REVIEW: NOT NOW, BERNARD | WATERSIDE ARTS | 25/10/2026
Not Now, Bernard Review – A Monster-Sized Family Adventure!
David McKee's much-loved children's book Not Now, Bernard has been entertaining young readers since it was first published in 1980. With its simple story, memorable illustrations and rather dark sense of humour, it has become a children's classic.
In this Not Now, Bernard review, we're taking a look at Roustabout Theatre's colourful stage adaptation, written and directed by Toby Hulse, which we saw at Waterside Arts in Sale on Sunday 25th October 2026. Featuring live music, physical comedy, audience participation and an enormous purple monster, the production transforms the familiar picture book into an entertaining theatrical experience for the whole family.
Not Now, Bernard tells the story of a little boy who desperately wants his parents' attention. Unfortunately, no matter how many times he tries to speak to them, their response is always the same: "Not now, Bernard!"
His mum and dad are far too busy with their own activities to listen to what he has to say, even when Bernard tells them that there is a monster in the garden.
When Bernard goes outside to investigate, he encounters the monster, which promptly eats him! The monster then makes its way into Bernard's house, where it soon discovers that his parents are so distracted that they don't even notice their son has been replaced by an enormous purple creature.
It's a wonderfully silly story with a slightly darker side, exploring what happens when children feel ignored by the adults around them. The stage adaptation expands on the original picture book, using music, movement, comedy and audience participation to bring Bernard's world to life.
One of the most striking features of Not Now, Bernard is its colourful set design by Laura McEwan, which captures the playful appearance of David McKee's original illustrations.
The stage features a bright pink floor, patterned wallpaper and a collection of movable panels framed in yellow. These panels, together with simple pieces of furniture, create the different areas of Bernard's home without the need for elaborate scenery. The set has a lovely storybook quality, with bold colours and simple shapes that work particularly well for a production aimed at younger audiences.
The lighting, designed by Will Monks, complements the colourful set and adds to the production's playful, storybook appearance.
I particularly enjoyed the way music was incorporated into the production, especially during the opening sequence. Each character took an invisible object out of a box and mimed using it. Bernard's mum had a cup, Bernard had a shaker, and his dad had a hammer and a block. The characters then used their imaginary objects to create music, with Robin Hemmings producing the corresponding sounds from his little music station.
It was a wonderfully imaginative way to introduce the characters and demonstrate how music and movement would be used throughout the performance. Leo particularly enjoyed this part and was bobbing his head along to the music, which was lovely to see.
Another moment Leo enjoyed was when Bernard showed the audience around his house. It was a fun way of introducing the setting and helping the children become familiar with Bernard's world before the story really got underway.
Audience participation is another important part of the production, with the audience encouraged to join in by shouting "Not now, Bernard!" along with the characters. This was something we all really enjoyed, and it was great fun being able to get involved in such a familiar part of the story. It also helped make the performance feel more interactive, giving the younger audience members opportunities to become part of the action rather than simply watching it unfold.
Of course, the real visual highlight is the monster itself!
The monster is brought to life through an enormous purple costume covered in layers of fabric strips. With its little horns, bright orange hands and wonderfully shaggy appearance, it certainly makes an impression. I absolutely loved the costume. It was such a simple idea, but incredibly effective, creating a creature that was both enormous and wonderfully comical.
One of the funniest visual moments comes when the monster climbs into Bernard's bed and settles beneath a brightly coloured patchwork quilt. Seeing this enormous purple creature making itself comfortable in an ordinary child's bedroom was wonderfully silly.
The production also incorporates Makaton signing into the storytelling, adding another element to its accessible approach to children's theatre.
The combination of colourful scenery, imaginative costumes, live music, audience participation and physical comedy creates a playful world that feels perfectly suited to younger audiences.
The production features three talented performers, Shaelee Rooke as Bernard and the monster, Kim Heron as Bernard's mother and Fionn Gill as his father. They are joined on stage by musician and composer Robin Hemmings, who provides the live musical accompaniment and sound effects.
Shaelee Rooke takes on the challenge of playing both Bernard and the enormous purple monster, bringing two very different characters to life through physical comedy and movement. As Bernard, she captures the frustration of a little boy desperately trying to get his parents' attention, while her performance as the monster is wonderfully entertaining. I particularly loved the monster's deep voice, which, combined with its exaggerated movements, gives the creature plenty of personality. Despite its enormous size, the monster is far more comical than frightening.
Kim Heron plays Bernard's distracted mother, whose constant refusal to listen is an important part of the story's humour. Her performance captures the character's preoccupation with everyday household activities, remaining completely oblivious to Bernard's attempts to get her attention. Alice particularly enjoyed the moment when Bernard tries to speak to his mother, causing her to drop a vase and spill water all over the floor. She then attempts to clean up the mess with a mop, with the entire sequence performed through mime and accompanied by live sound effects from Robin Hemmings. It's a wonderfully funny moment that demonstrates how effectively the production combines physical comedy, sound and imagination.
I particularly enjoyed Fionn Gill's performance as Bernard's dad. His comic timing, facial expressions and exaggerated movements were hilarious, especially during the scenes where he accidentally hits his thumb with a hammer and later gets bitten on the leg. The noises he made and the way he reacted to both incidents really made me laugh, making these some of my favourite moments in the production.
Robin Hemmings also deserves praise for his musical contribution. His live sound effects and accompaniment are an important part of the production, adding humour and energy to the action. I particularly enjoyed how closely the music worked with the performers' movements, making even the simplest actions entertaining.
Together, the four performers create an energetic, imaginative and entertaining adaptation, making excellent use of physical storytelling, music and comedy to bring David McKee's much-loved characters to life.
Not Now, Bernard is a colourful, imaginative and entertaining adaptation of David McKee's much-loved children's book. With its playful staging, clever use of music and wonderfully effective monster costume, the production brings Bernard's familiar story to life in a way that appeals to both children and adults.
It was lovely to see how Alice and Leo enjoyed different parts of the performance. Leo particularly loved the musical opening and Bernard's tour of his house, while Alice's favourite moment was when Bernard's mother dropped a vase, spilled water all over the floor and then tried to clean it up with a mop. For me, Fionn Gill's hilarious physical comedy and Shaelee Rooke's performance as the monster were the highlights. We also all enjoyed joining in with the familiar cry of "Not now, Bernard!", which made the experience even more fun.
Although the story is simple, the production makes excellent use of music, movement and imagination to create an engaging theatrical experience. Beneath all the silliness, there is also an important message about listening to children and making time for them.
Not Now, Bernard is a thoroughly enjoyable family production that demonstrates how a familiar children's story can be brought to life through creativity, humour and some wonderfully imaginative performances.
A monstrously entertaining family show full of music, mayhem and mischief!
For more information about the production, including tour dates and show details, visit the official website below.
Photo Credit - Craig Fuller
*Our tickets for this show were kindly gifted in exchange for an honest review.
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