An award-winning children's theatre company is bringing a brand new show, On Your Bike Baffo! to The Albany Theatre on Saturday 14th November, in a rather fitting stop on its UK tour.
Created with the help of hundreds of primary school children, who contributed to the structure and content, the show combines physical comedy, live music and plenty of audience participation as one determined clown attempts to build a bike and complete the world's silliest bike ride.
Creator Oliver Harrison is particularly excited about bringing the production to a city with such a rich cycling history.
There's something rather perfect about bringing Baffo's chaotic attempt to build a bike to the city that actually figured out how to build one properly. I'm looking forward to finding out whether Coventry audiences will spot Baffo's mistakes before he does!
Coventry's Cycling Heritage
In 1885, Coventry engineer John Kemp Starley developed the revolutionary Rover Safety Bicycle, helping shape the modern bicycle we know today. When it was first built it was very different to any other cycle that had existed before. The Rover had all the basic features of standard modern bicycles, including chain drive, which meant that both wheels could be the same size. From this point onwards, all cycle makers made cycles based on this design because it became so popular with riders. In 1886, the price of this cycle was £20.
About the Show
Inspired by Harrison's own love of cycling, and memories of teaching his daughters to ride a bike, On Your Bike Baffo! draws on a childhood experience familiar to so many families. While Baffo's journey is filled with spectacular mishaps, his unwavering optimism, determination and eagerness to please remind audiences that sometimes getting things wrong can be every bit as joyful as getting them right.
The show also features live music, performed and composed by Tom Penn, and effectively becomes another performer in the show. Tom responds to Baffo's action, using instruments to help drive the comedy throughout.
Tickets and Times
Suitable for children aged 3 - 8 and their families, On Your Bike Baffo! is a celebration of imagination, perseverance and collective joy.
Shows are 45 minutes long and are at 11 am and 2 pm.
Tickets and more information can be found on the Albany Theatre website.
