Education ViVA

Beanbag Proms: Splish! Splash! Squawk!
Saturday 23rd June 2007
Royal Concert Hall Foyer, Nottingham

Continuing the success of the Beanbag Proms series over 360 children under 6 and their families joined sinfonia ViVA, Julia Damassa as Beanie Bear and Alasdair Malloy for the fourth in the series of the Beanbag Proms with 'Splish! Splash! Squawk!'

" The whole thing worked very well. Alasdair and Beanie Bear really involved the audience with their enthusiasm and so the children could really get involved with the music. " - Parent

This concert followed the theme of the Seaside and the orchestra were dressed accordingly with Hawaiian shirts, shorts and even bare feet! Also in theme, to accompany the now traditional beanbags, the foyer of the Royal Concert Hall was decorated with a collection of brightly coloured beach balls.

" Well thought out theme, music relating to the summer. " - Parent

The concert opened with Alasdair Malloy's Seaside Specials and as always Beanie Bear then made her traditional entrance to her own 'Beanie Bear Song' (which is featured in all the concerts in the series). Beanie then took her place amongst the children to enjoy the rest of the performance.

" Good programme and ideal pace of chat and music... Perfect! " - Musician

As always the children joined in enthusiastically, singing exuberantly to 'Summer Holiday' before being taken on a brief trip down the rabbit hole to Alice in Wonderland's world and the Lobster Quadrille.

" [We enjoyed] the choice of music and the enthusiasm with which it was performed. " - Parent

The children also joined in the marching, parading across the ocean with the 'Pirate's March'. Finally, one of the highlights of the concert was the 'Sailors Hornpipe' as all the budding buccaneers joined in a sailors jig, led by their skipper Alasdair Malloy.

" It was fantastic to be able to have a go on the instruments at the end - I was more excited than my daughter! " - Parent

The Beanbag Proms will continue with 'Slurp! Chomp! Mmmm!' on Saturday 6 October. Please see concert listings for further details.

This work would not have been possible without the support of Royal Centre, sinfonia ViVA, Arts Council England, Nottingham City Council and Orchestras Live. We would like to acknowledge the generous support of John Lewis, Nottingham. This work was supported by the following Trusts: The Lady Hind Trust; The Jessie Spencer Trust; The Whitaker Charitable Trust.

Images from the project...