OK, right from the start I admit that my family and I are all huge fans of Wallace & Gromit. So when we heard that Wallace & Gromit’s Musical Marvels was coming to The Bath Forum, we knew we had to be there.
Here was a chance to see the live debut of Wallace’s very own masterpiece ‘My Concerto in Ee Lad’ played live by The Picture House Orchestra and presenter Matthew Sharp, before sitting back enjoying a showing of Wallace & Gromit: The Wrong Trousers, complete with live musical accompaniment.
I’d been along to the Bath Forum on a good few visits over the last year or so, watching everything from stand up comedy from Nish Kumar to classic British rock from Saxon and a superb presentation with my family as part of Bath Taps Into Science, and all had been excellent. And I’m glad to say that the standard of the presentation was top notch again here.
With the orchestra on stage – all suitably dressed as characters from the Wallace & Gromit library of fun – a screen showed the entrance of maestro Matthew Sharp, rushing from his dressing room to the stage to lead the fun and silliness. In between messages from Wallace and Gromit themselves, busily preparing their concerto elsewhere in the theatre, Matthew and the orchestra led the audience through a selection of well know classics – including a surprise rendition of Bohemian Rhapsody – before the grand premier of Wallace’s new work, with more than a little help from Gromit.
This was a wonderfully enjoyed 45 minutes of family fun, with plenty of references to animated star’s previous adventures and a chance to actually be part of their latest one. Throughout, Matthew is a perfect host, keeping the action spinning along, encouraging the audience to get involved and showing his skills as a cellist.
After an interval where the ice cream sales appeared to do a roaring trade for the largely family audience, it was time for a screening of the classic Wallace & Gromit: The Wrong Trousers, complete with live orchestral accompaniment.
This was a wonderful hour and a half of fun, beautifully put together and allowing younger audience members to the joy and skills of a live orchestra. All in all, as the star of the show might have said, “Cracking fun Gromit!”
You can out more about upcoming events at The Bath Forum by clicking here