Yesterday I wrote about what a lovely time we had watching Charlie and Lola’s Extremely New Play at the weekend. We always have a lovely time at the Polka Theatre in Wimbledon because it’s just such a lovely place. Come rain or shine there are things to do and you know what? You don’t even need a ticket to go and enjoy their play areas or have a cup of tea and some lunch in their cafe.

I’ve been a few times now and often seen Mums and babies meeting up for a coffee and a play; it’s the perfect setting for a new Mum with a new baby really, a place to enjoy a bit of quiet while the babies are safe to roll around on the floor indoors and see all the lights on the ceiling while looking in the glass displays of interesting things for little eyes. I suppose then those new Mums get to hear about plays as and when their babies are big enough and through the years they continue to enjoy what Polka has to offer their children.

Whenever we have been before we have been going to see something which is really for Florence but which Jimmy has come along for the ride and enjoyed too. The shows we have had the pleasure of reviewing have been for around Florence’s age range although we know they offer things for older children too – it’s a place we want to continue to visit for a long time. What we didn’t know until recently is that actually, they have things specifically  for the babies too! Perhaps those Mums meeting for coffee knew this, I’m not sure, or perhaps it’s a happy find for them too but at Polka they have a series of performances which are dedicated to babies under 1, how fab is that?! Right now they are showing ‘Lullaby‘, a performance which promises relaxation, time to breathe, the chance to discover play and be peaceful with your baby.

Now Jimmy has only just turned one this month so he’s only very slightly over the age range and I thought he would still really like to go and enjoy something just for him. I don’t take him to things on his own very often and as we were invited for the purpose of review I thought it would be a lovely thing to do with my littlest. I knew I would miss not having Florence with us, I am actually writing a blog post about that tomorrow but Florence is 3 and a half and although would have LOVED to come to Polka for a play, would have been bored stiff doing something so baby. It’s the downfall of a second child I suppose that they always have to just do what the older one does because the older one would be bored senseless doing what the baby wants to do so once in a while Jimmy does deserve a bit of ‘me time’!

After we picked up the tickets, in a rare occurrence for me, we had time to spare and time for a play in the foyer.

It’s been a while since Jimmy and I went anywhere other than a local play group on our own and it was interesting to see him in an environment he is used to being in with his sister. Interesting to see what he chose to do on his own. I suppose I might have thought the play areas were more geared up for Florence’s age but I could see that there are lots of things for babies too. Jimmy just meandered around slowly and enjoyed looking in mirrors, dressing up and then just before the performance, we sat and read a book. It was a lovely time and although I had a pang of guilt for Florence not being there to enjoy the play area I could see he was getting something out of it that he usually wouldn’t. I’m not saying he misses out when we’re not doing things just for him, not at all, he has a lovely time with his sister but he had a different experience and he enjoyed it as much. (And Florence was having a fab time playing with her friends at nursery by the way!)

And then it was time to go into the performance area. We were greeted by the artist who was dressed in naturally coloured material and shown into a comfortable and dark seating area. On the wall a television displayed the image of the room we would be shown into next and she explained that should we need to come out with our babies at any point during the performance then we would be welcome to come and sit in comfort and watch the proceedings on the monitor until we could come back in again. We took our shoes off and with little vases of flowers dotted in between the velvety feel seats it already felt quite tranquil and calm.

Then we were shown into a tent like room but that makes it sound not very nice and it was lovely. More a room draped in natural materials just like the performance artist’s costume. Cushions in the same colour and a lightly coloured soft carpet finished the decor. The artist sat down with us and through using her body she made contact with each baby, mimicking their movements. Suddenly eleven (there are never any more than 12) babies were enchanted! You have to remember that they are all under one (with the exception of Jimmy who only had his birthday two weeks ago), that’s quite an achievement!

Using her voice but only to sing notes, her body and a big lit up ball in the middle of the room she captivated them and us for the entire half hour. She dipped in and out of the material with another little ball of light and made shadows on the walls, danced in the middle with the giant light ball and draped muslins over the babies. It felt very relaxing and almost like a spa treatment – I tell you, that is NOT a feeling one usually gets when out with a baby! And Jimmy thought it was wonderful. He loved looking at all the other babies and playing with the muslins. He was captivated by the balls which lit up and eagerly reached out to touch the big one when she brought it round the circle. It was very interesting to see the mood of the room change as the lights got brighter or dimmer and watch the babies reactions to everything, they might have been under one but they were taking it all in!

I don’t know what I was expecting really? I guess something bright and colourful and this was the antithesis of that yet it worked amazingly well and I would say everyone looked relaxed and as if they were enjoying it. Every performance must be slightly different, different numbers in the audience, different reactions from different babies of course but our experience was one of enjoyable and calm enchantment and something I’m so pleased we did together! Jimmy got lots out of it and he got to spend some time with my undivided attention…

A totally lovely thing to do with your baby and at the end you have ten minutes to enjoy the space while the artists singing continues very softly from a recording. We waited until the very end so that we could take some pictures.

After the calming performance we thought we would have a little lunch and play before heading home. We had planned to use the garden for a picnic as until we went for Charlie and Lola we didn’t know the garden even existed but weather foiled us and a train lunch it was! I knew Florence would be a little bit jealous when I told her where we’d been so we bought her a Charlie and Lola notebook to go with the pen we bought after the performance on Saturday – she was thrilled with it when we got home because not only does it have Charlie and Lola on the cover but also on every page of paper too!

Before going home we of course had to have one last play and again it was very interesting to see what Jimmy chose to do on his own. Outside and he wanted to mainly be on the climbing area!

The Polka Theatre has so much to offer children of all ages, even babies! It’s an exceptional space and they think of everything! Even lights in the ceiling which Jimmy enjoyed looking at and their baby and changing areas are comfortable and clean! There are two rooms big enough for buggies with space to change a baby or sit and feed. This really is a place suitable from birth and it can grow with you little one!

If you would like to know more about the Polka Theatre, their performances and workshops then please visit their website www.polkatheatre.com.

I have not been paid to write this post but I was provided with tickets to the performance for the purpose of review.