Théâtre Motus’ Tree is a beautiful introduction to live performance designed for the enjoyment of six-months to three-year-olds with a special eye to accessibility for neurodivergent children. I brought my nine-month-old to the show for his first experience as a live theatre audience member (thanks to Cineplex’s Stars & Strollers program, he’s well versed with the movie theatre) and he sat transfixed for the entire 40 minute runtime.

The key to success for this peacefully playful performance lies in the performer to audience member balance. With a limited capacity in Young People’s Theatre’s black box studio space and four cast members to execute each interactive element, children are able to be included completely in the show without having to wait long stretches while the cast interacts with the other side of the room. Small moments of practical stage magic by way of tubes and magnets dazzle little eyes while the use of textiles and music make it a multi-sensory experience. Musician Hugo Monroy-Najera is a clutch performer, providing near constant soundtrack with a selection of nine soothing and interesting instruments from around the world, including an egg shaker, a kalimba, and a krin (a West African log drum).

With limited dialogue but maximum interaction, the rest of the ensemble engages the kids with a perfect balance of calm enthusiasm, setting an exemplary tone that led to a kids show with almost no interruptions or misbehaving. The inclusive environment made room for any kid who was having a bit of a hard time and even the smallest children were never left out (mine seemed to be one of if not the youngest in the room and the performers made a point of meeting him at his ability level for every interaction).

A mild tone and tight pace team up to create the perfect atmosphere for first time audience members to enjoy Tree. Be sure to stay after the performance for a photo opportunity with the cast and their puppets.