Dance review: Scottish Dance Theatre: What on Earth!? , Stirling MacRobert

SCOTTISH Dance Theatre has long been a company with comedy in its veins. So it comes as no surprise that its first ever children’s show quickly has the young audience in fits of laughter.

Largely because the opening 20 minutes of What on Earth!? are just about perfect. Tight comic timing, accessible movement, and a premise every child can understand – bedtime.

Dressed in white PJs, the dancers check for monsters under the bed, kiss each other goodnight, then dive onto the divan ready for sleep. A hilarious battle ensues, bringing the “five in a bed” rhyme to life, as they tussle acrobatically for space.

Joan Clevillé in particular is a natural clown, leaping around the stage in his cosy-looking onesy. To be fair, all five performers do their utmost to keep the crowd engaged, what lets them down is some of the material.

After a flawless start, What on Earth!? loses its way a bit, veering into the kind of abstract, and not entirely engaging territory that prompted one little girl to wonder out loud, “What’s that all about?” Good question.

It’s early days for this show, however, and once it’s been tightened up back in the studio, it will be more hit than miss. Billed as “a curious nocturnal journey around planet Earth”, the multi-cultural soundtrack alone is pure joy, introducing the young viewers to opera, bhangra, the Beatles and more in one fell swoop.

As first attempts go, it’s a promising start.

Rating: ***