Tom O’Dwyer and his family enjoy a wonderful exploration of the land of nod
Every parent knows the nightly challenge: the resistance to teeth-brushing, the negotiations over “just one more story”, the seemingly endless journey from bath time to lights out. Bedtime is often the most fraught hour of the day – a chore for exhausted parents and an unwelcome interruption for reluctant children.
So when The Egg Theatre presented The Sleep Show, I was genuinely curious: what fresh perspective could theatre possibly offer on this universal struggle?
Rather than tackle the stress head-on, this gentle, imaginative production did something cleverer. It simply unpacked the whole phenomenon of sleep – inviting children to think about their own routines, preferences and experiences in ways that transformed bedtime from battleground to something worth exploring.
Through a series of charming vignettes, three talented performers used dance, drama and music to celebrate the rich variety of how we all approach sleep. What sounds do you like before bed – ocean waves, wind, or white noise? What colour lights help you drift off? Do you sleep on your side, your back, curled up or stretched out?
The show acknowledged that sleep is deeply personal, presenting these choices not as problems to solve but as preferences to discover.
The intimate setting of The Egg Theatre proved perfect for this material. Sitting so close to the stage, the children felt fully immersed in the experience. Watching the performers dance around in pink pyjamas under carefully orchestrated lighting was genuinely enchanting.
The physical storytelling was particularly effective- a Snore Ballet and dream sequences that showed how bodies can express ideas children don’t normally associate with movement.
What impressed me most was the show’s creative approach to connection. The opening sequence beautifully illustrated how physical comfort- one performer gently stroking another back to sleep, is central to our bedtime rituals. It’s something my own daughter asks for, that reassuring touch that helps ease the transition from wakefulness to sleep.
The performers explored both the pleasant and unsettling aspects of sleep: wonderful dreams of flying alongside nightmares and being chased. They discussed bedtime stories and routines, all whilst keeping the young audience thoroughly engaged. For our three-year-old, it was absolutely brilliant- entertaining whilst opening up conversations about sleep that continued at home.
In fact, inspired by the show’s exploration of lighting preferences, we remembered the mobile light globe that projects stars and moon across the ceiling. She fell straight asleep to it that very night.
Perhaps most refreshing was what the show didn’t mention: technology. There were no phones, no apps, no screens – just natural, calm routines and human connection. For families of young children, it offered a welcome reminder that bedtime can be about discovery and comfort rather than conflict.
The Sleep Show won’t solve every bedtime battle, but it does something valuable: it gives children a new way to think about sleep and gives parents fresh ideas to try. Sometimes that’s exactly what’s needed.
For details of upcoming events at The Egg, go to www.theatreroyal.org.uk/whats-on/?ven=2358
