comedy and visuals to create our shows and this will be no different. So the audience can expect something unusual and hopefully it will be unlike anything they have ever seen before.

“We juggle a lot of different stuff – some of it everyday items including things like chairs, tea bags, mugs and there is even a scene involving fish – but don’t worry – you don’t need to get the animal welfare police!” he laughs.

Aaron admits it’s not an easy art to master – not least using chairs which are unwieldy – but he says making mistakes is part of the fun and especially so in Beta Testing.

“Juggling is risky and sometimes things do go wrong,” he says. “In this show we go through the probabilities of mistakes happening and how likely it is that we will perform the tricks successfully.

“It’s quite a geeky and nerdy show – as part of the act, we use a lot of graphs and stats to show how we are getting on – charting our successes and failures.

“One of the most exciting elements is when things go wrong – then it’s a question of how you deal with it. It makes it fun for the audience too.”

As well as all the fun and trickery, during the show the trio explore what it’s like to be a juggler with a bit of a history of how they got together.

“I was really into the yoyo craze when I was younger and that developed into juggling,” says Aaron. “Juggling is quite labour intensive – it takes hours of practice, between two and six hours every day, six days a week.

“But it’s great fun and when I met Matt and John we decided to get together as Circus Geeks.”

“We can’t wait to come to the Udderbelly Festival,” he adds. “It’s such a fantastic venue.

“I have been to see things there in previous years. What’s great about it is that it’s all sorts of different shows and performances so we’ll fit right in!”

Circus Geeks Beta Testing is on at the Udderbelly Festival between May 26 and June 21. Tickets cost £13.50. Visit www.udderbelly.co.uk or call the box office on 0844 545 8252.