BAC has been very much at the centre of the interactive theatre boom, with trailblazing productions such as the anarchic 'The Masque of the Red Death', or the thought provoking 'A Small Town Anywhere'. Their latest piece is a promenade show for all ages, and doesn't disappoint.
'The Good Neighbour' consists of two 'journeys' that the audience undertakes - either inside the Victorian former Town Hall where BAC is based (the 'Young Adventurers' journey, for ages six plus), or outside, on the streets of Battersea (the 'Intrepid Explorers' journey, for ages 13 plus). There is also an activity for children under five, 'Early Investigators', which takes place in an imaginatively landscaped play area.
On the day we attend, we join a small group of Young Adventurers tasked with uncovering the identity and memories of a Battersea resident called George Neighbour. It's a thrilling and magical treasure hunt that has us crawling through tiny tunnels, tearing up and down stairs and across dark corridors, and encountering a fantastical cast of characters in search of clues.
Inside a glowing tent, resonating with the hum of bees, a 'bee lady' tells us her story of bravery. In another room, we must help a woman who is pinned to the wall, and can only be released if the audience make her laugh. Another space is filled with jars that we are told contain human memories.
It is beautifully staged and cleverly coordinated. But the ending is curiously anti-climactic. The entrancing characters suggest hidden depths to Neighbour's life that are never satisfactorily teased out, and perhaps need to be more explicitly incorporated into the final outcome. Despite this weakness, this is a hugely entertaining and immersive piece that leaves its young (and not so young) audience inspired and excited. Just don't forget to bring your trainers.