Inside Out and Backwards

Inside Out and Backwards runs from January 20 through February 7 at the Gaddy-Goodwin Teaching Theatre, part of Raleigh Little Theatre at 301 Pogue St. It's a children's theatre piece by Kathryn Chase Bryer and Natasha Holmes, produced by special arrangement with Plays for New Audiences.

The story follows two siblings getting ready for bed, and it invites the audience to help them along, even as Sister resists and leaves chaos in her wake. What starts as a folding problem turns into a series of make-believe games that carry the room through mountains, ski slopes, sea voyages, and a desert island. Dialogue is kept short and simple, with the performers leaning on key words familiar to young children and physical action to tell the story. It's almost entirely physical theatre, so the action does most of the heavy lifting.

The show runs about 30 minutes and is recommended for ages 0-5. The little ones sit on the floor and are encouraged to move around, so it's a production that expects its audience to be active rather than sitting still in a chair. Capacity is limited to 50 people per show, and every performance is wheelchair accessible, with assistive listening devices and audio description available.

There are plenty of times to choose from. On Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays, shows run at 10:00 AM, 11:15 AM, and 12:30 PM. Saturdays have two afternoon slots at 3:00 PM and 4:15 PM, and Sundays return to the morning schedule with 10:00 AM, 11:15 AM, and 12:30 PM. Tickets are $10 for adults, $5 for children under 12, and free for infants under 1—single ticket prices, excluding tax and fees.