The Gruffalo
Spring 2010, UK, Australia. Ages 3+
About
A mouse took a stroll through the deep, dark wood…
Following sellout performances at the Criterion Theatre, the National Theatre, the Scottish International Children’s Festival, Warsaw’s English Theatre and Broadway’s New Victory Theater, Tall Stories continues to tour Britain and the world with this big scary monster of a show…
Join Mouse on an adventurous journey through the deep, dark wood in this magical, musical adaptation of the Blue Peter award-winning picture book by Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler (‘a modern classic’ – Observer).
Mouse can scare hungry animals away with tall stories of the terrifying Gruffalo, but what happens when he comes face to face with the very creature he imagined?
Songs, laughs and scary fun for children aged 3 and up, and their adults… Let your imagination run wild!
Where is it playing?
2010
The Gruffalo is touring the UK from March 2010. Click here for dates.
The Gruffalo is also touring Australia in 2010. Click here for dates.
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XMAS 2009
Nov to Jan London Apollo
12-21 December Stockton Arc Centre
23 Dec to 3 Jan Birmingham Old Town Hall
2009 UK TOUR
Click here for dates
AUSTRALIA 2009
16-30 May Seymour Centre, Sydney, Australia
More Australia dates to follow
SPRING 2009 US TOUR:
March 2009
7-11 Tennessee Performing Arts Center, TN
February 2009
26-4 Mar Pittsburgh International Children’s Theater, PA
January 2009
13 Jan-22 Feb CTC, Minneapolis, MN
HONG KONG 2009
31 Jan-9 Feb HK Academy for Performing Arts
Xmas 2008
AUTUMN 2008 US TOUR:
December 2008
2 Tribeca Performing Arts Center, New York, NY
3 Horace Bushnell Memorial Hall, Hartford, CT
5-6 Hopkins Center, Dartmouth College, Hanover NH
November 2008
3 The Thomas H. Bowlus Fine Arts Center, Iola, KS
6 Wilkes Community College, Wilkesboro, NC
7 The Paramount Theater, Charlottesville, VA
10 PASCO County Schools Center for the Arts, Wesley Chapel, FL
12-14 Kravis Center for the Performing Arts, West Palm Beach, FL
16-17 Ruth Eckerd Hall, Clearwater, FL
21-22 The Goodwill Theatre, Johnson City, NY
24 Capitol Center for the Arts, Concord, NH
25 Brooklyn Center for the Performing Arts, Brooklyn, NY
30 Theatre at Raritan Valley Community College, Somerville, NJ
October 2008
2 WYO Theater, Sheridan WY
4 Sangre de Cristo Arts Center, Pueblo, CO
6 Walton Arts Center, Fayetteville, AR
8 Children’s Fine Arts Series, San Antonio, TX
10 Lutcher Theater, Orange, TX
14-20 Florissant Civic Center, Florissant, MO
22 McAninch Arts Center, Glen Ellyn, IL
24 Iowa State Center, Ames, IA
26-27 The Overture Center for the Arts, Madison, WI
28 Gallagher Bluedorn Performing Arts Center, Cedar Falls, IA
30 T.B. Sheldon Theater, Red Wing, MN
August 2008
31 Jul to 25 Aug C Venues, Edinburgh Fringe
June 2008
5-7 University Concert Hall, Limerick
12-14 Dean Crowe Theatre, Athlone
19-21 Town Hall, Galway
26-28 Sheffield Lyceum
May 2008
8-10 Cork Opera House
13-17 INEC Killarney
23-24 Theatre Royal, Waterford
April 2008
1 Embassy, Skegness
3-5 Clwyd Theatr Cymru, Mold
7-8 Mercury, Colchester
11-12 Lancaster Grand
17-19 Millennium Forum, Derry
24 April to 5 May Tivoli Theatre, Dublin
24-29 April DUBAI
March 2008
6-9 Windsor Theatre Royal
15-16 The Point, Eastleigh
18-19 Eden Court, Inverness
20-22 His Majesty’s, Aberdeen
24-26 Corn Exchange, King’s Lynn
29-30 Connaught, Worthing
February 2008
1-3 Cambridge Arts Theatre
5 White Rock, Hastings
6-9 Milton Keynes Theatre
12-13 Reading Hexagon
14-15 Chelmsford Civic Theatre
17-18 Sunderland Empire
23-24 Ipswich Regent
28-1 Mar Norwich Theatre Royal
XMAS 2007
6-8 Dec The Lights, Andover
10-22 Dec Gulbenkian, Canterbury
27-29 Dec Hextable Dance
WINTER 2007-8
19 Dec to 20 Jan Tivoli Theatre, Dublin
Xmas 2006
9 Dec to 7 Jan Arts Theatre, London’s West End
November 2006
9-11 Nottingham
14-16 Billingham (TBC)
19-21 Derby
October 2006
3-7 Milton Keynes
10-14 Her Majesty’s Theatre, Aberdeen
19-22 Connaught Theatre, Worthing
27-29 St Albans
September 2006
13-17 Hall for Cornwall, Truro
21-23 Hull Theatre and Hall
28-1 October Brighton
August 2006
1-5 Oxford Playhouse
17-20 Bolton Albert Hall
23-26 Kings Theatre, Glasgow
31-3 September Rhyl Pavilion
July 2006
2-3 Leas Cliff Hall, Folkestone
11-15 Churchill Theatre, Bromley
16-17 Grand Opera House, York
22-23 Southport Theatre
25-30 Arts Theatre, Cambridge
June 2006
9-11 New Theatre, Cardiff
25-26 Empire Theatre, Sunderland
May 2006
29- 4 June Theatre Royal, Bath
April 2006
10-15 Lowry Theatre, Salford
18-22 Lyric Theatre, Belfast
29-30 Theatre Royal, Winchester
March 2006
7-11 Theatre Royal, Lincoln
23-25 Civic, Chelmsford
29-2 April Yvonne Arnaud, Guildford
February 2006
2-5 North Wales Theatre, Llandudno
10-11 Richmond Theatre
16-18 Playhouse, Sevenoaks
21-25 Swansea Grand
28-5 March Theatre Royal, Newcastle
January 2006
27-29 Haymarket, Basingstoke
December 2005
1-3 December Theatre Royal, Windsor
7-11 December Opera House, Jersey
Xmas Hampstead Theatre, London
November 2005
1-3 November Spa Pavilion, Felixstowe
4-6 November Devonshire Park, Eastbourne
11-12 Lyceum Theatre, Sheffield
15-19 Civic Theatre, Darlington
24-26 Grand Theatre, Blackpool
28-30 Forum Theatre, Billingham
October 2005
4-8 Queen’s Theatre, Barnstaple
16-18 White Rock Theatre, Hastings
21-22 Yvonne Arnaud, Guildford
25-29 Churchill Theatre, Bromley
September 2005
5-6 Bristol Hippodrome
8-11 Wyvern, Swindon
14-17 Opera House, Buxton
22-25 Theatre Royal, Plymouth
27-29 Clwyd Theatr Cymru, Mold
30 Sep-2 Oct Cheltenham Everyman
August 2005
3-6 Theatre Royal, Glasgow
10-13 Marlowe Theatre, Canterbury
30 Aug-3 Sep Greenwich Theatre
July 2005
6-9 New Victoria, Woking
13-16 Theatre Royal, Brighton
19-23 Key Theatre, Peterborough
26-30 Cambridge Arts Theatre
19 July to 21 Aug Criterion Theatre, London’s West End
June 2005
2-4 Richmond Theatre
6-8 The Hawth, Crawley
9-11 Theatre Royal, Windsor
16-18 Theatre Royal, Norwich
22-25 Milton Keynes Theatre
29 June-2 July Cardiff New Theatre
May 2005
3-7 May Greenwich Theatre
10-15 May Pleasance Theatre, London
18-21 May Everyman, Cheltenham
25-28 May Regent Theatre, Stoke
30 May-1 June Corn Exchange, Newbury
April 2005
21-23 Wycombe Swan
26-30 Poole Lighthouse
February 2005
14-18 Trinity Arts Centre, Tunbridge Wells
Xmas 2004
18 December to 3 January Pleasance Theatre, London
Autumn 2004
North American tour
August 2004
4-30 C Venue, Edinburgh Fringe
23 March to 10 April 2004
Polka Theatre, Wimbledon
Spring 2004
North American tour
Xmas 2003
Norden Farm (Maidenhead) and Warwick Arts Centre
Autumn 2003
North American tour
June 2003
1 Vancouver International Children’s Festival
4-7 Mississauga International Children’s Festival
11-14 London International Children’s Festival
May 2003
14-18 Pittsburgh International Children’s Festival
20-24 Calgary International Children’s Festival
26-31 Vancouver International Children’s Festival
January 2003
30 Showcase 2003, Montreal
December 2002
1 St Mary, Hastings
7 Yvonne Arnaud, Guildford
13 Fern Hill, Surrey
12 December to 11 January Soho Theatre, London
16-24 Lakeside Arts Centre, Nottingham
November 2002
1 Forest Arts Centre, New Milton, Hants
2 Baticombe Village Hall, Preddy Village Hall, Devon
3 Guildhall, South Brent Village Hall, Devon
9 Stamford Arts Centre
16 Library Theatre, Luton
23 Salisbury Arts Centre
30 Haymarket Theatre, Basingstoke
October 2002
5 Lyric Studio, Hammersmith
12 Radlett Centre, Herts
19 Woburn Festival, Bucks
20 Watermans, Brentford
23-7 Bull Theatre, Barnet
29 Dulverton and Calmstock, Somerset
30 Regal, Somerset
31 Ashcroft Arts, Fareham, Hants
September 2002
7 Warehouse Theatre, Croydon
8 Trinity Arts Centre, Kent
14 Brewery Arts Centre, Kendal
21 Jackson’s Lane, London
22 Hazlitt Theatre, Maidstone
28 Vera Fletcher Hall, Surrey
August 2002
1-25 Edinburgh Fringe: C Too – St Columba’s by the Castle (0870 701 5105), 2pm
July 2002
6 Chats Palace, London
13 Maltings, Farnham
20 Harrow Arts Centre
25 Redbridge
28 Ludlow Assembly Rooms
29 Darlington Arts Centre
June 2002
1-9 Warsaw
22-23 Tricycle Theatre
29 Beckenham Studio
May 2002
11 Cambridge Drama Centre
18 Cranleigh Arts Centre
25 Town Hall, Hemel Hempstead
26-29 Kaleidoscope Festival, Aberdeen
April 2002
2 Regal Arts, Worksop
3-4 Birmingham Rep
6 Bristol Old Vic
13 Nottingham Stages
14 Albany, Deptford
March 2002
2 Half Moon Theatre, London
30 Lyric Studio, Hammersmith
February 2002
6 Cranleigh Schools, Surrey
7 Lincoln City Council
8 South Holland Centre, Lincs
9 Rotherham Arts Centre
10 Croydon Clocktower
12 Tower Arts Centre, Winchester
13 Portsmouth
14 Nelson School
16 Norden Farm, Maidenhead
18-22 Royal National Theatre, London
23 Battersea Arts Centre
Dec 2001
15 Dec to 6 Jan Komedia Theatre, Brighton
17-30 Lemon Tree, Aberdeen
November 2001
1 Edward Alleyn Theatre, Dulwich
2 De La Warr Pavilion, Bexhill-on-Sea
3 Chase Bridge School, Twickenham
4 Harrow Arts Centre, London
5 Stamford Hill Primary School, London
10 BAC, London
12 Cleves Primary School, London
17 Leicester Haymarket plus Stamford Arts Centre
23 Honeywell School, Battersea
24 Tricycle Theatre, Kilburn
October 2001
13 Bristol Old Vic
15-16 Aberystwyth
20 Cambridge Drama Centre
22 Stiwt Theatre, Wales
23-26 Bull Theatre, Barnet
27 Nuffield Theatre, Southampton
31 Take Off Festival, Stockton on Tees
19-Dec 15 MacRobert Arts, Stirling (second cast)
August 2001
2-26 Edinburgh Fringe
July 2001
7 Arc Theatre, Trowbridge
14 Yvonne Arnaud, Guildford
17 Grove Park School, Kingsbury, plus Woodfield School, Kingsbury
19 Dunmore School, Oxford
20 Forge Lane School, Feltham
21 Windsor Arts Centre
28-29 Galway Arts Festival
May 2001
12 Gateway Theatre, Chester
13 Komedia Theatre, Brighton
19 Adam Smith Theatre, Fife
20 Lemon Tree, Aberdeen
21 Fintry Nursery School
22 Linlithgow Primary School
24 St Jerome’s Primary School
25 Scotland schools
26 Maltings Theatre, Berwick
27 The Wynd Theatre, Melrose
28-30 Scottish International Children’s Festival (SICF) outreach schools
31-June 3 Traverse Theatre, Edinburgh (SICF)
Team
Adapted by the company from the picture book written by Julia Donaldson and illustrated by Axel Scheffler (Macmillan Children’s Books)
Mouse
Sharon McArdle (original production), Hilda Gardner, Alice Parsloe, Samantha Barron, Emma Manton, Michaela O’Connor, Becky Kitter, Abbey Norman, Karina Garnett, Sharon Thompson, Louise Mai Newberry, Caroline Garland, Naomi Said, Crystal Hegedis
The Predators
Thomas Warwick (original production), Robert Evans, Michael Lambourne, Andrew Hoggarth, Gareth Farley, Sean Kempton, Alex Perkins, Austin Mitchel Hewitt, Joseph Carey, Jonathan Race, Alex Scott Fairley, Tim Stedman, Rob Copeland, Paul Lancaster, Napoleon Ryan, Stephen Anderson
The Gruffalo
Felix Hayes (original production), Scott Ironside, Ben Phillips, Colin Adrian, Derek Elroy, Nick Ash, Mark Peachey, James Gitsham, Duncan Foster, Ross Hugill, Alan Park, Tamlyn Henderson
Director
Olivia Jacobs (original production), Toby Mitchell, Stephen Colyer (Australian resident director)
Creative producer
Toby Mitchell
Designer
Isla Shaw
Lighting director
James Whiteside
Original design/construction
Zahra Premji, Katie Avis, Neil Gavin and Gus Houssein
Musical director
Jon Fiber
Music and lyrics
Jon Fiber, Robin Price, Olivia Jacobs and Andy Shaw
Music production
Jon Fiber and Andy Shaw for Shock Productions
Thanks to:
Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler; all at Macmillan; all at our tour venues; Clare Fischer; all at CPT (especially Shaun) and the Diorama; Dan, Joe, Jessica, George and their parents… The Gruffalo is for Mia.
Reviews
Like a fairytale, this story, based on the children’s book by Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler, involves a quest, a journey into perilous woods, and the overcoming of seemingly insurmountable odds. But it’s not about a handsome prince or a lovely maiden – it’s about a mouse.
In this devised piece for children aged three and over, directed by Olivia Jacobs for Tall Stories, Mouse ventures into the forest in search of nuts. Along the way, the little rodent is accosted by ravenous predators. So Mouse invents an imaginary friend – a huge, monstrous beast called the Gruffalo. And each time the foe is scared off, until the mouse is suddenly confronted by a creature that looks horribly like its own invention.
The cast of three uses an expressive physicality and minimal props to bring the story to wonderful life. Alice Parsloe is a sweetly scampering mouse, screwing up her pretty face in fear or confusion. Felix Hayes is an agile storyteller and, later, transformed by the production’s only full costume, a dull-witted, likeable and rather lonely Gruffalo, covered in fur, horns and claws and with a poisonous pimple on his nose.
Naughty-faced Tom Warwick, meanwhile, clearly relishes all his roles as Mouse’s adversaries, the most entertaining of which is a mustachioed Mexican rattlesnake, with maracas. ‘They call me Joaquim,’ he declares with a sinuous wiggle of his hips. ‘I come into a room and they say, ‘There’s that snake – whack ‘eem!’
It’s been said that one of the reasons the Teletubbies, with their singsong refrain of ‘again, again!’, are such a success is that young children love repetition. The Gruffalo works a similar magic. Each time Mouse outwits an enemy, the same catchphrase – ‘Doesn’t he know? There’s no such thing as a Gruffalo’ – and the same musical motifs recur. As the pattern builds and becomes increasingly familiar, the children’s delight grows.
Ivan Unwin’s idyllic set looks like a page from a picture book, and the gently witty songs keep the action bouncing along. This is an irresistibly charming tale told with refreshing simplicity. Watch out, Tinky Winky and co – you have got some serious competition.
The Times
Most parents and virtually all children will know the tag-line by now. From the very first strains of ‘a mouse took a stroll through the deep dark wood’, Tall Stories’ adaptation of Julia Donaldson’s treasured tale never misses a beat. This new play develops Donaldson’s words with perfect understanding, presenting a warm, enchanting show that transports us to a world of real storytelling where the magic comes from knowing just what children will relate to. The lines are familiar from many bedtime story moments, both for readers and listeners, and the responsibility for bringing such a loved tale to life is in perfectly safe hands.
As Mouse ventures through her scary habitat in search of an elusive nut, she encounters all manner of creatures who have her in mind for lunch. Mouse’s tale of the imagined Gruffalo suitably scares them off, but every child in the audience knows that Mouse herself is in for a big surprise as dreams turn into reality.
This whimsical, imaginative show is pitched at just the right level for three to seven-year-olds, as well as the ‘ugly big ones’ they have brought along with them.
There are songs, laughter and fun for an age group too often neglected or patronised by current offerings. The trio who inhabit each character mix clever storytelling for the target audience with one-liners for those who have forked out for the tickets.As Mouse encounters each potential predator, she also finds enchanting characterisation, both verbally and musically. From the spivvy, dancing fox to the just-scary-enough Gruffalo himself, this show is an absolute delight. The actors from Tall Stories have created a minimal land with just enough audience participation for older children, and the right amount of original story recognition to spark the interest of little ones.
It is a rare treat to find a show that really is for all the family, but this is one which cannot be commended enough for its spot-on achievements.
Scotsman
Julia Donaldson’s tale of a clever mouse who outsmarts its enemies is an absolute peach of a story. And thankfully, children’s theatre company Tall Stories have done the author proud…
The List
Monstrous fun … sparks the young imagination … Hugely popular already and deservedly so, this is enthralling entertainment for the youngsters …
Sunday Herald
Tall Stories have transformed a well-loved story into an exuberant, funny show’
Time Out (top five children’s shows of 2001)
Audience feedback
I just wanted to let you know how much my two children and I enjoyed the Gruffalo at Guildford’s Mill Studio today. It was a very professional and thoroughly enjoyable performance which had us all laughing for hours after we left the studio. I will be singing your praises to all my friends!
Sarah Blake and Leah (aged 4) and Joel (aged 7)
Hello. We went to see The Gruffalo today at The Bull Barnet. My children (3 & 5) loved it and so did mum and dad! The acting of all three was excellent, the music very catchy and I was impressed how you had embellished the script. Well done and good luck with any future shows!
John Brooker
Dear Tall Stories
I’m so chuffed to find you have a website and that I can email.
I saw The Gruffalo last week in Barnet with my 6-year-old and her friend. I was so, so impressed. The performances, the script and the staging were wonderful and the three of us (and the rest of the theatre) were absolutely enthralled. I was staggered at the quality of the adaptation and the creativity of what was presumably produced through improvisation.
Pauline Eyre
Saw the production in Brighton – superb, energetic, committed theatre. Knocks spots off any panto and much enjoyed by all. Congratulations and thanks.
Phil Richardson
Technical
Download Tech Spec
Download Gruffalo lighting notes
Download Gruffalo lighting cues
Download Gruffalo lighting plan
Publicity
High resolution images
Click on the thumbnails below for full size images.
Please credit the illustration and logo as ‘Copyright Macmillan Children’s Books’ and the photos as ‘Copyright Tall Stories’.
Marketing Pack
Download Gruffalo USA marketing pack
Tall Stories Logo
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Brochure copy
‘A mouse took a stroll through the deep, dark wood…’
As part of their sell-out international tour, Tall Stories theatre company returns with a big scary monster of a show – “Irresistibly charming” (The Times).
Join Mouse on an adventurous journey through the deep, dark wood in this magical, musical adaptation of the Blue Peter award-winning picture book by Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler (“a modern classic” – Observer).
Mouse can scare hungry animals away with tall stories of the terrifying Gruffalo, but what happens when he comes face to face with the very creature he imagined?
Songs, laughs and scary fun for children aged 3 and up, and their adults… Let your imagination run wild.
The Gruffalo is touring Britain and internationally.
‘It’s a rare treat to find a show that really is for all the family, but this one can not be commended enough for its spot on achievements.’ (Scotsman – five stars)
‘Tall Stories have transformed a well-loved story into an exuberant, funny show’ (Time Out – Top 5 children’s shows of 2001)