There's no such thing as a Gruffalo, is there? This weekend we headed to The Lowry to find out.
Critically acclaimed Tall Stories have brought Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler’s bestselling children’s picture book to life. This smash hit production brings all the magic, laughter, fun and music you could hope for from such a well-loved book.
And it's the perfect show for helping to shape younger minds while bringing them top quality entertainment. Never judge a book by its cover, of course, is a good lesson to learn from a very young age.
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With an impressive woodland stage setting, complete with flying butterflies, trees, and dens, it’s a great backdrop for an adventure in the deep dark wood. The audience join the hungry mouse’s hazelnut hunt; however, poor little mouse needs to outwit the woodland creatures it meets along the way to avoid being eaten for dinner.
With the cunning fox, eccentric old owl, and the high-spirited snake all out looking for food, can the tale of the terrifying Gruffalo keep mouse safe?
Mouse is played by Aimee Louise Bevan; Aimee takes on the role as the quick-thinking mouse brilliantly. Alastair Chisholm plays the quirky woodland predators with simple but effective costumes, and last, but not least Aaron Dart plays the star of the show - The Gruffalo.
Between them, this talented trio bring this old favourite story alive, and manage to have the children (and adults) entranced from the start. Even most of the toddlers in the audience were immersed in the fairy tale unfolding on the stage in front of them.
The cast bring fun performances, catchy songs, and comedy. And in return the children lap it up, shrieking with delight, the occasional burst of excited laughter echoing around the theatre.
The Gruffalo is a family show, aimed at children from 3 years old. I took my niece Darcie who is 5, and my smallest cousin Evie who is aged 3. It was Evie’s first ever theatre production.
The 55 minute show had a pleasant amount of audience interaction, and little Evie got fully involved, chanting along and shouting at the stage, and sometimes laughing wildly - it felt special to see her so lost in the story that she has probably had read to her hundreds of times at home and nursery. Evie couldn’t wait to get home to tell her family all about her little theatre adventure.
The Gruffalo is running at The Lowry, Salford until Sunday, 21 August.
Tickets for all shows (including accessible performances) are £18 and available from here.
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