Bluey's Big Play producer on why TV series attracts people of all ages
Bluey's Big Play is currently on tour worldwide.
Bluey has taken the world by storm and it came as no surprise when it was announced that everyone's favourite Blue Heeler dog would be coming to life in a stage show, allowing audiences across the world a chance to see Bluey and her family in action.
Bluey's Big Play initially had its first run at Madison Square Garden before making its way to the UK at Southbank Centre's Royal Festival Hall, and it's currently on tour at various venues across the US, Canada, Asia and Europe.
The play, which has been described as Bluey as you've never seen it before, brings the Heelers to life through puppetry and original music and was nominated for Best Family Show at this year's Olivier Awards with Mastercard.
Prior to the ceremony, artistic director of Windmill Theatre and Bluey's Big Play director Rosemary Myers and producer Andrew Kay spoke exclusively to RadioTimes.com about why audiences of all ages keep tuning into the TV series and attending the show.
"It's real," said Kay. "That's the extraordinary thing about [Joe Brumm's] writing is that nothing is off the table. He will cover difficult topics: sadness, loss, all those things, in a children's show.
"So it's real. When we started this show in Madison Square Garden, it was amazing. We had grandparents, parents, uncles and children. The adults came just as much as the children."
While Bluey's Big Play missed out on the win, the TV series goes from strength to strength, as it recently released its longest episode to date.
The Sign, which was released on the day of the Oliviers, featured "the wedding of the year" – and "more than retains" its appeal to older audiences, according to actor Melanie Zanetti (who voices Bluey's mother Chilli).
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"I think Bluey is a show that's obviously made with an age group in mind, but it is for everyone, and this 28-minute episode is that more than ever," she told RadioTimes.com. "I think there will be a lot of resonating happening for parents.
"I think that's such an incredible act of service – a juggling act that parents are doing all the time. And I think we see a bit of that in this 28-minute episode."
Bluey is available to stream on Disney Plus. You can buy UK tour tickets to see Bluey's Big Play at Ticketmaster.
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Authors
Katelyn Mensah is the Entertainment and Factual Writer for Radio Times, covering all major entertainment programmes, reality TV shows and the latest hard-hitting documentaries. She previously worked at The Tab, with a focus on reality TV and showbiz news and has obtained a BA (Hons) in Journalism.
