Let’s go to the seaside
Basingstoke Gazette Review
Scratchbuilt's seaside story a beautifully crafted journey
By Kiran Sajan (Deputy Regional Editor)
A charming, hand-crafted adventure that turns a trip to the seaside into pure theatrical magic, Let's Go To The Seaside! is another triumph for Proteus and Scratchbuilt Productions.
It was a beautiful treat for Basingstoke families this summer.
The latest edition of the immersive show at Proteus Theatre follows Pip (Pip Simpson) and her dad (Tim Steadman), who head for the coast after winning a prize holiday.
The day begins in their kitchen, a homely opening scene packed with details, including a copy of the Basingstoke Gazette propped on the side, a neat wink to its hometown audience.
Here, the audience are observers rather than participants and interaction is kept to a minimum, giving younger theatregoers space to settle and get to know Pip and her dad.
It is in the second scene that the "immersive" element really kicks in.
The company invite the audience to travel with Pip and her dad: first onto the bus, then along the promenade and finally down to the beach, where sand, sea and sky are conjured with Scratchbuilt's now-familiar mix of storytelling, exquisitely made props and carefully chosen music.
What could be a simple there-and-back trip becomes something richer.
When Pip swims out and encounters a giant turtle, the show shifts into a gentle treasure hunt.
The turtle offers a mysterious clue, a rock on the shoreline reveals another, and Pip's trail eventually leads her – and us – to a hidden chest that turns out to be her gran's, complete with a photograph of her dad as a child.
It is a quietly moving twist that connects generations and underlines the idea that the real treasures in life are the memories we share with those we love.
The cast of three are exceptional.
Simpson's Pip is an open-hearted, endlessly curious guide once the journey gets going, constantly drawing children into the story and enlisting their help to solve clues.
Steadman brings warmth and an easy humour to the role of Dad, perfectly pitched between slightly flustered parent and big kid at heart.
Nick Ash, meanwhile, steals multiple scenes, juggling a string of roles – plumber, coach driver, fisherman and puppeteer – with quicksilver energy. His comic timing and easy rapport with the children keep the atmosphere relaxed and playful.
From the bus ride onwards, the production genuinely feels as if it is happening with the audience, not just in front of them.
As with previous collaborations between Proteus and Scratchbuilt, the whole piece is beautifully crafted and underpinned by a thoughtful, inclusive ethos.
It engages children and parents alike, delivering belly laughs, tender moments and a finale that lands with real emotional weight.
Let's Go To The Seaside! has now wrapped up its summer run, but on the strength of this sixth successive family show, I will be eagerly looking forward to whatever Proteus and Scratchbuilt bring to Basingstoke next.
If future productions maintain this level of imagination, heart and attention to detail, they will remain a highlight of the town's cultural calendar.