We’re going on a Rosen hunt, we’re going to watch the big one! Never meet your heroes they say, especially when there’s a queue at the post-show book signing at the Imagine Children’s Festival. We couldn’t go over it and we couldn’t go under it so we had to go through it to meet our favourite author Michael Rosen. Our two young reviewers were overjoyed to report that his ears really are elastic and he is absolutely fantastic, write Ed, Frida and Woody Gray.
The author of We’re Going On A Bear Hunt and former Children’s Laureate opened the festival in the beautiful surrounds of the Queen Elizabeth Hall. Eagerly awaiting him was a packed audience of mums, dads and kids who were probably part Rosen having absorbed so many of his words already in their little lives.
Mr Rosen launched into wordplay wizardry warming up the crowd with a recital of his recent series of recent books I Am Hungry, I Am Happy, I Am Happy, illustrated by Robert Starling. He transported us to the Stone Age, to the time of his birth he tells us, via a brilliantly mimed timeline. Next, we learnt about his schooling and the teacher who wouldn’t let the class breathe in his poem Strict – a wonderful metaphor for the antithesis of a creative education.
Rosen’s actual story is London’s story. Descended from Eastern European Jewish immigrant grandparents and born in Harrow 76 years ago to East End parents who fought the fascists at The Battle of Cable Street, eventually becoming teachers and inspiring a lifelong love of learning in Michael and his older brother.
That parental spark grew into a flame which continues to illuminate the beauty of words for generations of children. Rosen recalled taking a class of pupils on a walk through London Bridge and getting them to feel the rhythm of the train through the tunnel walls. The magic of Rosen’s poetry is in these rhythmic constructs which he beautifully embodies as he mimes along to his words on stage.
At one point in the show, Rosen recalls being admitted to hospital with COVID-19 and put to sleep for 40 days and 40 nights and compares his hospital bed to Noah’s ark. It’s a testimony to the NHS that he is more than alive and able to tell the tale and continue sharing the spark of creativity with us all. As Michael would say, ever fond of a Yiddish phrase, ’Pull your gatkes up!’ and get along to the Southbank Imagine Children’s Festival for many more wonderful creative encounters.
Southbank Centre, Belvedere Road, SE1 8XX. The festival runs until 18th February.
Website for full details: www.southbankcentre.co.uk/
