"You're copying me!", squawks a seven-foot illuminated parrot while a playfully belligerent Emu chases a child down the pathway and a serene glowing elephant watches on. Don't worry, it isn't a fever dream induced by one of the many winter viruses circulating: this is The Lanterns at Chester Zoo.
The hugely popular winter evening takeover (over 90,000 people visited in 2019) of one of the North West's most visited venues is back, and is well worth the visit. For us, like a lot of families in the region, Chester Zoo is a multi-generational staple day out. I visited as a child and now I take my children - and the zoo has adapted its offering over the years, always seeking to do something new for the next gaggle of excited visitors.
What makes The Lanterns very different from daytime at the zoo is that you don't actually see any real animals. A trip to the zoo without the animals might initially strike you as a strange idea, but what's remarkable is how quickly the 'animals' you do meet inspire a similar awe and affection to those presumably having a nap in the dark across the sleeping parts of the zoo.
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When we talk about the 'animals', in the context of The Lanterns, we're talking essentially about light-up puppets. These are beautifully designed human operated representations of the animals you'd normally see.
The first thing you note about The Lanterns is just how spectacular it looks. On entering you encounter a large illuminated owl, created by Thingumajig Theatre, based in West Yorkshire, circling gently accompanied by the sounds of jaunty folk music and adjacent to a glowing white moon. It is mesmerising and sets the tone for what is to come.
While following the designated route around the zoo, a trip which took us about 90 minutes, you repeatedly find yourself gasping in awe. There are lots of 'wow' moments.
There is a truly magical looking bridge section lit up in rainbow colours, for instance, and a Norwegian fairy-tale land with a giant castle and a massive white bear. Throughout a journey through The Lanterns you encounter the 'animals'. They are the stars of the show, from the life-sized orangutan puppets in the UV Bornean jungle, to the parrots, emus, elephants and mischievous zebras that are dotted about the park interacting with children and adults alike.
It's worth saying something here about the talented puppet operators who really create the magic during a visit to The Lanterns.
One of the wonderful things about the interactions between the children and the 'animals' is how quickly children suspend their disbelief and interact with the puppets as though they were real.
There is a genuine delight in watching the children's faces light up when the animal turns their attention to them. The puppet operators are without exception brilliant. Often surrounded by a crowd of kids desperate for their attention the performers skilfully manage to keep everyone happy, gently interacting with the kids who are a bit nervous and wary, as well as those who are more keen to push to the front.
My four-year-old daughter, who is obsessed with wolves, was delighted to see the luminous canids in one of the sections and spent a long period of time interacting with one of the beautiful wolf pups.
Probably the most spectacular animal on display is the lion. Around seven foot tall and glowing yellow it stalked around its enclosure coming up close to the children to be petted and to nuzzle them. It's a remarkable looking thing.
The Lanterns is created in collaboration with the extraordinary Wild Rumpus - the theatrical magicians behind the wonder-inducing JustSo festival and many other projects which aim to deepen people's connection with nature. The Lanterns is a perfect example of this.
While on one level this is just a brilliant evening out at the zoo, it is also doing another job: inspiring awe and reverence and love for animals. It is surprisingly moving.
You and your children come away from the experience with a rekindled affection and sense of awe about the animals we share the world with - and all this is achieved without encountering a single non-human creature. It's quite the magic trick.
The Lanterns at Chester Zoo is open on selected dates until Friday, December 23. Child tickets start from £12 and adult tickets from £15. Visit the website to book.
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