The Dream Fairies

The Dream Fairies – An Enchanting Adventure through Bubble Land

Performed at Kew Gardens by the Australian Shakespeare Company

A sparkling bubble adventure that brings fairies to life

If you’re looking for a spellbinding day out with the little ones, The Dream Fairies at Kew Gardens is pure pixie dust joy. This delightful outdoor show blends nature, enjoyment, and wonder into an adventure that will have children dancing in delight and adults grinning from ear to ear.

Hosted in the Royal Botanic Gardens, this isn’t just a show it’s a whole day of magic. I highly recommend arriving early and bringing a picnic blanket. Everyone sits on the grass, and most families seemed well-prepared with snacks, cushions, and a good dose of sun cream. The bonus? Once the fairies flutter away, you’re free to explore the beauty of Kew itself.

Presented by the Australian Shakespeare Company (don’t let the name fool you, this is Shakespeare-lite!), the production contains just a sprinkle of Bard-inspired names and lines. Tinkerbell, in search of her lost wings, stumbles across the Dream Fairies; Peaseblossom, Cobweb, Mustardseed, and Moth who are also a bit lost and can’t find their way to the Fairy Queen.

From the moment you arrive, fairy folk greet you with wings, smiles, and sparkly energy. The performance begins with playful audience participation pointing, calling out directions, and getting involved right from the start. As the show unfolds, the interactivity increases, and by the end, the entire audience is singing, dancing, wiggling like worms, and completely immersed in this gentle world of make-believe.

This isn’t just a play, it’s a musical adventure, packed with catchy original songs, some sweetly choreographed dances, and even a touch of fairy acrobatics. The atmosphere is brought to life by live percussion, which adds a lovely rhythmic energy to the whole performance. The exquisite details in the costumes only enhances the fairy world you will be transported to.

One of the biggest highlights comes when the cast guide us into Bubble Land. Words genuinely fail to capture the sheer joy on the children’s faces. Hundreds, perhaps thousands of shimmering bubbles filled the air, as the cast whirled around with giant bubble wands, encouraging children to chase, pop, and play. The actors remain beautifully in character throughout, even as the young audience charge gleefully at them. Mitch Chapman (Mustardseed) deserves a special mention here his witty ad-libs had the grown-ups in stitches, even as he narrowly avoided being trampled by a gang of bubble-chasers!

While you’re asked not to take photos during the seated portion of the show, Bubble Land is a photo-friendly zone. Feel free to capture the moment or simply soak up the wonder.

The finale adds one more touch of magic. After the bubble frenzy, the audience splits into smaller groups and follows different fairies through the garden. In our group, the thrill of discovering Tinkerbell’s missing wings sparked shouts of excitement as the children dashed back for the final celebration.

There’s no pressure to be on your feet throughout if you and your small folk prefer to sit and watch, you’ll still have a wonderful time. The real magic happens when little ones shout directions, join the dancing, or run giggling through the bubbles. It’s interactive theatre at its most charming, and you’ll leave with rosy cheeks, a warm heart, and perhaps a bit of fairy glitter on your shoes. While wings are optional I would recommend the younger ones dress up to feel truly involved.

Now a review from Miss Amelia (aged 4)

“I’m going to go to Fairy Land in my dreams tonight Mummy, and see Mustard Seed! He’s so really, really silly and he made me laugh so much! He found Tinkerbell’s wings and he was wearing them – cheeky Mustard Seed! Can we go to Fairy Bubble Land again Mummy? Pleeeeease?”