REVIEWS: Mog the Forgetful Cat and Wayne McGregor: Infinite Bodies

Southbank Centre, Wednesday of half term, and it is deluging outside. The buggy park in front of the Queen Elizabeth Hall is jammed with prams, the rain-splattered covers turning each vehicle into a fugged-up bubble of plastic. Their passengers have been disgorged into their seats, scrambling over the knees of mums and dads, carers and grandparents. It is a full house for Judith Kerr's Mog the Forgetful Cat. The show ran a few years ago at the Old Vic but is back for a handful of performances as part of the London Literature Festival.

The great big stage is adorned with a simple, modular set of a family home, kitchen window box filled with geraniums, a big cat flap, large comfy armchair in the foreground. Using the seasons as a structure and with fair bit of padding, the show works best when it is telling Judith Kerr's wonderful stories. The audience plainly know the narratives, 'Bother, bother, bother that cat!' is a rousing singalong, while the scene at the V.E.T (shh, don't say the word), a visual demonstraton of how pets look like their owners. Mog is a feline joy, bringing exactly the right amount of well-meaning confusion wherever she goes. At an hour, it is perhaps a tad over-long but it is gentle, engaging production that will delight Mog fans, young and old. This was a one off, but if you have little ones, keep an eye out on the Wardrobe Ensemble website; it may make a reappearance at a local London theatre some time in the future. Best suited for ages 3–6.

We braved the rain to cross Hungerford Bridge to the press view of Wayne McGregor: Infinite Bodies at Somerset House. This is the final exhibition in their 25th anniversary year, which started with the fabulous Soil show. Like Soil, this makes you use all your senses to look at something familiar in a different way. McGregor, a hugely innovative ballet choreographer, is fascinated with how technology, and AI in particular, can be used as a tool to explore movement and what the human body can do. Definitely best for kids with an interest in dance, there is lots for tech-savvy teens to learn - though the wordy descriptions went over my Luddite head. Everyone will enjoy making beams of light 'dance' via the movement sensors next to the installations. Stand in a dark space and consider how sound moves you; make your own dance routine and use AI tools to sharpen up your choreography. There are video screens of the Wayne McGregor studio dancers at work and, at times during the run, real life dancers will come and perform within the exhibition.

It is not for very small children. Although you can interact with the works, you cannot touch them. The gallery recommends ages 5+ but we would say ages 7+ will probably get more out of it. There are two BUTS. First, if you go with children, get there early in the day. We were lucky enough to be in the space when it was virtually empty - although timed ticket slots will obviously limit numbers, the rooms are not huge and, especially with kids, your enjoyment will be reduced if you are squished in. Second, it is expensive. Adults are £22.50 (fair enough) but ages 12+ and students are a hefty £19 and ages 6–11 are £10.

Wayne McGregor: Infinite Bodies Somerset House, 30 Oct–22 Feb 2026. Ticket prices as above.