Rosen’s award-winning 1989 children’s picture book has been adapted for the stage by director Sally Cookson, with  a score by Benji Bower. The show, suitable for children aged three and over, follows a family’s excitement as they wade, splash and squelch through a variety of imaginative environments in search of a bear. Designer Katie Sykes uses a host of everyday objects to draw young theatregoers into an imaginary world.

Author, poet and broadcaster Rosen has written over 140 books, many of them for children. He was appointed Children’s Laureate in 2007.

Cookson staged We’re Going On A Bear Hunt at Bristol Old Vic and has previously collaborated with Sykes and Bower on productions of The Ugly Duckling, Aesop’s Fables and Papa Please Get The Moon For Me.

We’re Going On A Bear Hunt plays at the Duchess theatre concurrently with evening performances of Ronald Harwood’s Taking Sides and Collaboration, also announced this week. This is the second time that the Duchess has presented a daytime show for children, following The Gruffalo, which played over the Christmas season.