NOT NOW, BERNARD

VISUAL STORY This visual resource is for children and young adults visiting the

Unicorn Theatre to see a performance of Not Now, Bernard.

This visual story is intended to help prepare you for a new experience

and help you to become familiar with the surroundings and the

performance.

This performance has moments of high energy and contains scenes

with the monster growling. These scenes are not scary.

The performance has themes of play, discovery and loneliness. We

have made the usual amendments to the volume and lighting levels

but due to the nature of the show you will experience moments of

much louder sound and lighting effects.

Welcome to the Unicorn Theatre. We are a theatre for children and

adults. This is what the building looks like from the outside.

This is the main entrance of the theatre. There are some steps before

you get to the front door. The words and pictures on the windows tell

you what shows and activities are happening inside.

When you enter through the front door, you will see a big space with

lots of tables and chairs in an area called the Foyer.

There are also some instructions on the floor tiles, you can choose to

follow these instructions or you can ignore them.

The Box Office is also in the Foyer. This is where you can buy tickets or

collect tickets that you have already paid for. There may be other

adults and children waiting to buy or collect tickets when you arrive.

You will be met by one of the Ushers, who will be wearing a dark red

shirt with white writing like the one above.

You can ask an usher if you have any questions and they will do their

best to help you. When it’s time for Not Now, Bernard to start, you

will hear a bell and an Usher will tell you where you need to go.

You might see some adults and children sitting at some of the tables

having something to eat or drink from our Unicornershop.

There is a cafe in the Foyer called the Unicornershop where you can

buy drinks and snacks. You can also bring your own drinks and snacks

with you.

If you need to use the Toilet, they are downstairs from the Foyer.

Look for the stairs going down or you can use the Lift.

These are the boys’ toilets.

These are the girls’ toilets.

When you enter the Weston Theatre you will see a large stage space

covered in bright green carpet.

Your seats are purple benches and you can choose your seat. There

are three sides you can choose from.

Find your seat and make yourself comfortable.

Sound:

When you enter you will hear music. You will hear background sound

and music like this throughout the performance.

There a moments of louder sound effects; growls and birdsong.

Lighting:

The room will be well lit.

It looks like a colourful house and garden on a sunny day. The lighting

will change as characters move around the space.

There is also a little bit of haze on the stage, it looks like smoke but it

doesn’t make you cough.

Please speak to a member of staff if you have any concerns.

You will see raised sections of floor with various pieces of furniture on

them.

Around these sections are colourful trees, some large and some small.

These pieces of furniture and trees are the same as the images from

the book of Not Now, Bernard by David McKee.

At the front of the stage is the living room. It has a comfy chair, a

television and a book shelf with toys and books. Can you see Elmer on

the bookshelf?

In the middle of the stage is the Hallway stage. This area is raised up

and has a table and brightly coloured carpet.

Behind the Hallway is the kitchen with a sink and an oven. The floor of

the kitchen has black and white squares.

At the back of the stage are some steps that lead up to Bernard’s

bedroom. This is Bernard’s bed, it has a colourful blanket.

Around the stage you will see various size colourful trees and some

rocks.

When you enter the Weston you will hear music and bird song. You

will hear lots of music during the show.

The back wall of the stage is a big white screen that changes colour

and brightness. You will see a shadow of Bernard’s Monster here later.

Above your heads you can see white paper lanterns that glow during

the show.

When everyone is ready and in their seats the lights on stage will get a

little darker and the music around you will sound a little louder.

The Characters:

Bernard

He is a young boy.

He wants to someone to play with.

Bernard has lots of colouful toys and moves around a lot.

Mum

She is very busy.

She likes her plant and is trying to find a nice spot for it.

Sometimes she sings.

Sometimes she is cross with Bernard for being in the way.

Dad

Dad likes sport.

He just wants to watch the television in peace.

Dad is supposed to be hanging a picture but he keeps sitting on the

chair.

Dad sometimes whistles.

Monster

He is fluffy and a bit naughty.

He makes a lot of mess and makes funny noises.

Monster moves around the stage a lot.

Bernard has a football.

Bernard wants someone to play with.

Bernard is a bit bored.

Mum has a big plant in a bright blue pot.

Mum is trying to find a good place for the plant.

Mum is busy.

Dad has a picture in a frame.

Dad wants to watch television and sit in the chair.

Dad makes Mum a bit cross when he doesn’t do what she has asked.

Bernard plays with his toys.

Bernard wants someone to play with.

Bernard makes Dad a bit cross when he is the way of the television.

Dad is sat down again and Mum is a bit cross.

The television makes some loud noises and has a light shining from it.

Dad has a hammer and nail.

Dad is putting the picture on the wall.

Dad hits his finger with the hammer by accident. Don’t worry he is

just pretending.

Dad has a sore finger and is a bit upset with Bernard.

Bernard looks a little bit sad.

Mum is singing in the kitchen.

Mum is filling the jug with water.

Bernard is in the kitchen too and gets in her way.

Bernard tells his mum ‘There is a Monster in the garden and he’s

going to eat me’

You will hear the sound of wind chimes and the lighting will change.

Mum spills water on her table and the floor.

Mum is upset that she spilled water.

Bernard is in the garden.

Bernard is alone again and a bit sad that he has been ignored.

Bernard plays with his ball and kicks it out of the garden.

Bernard looks up and says ‘Hello Monster’.

You will not see the monster that Bernard is talking to.

You will hear a rumble and roar noise and Bernard will walk off stage.

Don’t worry, the Monster isn’t too scary.

Dad has a bandage on his finger from hitting it with the hammer.

Dad watches the loud sport on the television.

Mum is very annoyed and stamps her feet up the steps to the

hallway.

The stage will get a bit darker and the wall at the back of the stage will

glow.

You will see the shadow and outline of the furry Monster.

Monster will pretend to chew on a bone and make eating noises.

Don’t worry, he is pretending.

The purple furry monster will sit on the rocks.

The monster will sniff and chew a trainer.

It’s Bernard’s trainer.

The Monster will now be on stage for the rest of the show.

Monster will sniff the air.

Monster will move towards the audience to smell all the people.

Don’t worry, he won’t touch you or hurt you.

He is just curious.

Mum doesn’t notice that Bernard is gone and a Monster is in the

house.

Mum is busy painting a wall, she is singing to herself.

The Monster says a big growl behind Mum and makes her jump.

Mum spills paint and is a bit annoyed. She doesn’t notice it is a

Monster, she thinks its Bernard being a bit silly.

Dad is reading his paper.

Monster says hello to Dad’s by biting his leg. Don’t worry, he doesn’t

hurt him.

Dad is shocked and yelps.

Dad doesn’t notice it is a Monster, he thinks its Bernard being a bit

silly.

Mum cooks dinner in the oven for Bernard.

Monster can smell the dinner.

Monster eats the dinner and makes a lot of mess.

Monster throws food and the plate all over the floor.

Monster watches the television, he likes it.

Monster likes the music and the cartoons.

Monster thinks the people on the screen are inside the television and

tries to get them out.

Monster breaks the television.

Monster sits on the book case and reads a comic; he makes lots of

noises as he reads the comic.

Monster finds an Elmer toy and tries to eat it; he doesn’t like the taste

and throws it away. He is being a bit naughty.

Monster plays with all of Bernard’s toys and throws them around.

Monster likes playing and makes lots of funny noises.

Monster is a bit rough with the robot toy and breaks it.

Monster has made quite a lot of mess and looks a bit worried and

sad.

Mum is in her slippers with a cup of milk for Bernard.

It must be nearly bedtime.

Mum takes the cup of milk to Bernard’s bedroom and gets everything

ready for bedtime.

Monster is a bit sad that no one has noticed him.

Monster is sat in the bed with the colourful blanket, the teddy bear

and a cup of milk.

Mum turns off the bedroom light for bedtime.

Goodnight Monster.

This is the end of the show.

The stage will get much darker and you can clap if you want to.

The lights will get much brighter and the music will get a little louder.

Monster, Mum and Dad will all stand at the front of the stage and

show you they are friends.

They will wave goodbye to you and move up the steps past your seats.

You can now get ready to leave.

During the show you might find something funny, you can laugh if you

like.

During the show you might see or hear something that makes you feel

sad. You can feel sad if you like, that’s okay.

You might hear other people in the audience cheer, clap, shout out or

scream. You can join in if you like.

During the show you might feel that you need to take some time out.

This is fine, find the Access Assistant and let them know. They will be

sat on the end of the seats, by the door.

The Access Assistant will take you to the chill out space where you can

relax and return to the show when you feel ready.

The actors use the door and area that lead to the foyer so the Access

Assistant may need to wait for a safe moment to leave the space and

a safe moment for you to return.

Thank you for visiting Unicorn Theatre and watching Not Now,

Bernard.

Have a lovely day!