Doodle Pop uses markers, imagination to draw you in

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This article was published 31/03/2022 (1525 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

On performance nights, the cast of Doodle Pop get dress in identical monochrome outfits right down to their toes: black trousers, held up with black suspenders, paired with white shirts, feet shod in black sneakers.

They leap onto the stage armed with marker pens, ready to conjure a magical underwater world drawing out the story of a tiny lost turtle embarking on a grand adventure as it tries to make its way home.

A giant white board is the perfect blank canvas for the magical show where scribbles come to life with the clever use of lighting, live music and sound effects (plus a healthy helping of imagination).

Produced by BRUSH Theatre, a company based in Seoul, South Korea, Doodle Pop opens to Winnipeg audiences on Thursday, March 31 at the Manitoba Theatre for Young People (MTYP), and is its first international performance in two years.

“Doodle Pop is a lovely show, it’s full of joy and excitement, it’s playful, it’s imaginative and it brings such a different perspective on that style of theatre,” says Pablo Felices-Luna, the artistic director of MTYP.

“It was originally planned for the 2020-2021 season. The pandemic meant that it got cancelled. As soon as we knew that we were going to welcome audiences back to the theatre I invited them to perform this year,” he says.

Young audiences will be enthralled during the 50-minute production as they embark on an adventure with two friends, Boogie and Woogie, who get up to all kinds of mischief in their attempt to return the lost turtle back to the ocean.

The mostly non-verbal performance — “there is some gibberish, there are a few lines and words” — is aimed to appeal to children between the ages of three to eight.

“We wanted to produce a show to present to the audiences all around the world, no matter what language or backgrounds they speak or have,” explains Hyun Joon Moon, the company and stage manager.

The very first Doodle Pop, previously known as Boogie Woogie, opened in Edinburgh in 2018 to rave reviews and since then the company has toured all over the world, including Mexico, India, Spain and China.

“BRUSH Theatre has been in Toronto and Brampton, but it’s our first time in Winnipeg. And other than the shows, our team is really excited to see the northern lights when we are staying there,” Moon says.

The show is developing continuously as the company tries to produce an experience the whole family can enjoy, he says.

“We like to try new ideas and improve the show,” he explains.

“If anyone comes up with an interesting idea, we experiment during rehearsals before including it in the actual show. But even with the same version, as all theatre plays will be, every show is a new show.”

And whilst it is aimed at young children, it’s important that Doodle Pop isn’t considered a show just for kids.

“We don’t want our show to end up as a ‘children show’ that the parents or the adults find it too childish and trifling. But at the same time we don’t want it to be too seriously artistic that the children will find it hard and boring,” Moon says.

“Creating something in between to impress and satisfy both sides of the audiences is always a big challenge for us.”

Whilst MTYP was able to continue with some of it’s workshops and productions online during the pandemic, Felices-Luna says there’s nothing like real-life experiences to “recharge our social batteries.

“It’s been such a strange time for children throughout the whole pandemic,” he says, “and we have been trying to remain connected with families and with children.

“Even hearing somebody close to you laughing and enjoying themselves makes that experience more potent and that’s what coming together does to all of us: it’s re-energizing.”

Moon too stresses the importance of live theatre. “Being able to experience and explore diverse art is very important for children in developing their endless imaginations and possibilities.

“At the theatre performances, children can experience and feel what they are watching by interacting and becoming a part of the performance,” he says.

Doodle Pop will be performed at various times at the MTYP from Thursday, March 31 through Wednesday, April 13. Tickets are available from www.mtyp.ca.