REVIEW – NOT NOW, BERNARD AT WATERSIDE ARTS – A MONSTER-SIZED FAMILY THEATRE TRIP 👾💜

Not Now, Bernard at Waterside Arts 👾

On Sunday 25th October, we headed to Waterside Arts in Sale to see the 2.30pm performance of Not Now, Bernard, a stage adaptation of David McKee's much-loved children's picture book.

Alice and Leo hadn't read Not Now, Bernard before the day of the show, so they weren't familiar with the story. I was looking forward to seeing what they would think of it and how the book would be brought to life on stage.

The production promised music, physical comedy and an enormous purple monster, so it sounded like a lovely way to spend a Sunday afternoon together.

Our Journey to Waterside Arts 🚌

Our journey to Waterside Arts didn't quite go to plan!

We would usually get the tram to Sale, but there were engineering works taking place on the Altrincham line, which meant there were no trams running. Instead, we had to travel by bus.

Unfortunately, there was also a football match on that afternoon, so the buses were running really late. We arrived at the bus stop at around 1.30pm, expecting our bus at 1.35pm, but it didn't turn up until 1.55pm!

With the show due to start at 2.30pm, I was starting to get a little worried that we might not make it in time.

Thankfully, it's only a short bus journey to Sale, and we arrived at Waterside Arts at around 2.10pm, giving us 20 minutes before the performance was due to begin.

By the time we arrived, the auditorium was already open, so we headed straight inside to find our seats.

Our Seats & View 🎭

We were seated in Row P, Seats 13–16, with Seat 13 being the aisle seat.

Row P is the second row from the back of the auditorium, but Waterside Arts is a fairly small theatre, so even from the back you still get a really good view of the stage.

The seating is also very well raked, which makes a big difference when you're watching a show with children. It means the seats rise quite steeply towards the back, helping you see over the people sitting in front.

We had a lovely clear view of everything happening on stage, and I would happily sit in this row again.

I think this is one of the nice things about smaller theatres. You don't necessarily need to sit near the front to feel involved in the performance, and we certainly didn't feel too far away from the action.

The Show 👾

Not Now, Bernard is based on David McKee's children's picture book, first published in 1980.

The story follows Bernard, a little boy whose parents are always far too busy to listen to him. No matter what he tries to tell them, their response is always the same: "Not now, Bernard!"

Even when Bernard discovers a monster in the garden, his parents are too distracted to pay attention. Unfortunately for Bernard, the monster eats him and takes his place, but his mum and dad are so busy that they don't even notice!

It's a simple story, but there's an important message behind it about listening to children and making time for them.

I thought the story worked really well as a stage show. The production, adapted and directed by Toby Hulse for Roustabout Theatre, adds music, physical comedy, imaginative mime and lots of opportunities for the audience to join in.

One of the things I particularly liked was how much the performers managed to do without using actual props.

At the beginning of the show, the performers mime using everyday objects while Robin Hemmings, who provides the live music and sound effects, creates all the noises to match their movements.

It's such a clever idea, and Leo really enjoyed this part of the performance. He also particularly liked the moment when Bernard showed everyone around his house.

Alice had a different favourite scene. She loved the moment when Bernard's mum dropped a vase, spilled water everywhere and then tried to mop it all up. Of course, there wasn't actually a vase, any water or a mop on stage. The whole thing was performed through mime, with Robin providing the sound effects.

I thought this was brilliantly done, and it was lovely watching how something so simple could be made so entertaining.

The production also uses Makaton signing as part of the storytelling, which I thought was a lovely addition. It helps make the show more accessible to children with different communication needs while fitting naturally into the performance.

There was plenty of audience participation too, especially when everyone was encouraged to shout the familiar words, "Not now, Bernard!"

Alice and Leo both really enjoyed joining in, and it was lovely hearing so many children around the auditorium getting involved.

Visually, the production is really colourful and captures the feel of a children's picture book. The set, designed by Laura McEwan, is simple but effective, with bright colours and plenty of opportunities for the performers to use their imagination.

And then, of course, there's the monster!

I absolutely loved the enormous purple monster costume. It looked fantastic on stage and really brought the illustrations from the book to life.

Shaelee Rooke plays both Bernard and the monster, which I thought worked really well. Bernard is a very different character from the enormous creature that eventually takes his place, and she brings both to life.

Kim Heron plays Bernard's mum, and I particularly enjoyed her physical comedy, especially during the scene with the vase and spilled water.

Fionn Gill plays Bernard's dad, and I thought his exaggerated movements and comic timing were brilliant. He was probably my favourite of the adult characters.

Robin Hemmings is also a big part of what makes the show work so well. The live music and sound effects add so much to the performance, particularly during the mime sequences.

The whole production feels very playful and imaginative, and I liked that it encouraged the children to use their imaginations too.

The show lasted approximately 55 minutes with no interval, which I thought was a good length for the younger audience. There was plenty happening throughout to keep the children interested without the performance feeling too long.

Meeting the Cast & Buying the Book 📚

One of the loveliest parts of our afternoon came after the show, when we discovered that the children could meet the cast in the foyer, just outside the theatre near the shop.

There was a little area set up with a framed display introducing the characters from the production, along with a large board where children could leave messages and drawings about what they thought of the show.

I thought this was such a lovely idea.

The board was covered in colourful notes, drawings of the monster and comments from children who had enjoyed the performance. Some had written about their favourite characters, while others had mentioned the music, signing and sound effects.

It was really nice seeing how different parts of the show had stood out to different children.

Alice particularly enjoyed chatting to Shaelee Rooke, who played Bernard, and both Alice and Leo had their photograph taken with Bernard and his dad.

I always think it's lovely when children get the chance to meet the performers after a show. It makes the experience feel that little bit more special, especially when they've just spent the last hour watching those characters on stage.

There were also copies of David McKee's Not Now, Bernard picture book available to buy for £7.99.

Alice really wanted a copy, so we bought one for her.

As neither Alice nor Leo had read the book before seeing the show, I thought it was a lovely souvenir to bring home. They'd now seen the story performed on stage and could enjoy reading the original book afterwards.

It was a really nice way to finish our visit, and I'm glad we stayed for a little while after the performance rather than heading straight home.

Final Thoughts 💜

We had such a lovely family afternoon seeing Not Now, Bernard at Waterside Arts, and despite the slightly stressful journey getting there, it turned out to be a really enjoyable Sunday afternoon.

I thought the production was a wonderfully imaginative way to bring David McKee's story to the stage. It was colourful, entertaining and full of clever little touches that made something as simple as miming everyday activities really enjoyable to watch.

What I particularly liked was seeing Alice and Leo discover the story for the first time. They both enjoyed different parts of the performance, and there was plenty to keep them interested and involved throughout.

The opportunity to meet the cast afterwards was another lovely addition to the experience. Alice particularly enjoyed chatting to Bernard, and buying a copy of the book meant we could bring a little piece of the show home with us.

At just 55 minutes long, with no interval, I think Not Now, Bernard would make a lovely theatre experience for younger children, particularly those who enjoy stories, music and a little bit of silliness.

More Information About Not Now, Bernard 👾

Not Now, Bernard is a touring family theatre production by Roustabout Theatre, based on David McKee's much-loved children's picture book.

The show runs for approximately 55 minutes without an interval and is recommended for children aged 3+.

We saw Not Now, Bernard at Waterside Arts in Sale on Sunday 25th October 2026, but the production is continuing to tour the UK, so there are more opportunities for families to see it.

The good news for families in Greater Manchester is that Not Now, Bernard will be returning to the area on Sunday 21st February 2027, when it visits The Lowry in Salford. Tickets are available through The Lowry website.

For other UK tour dates, venues and booking information, visit the official Not Now, Bernard production website.

If you'd like to read my more detailed theatre-focused review of the production, you can also head over to our sister website, All About Theatre.

🎭 At A Glance

📍 Venue: Waterside Arts, 1 Waterside Plaza, Sale, Greater Manchester, M33 7ZF

🎭 Show: Not Now, Bernard – a family theatre production by Roustabout Theatre, based on David McKee's children's book

👤 Recommended Age: 3+

⏱️ Runtime: Approximately 55 minutes

☕ Interval: No interval

🎟️ Tickets: Adult £14, child £12 for the Waterside Arts performance. Prices may vary at other venues.

🎶 What To Expect: Live music, physical comedy, imaginative mime, audience participation and an enormous purple monster

🙋 Audience Participation: Children are encouraged to join in throughout the show, including shouting "Not now, Bernard!"

♿ Accessibility: The production incorporates Makaton signing into the storytelling. Contact the venue for information about accessible seating, facilities and other access requirements.

💺 Seating & View: Waterside Arts has a relatively small, well-raked auditorium, offering good views of the stage even from seats towards the back.

📖 Merchandise: Copies of David McKee's Not Now, Bernard picture book were available to buy for £7.99. Availability may vary between venues.

👾 Meet the Cast: Children had the opportunity to meet the cast after the performance, take photographs and leave messages or drawings on a feedback board. Check with your chosen venue for details of post-show activities.

🚋 Getting There by Tram: Sale Metrolink stop on the Altrincham line is a short walk from Waterside Arts. Check for engineering works or service changes before travelling.

🚌 Getting There by Bus: Bus services run to Sale town centre, within walking distance of the theatre.

🚗 Parking: The 440-space Q-Park multi-storey car park on Broad Road, Sale, M33 2AE, is within easy walking distance. Waterside ticket holders can receive 20% off parking when booking in advance using discount code WATERSIDE20 at the online checkout.

☕ SUP Bar & Coffee House: Open Monday–Saturday, 10am–5pm, and for pre-show and post-show drinks. The café and bar serves hot and cold drinks, alcoholic beverages, snacks and locally sourced cakes.

🛍️ Gift Shop: Waterside Arts has a gift shop selling locally made jewellery, cards, prints, crafts and gifts, with a focus on supporting artists and independent makers.

🌍 Tickets & Venue Information: Waterside Arts

Our tickets for this performance were kindly gifted for review purposes. All opinions are our own.