Cast and Crew

Rianna Kellman

Mouse

Meet Rianna

Say my name: Ree-An-Na KEL-man

Born and raised in Hackney, Rianna trained as a Drama and Music Facilitator with The Hackney Empire and used those skills to transition into acting. She also developed her Puppetry skills with Fuel on their Global Majority Puppetry Intensive Course.

Theatre credits include: Shut Up I’m Dreaming The National Theatre (UK Tour) 2023 – 2024, The Lion Inside (UK/ASIA Tour): Nicolle Entertainment 2024 – 2025, The Snowflake (Polka Theatre) 2025-2026

What was your favourite story as a child?

“Handa’s Surprise”, I loved seeing a book with someone that looked like me. It was full of mischief with those animals sneaking fruits away. I
also loved how delicious the illustrations made the fruits look. I remember wanting to snatch some too!

What’s your favourite food?
My favourite food is Sushi.

What sort of imaginary monster would you invent?
I would create something that shapeshifts into different forms that provides comfort and a feeling of safety to anyone who needs it. It might be scary at first but it turns out to be a sweet comfort monster.

Niall Hemingway

Gruffalo

Meet Niall

Say my name: NYE-uhl HEM-ing-way

Originally from Lincoln, Niall graduated from The Courtyard Theatre Training Company with a BA (Hons) in Acting. Alongside performing, he is also a published author and is passionate about stories that spark imagination — making The Gruffalo a very special adventure to be part of. 

Theatre credits include: Billy Budd (The Faction), A Man Proposes to a Balloon (Matchstick Theatre), Prohibition (Workshop), A Son of a Small Town Elvis (The Union), Peter Rabbit’s Garden Adventure (Histrionics), Buffy the Vampire Slayer Musical (Two Box Theatre Company), Golden Girls: A Musical (Two Box Theatre Company), A Very Special Guest Star (Arcola Theatre), The Prince (Arts Theatre Leicester Square), The Trimark Hotel (Workshop), Saucy Jack and the Space Vixens (Two Box Theatre Company), The Tiger Who Came To Tea (UK Tour). 

What was your favourite story as a child? 

The Lion, The Witch & The Wardrobe. I have always loved magic, heroes, monsters and epic adventures. 

What’s your favourite food? 

I love pizza. Simple margarita pizza – a bit of pepperoni if I’m feeling fancy. 

What sort of imaginary monster would you invent? 

A big orange furry bear, with wings. He might look a bit scary but he would sooner invite you for a cup of tea than scare you. 

 

Jordan Cottle

Fox, Owl and Snake

Meet Jordan

Say my name: JOR-dun KOT-ul

Whilst living in sunny Weston-super-Mare, Jordan received a degree in Performing Arts from Bath Spa University. His passion is creating; he often tours his own original work around the country, including storytelling, puppetry, & sketch comedy. As well as acting, Jordan is a
composer & musical director, most recently creating the soundtrack for the 5-star Bristol Christmas Comedy “Moulin Scrooge” at The Wardrobe Theatre. He also loves trains. And Doctor Who, naturally.

Other theatre credits include: Yara in the Wild Wood (UK Tour), The Hare, the Moon, and the River (Tour), Fête Club (Front
Room Theatre), Cosmic Twegheads (UK Tour/Edinburgh Fringe)

What was your favourite story as a child?
Thomas the Tank! My dad loves Only Fools and Horses – whenever he read me Thomas stories, I’d find the Fat Controller saying “Lovely Jubbly” a lot more than usual…

What’s your favourite food?
Owl ice cream! Only joking – although I do love vanilla. Call me boring, but when they invented ice cream, they got it right the first time.

What sort of imaginary monster would you invent?
A monster made of thumbs. Shake his hand? Nope – thumb. Pat on the head? Thumb again. You can’t even ask how he is; instead of a mouth, it’s just thumbs.

Adam Pritchard

Understudy

Meet Adam

Adam Pritchard // AH- Dum Pr-ITCH-ard  

Adam was born and raised in the city of Lichfield – Staffordshire. Touring with The Gruffalo is an incredible opportunity to show his young niece and two nephews what theatre is and how amazing it can be! 

Theatre credits include:  Jack and the Beanstalk (Elgiva Theatre)  and Cinderella (Elgiva Theatre)

What was your favourite story as a child? 

I was always drawn towards The Hungry Caterpillar … maybe it’s because I’m always hungry, who knows ?  

What’s your favourite food? 

It has to be a full roast dinner, but it must have Yorkshire puddings and roasties! 

What sort of imaginary monster would you invent? 

I would invent a huge monster made from jelly that looks big and scary, but is friendly to everyone and makes itself giggle when it jiggles! 

Molly Tackaberry

Company Stage Manager

Meet Molly

Creatives

Olivia Jacobs

Original Director

Meet Olivia
Say My Name: uh-LIV-ee-uh JAY-kuhbs
What do you like best about your job?

The people I get to work with. I’m lucky to be in a room with so many talented and creative people. It’s hard and physically demanding – but we laugh all the time and what could be better than that?!

What was your favourite story as a child?

I loved being read Mr Tickle by my dad. The anticipation of him tickling at the end was almost unbearable…

Why did you want to work in theatre?

I learn best through stories and am inspired by getting lost in a brilliant tale. To be part of making great stories come to life for a living is a real treat.

 

 

 

Isla Shaw

Designer

Meet Isla
Say My Name: I-la sh-or sounds like roar
What have been your favourite projects to work on?

I designed ‘Macbeth’ at Shakespeare’s Globe. It’s incredibly exciting to have 1600 people responding to work in that space! It’s raw and exciting!

What do you like best about your job?

I really enjoy how every day is different. From research and problem solving, to working creatively with the director, and being part of a team to create a show.

James Whiteside

Lighting Designer

Meet James
What have been your favourite projects to work on?

I’m very lucky to have worked on all sorts of projects, so it’s very hard to pick a favourite. But I did have a blast the first time I went to New York with Tall Stories!

What was your favourite story as a child?

My favourite story as a child was ‘The Wind in the Willows’, and it still is! One day I would like to light it on stage.

Martin Rodges

Costume Supervisor

Meet Martin
Say My Name: mah-tin rod-jez
What have been your favourite projects to work on?

One of my favourites was ‘Anything Goes’ at the Barbican, because it was the first proper theatre job I did after lockdown and so it felt like I was finally getting back to normal.

Why did you want to work in theatre?

I tried every single job in theatre and finally settled on costumes – I enjoy realising the designers’ drawings on stage. 2024 will mark 35 years of working in the costume industry.

Jon Fiber & Andy Shaw

Music & Lyrics

Meet Jon Fiber & Andy Shaw
What have been your favourite projects to work on?

We’ve enjoyed all of the shows we’ve worked on with Tall Stories but I think our favourite experience was working with actor-musicians, devising songs and music for ‘Wilde Creatures’ and ’The Canterville Ghost’.

What was your favourite story as a child?

Jon’s favourite story as a child was ‘Peter and the Wolf’ (although it terrified him!) and Andy’s was ‘The Adventures of the Little Wooden Horse’.

Morag Cross

Choreographer

Meet Morag
What have been your favourite projects to work on?

Not to be cheesy, but ALL of the Tall Stories shows that I’ve done the movement for are the most fun and collaborative and satisfying to create.

What do you like best about your job?

Playing games and dancing and laughing until I’m exhausted!

Yvonne Stone

Puppet Designer

Meet Yvonne

Say My Name: ee-VON st-OHn

Yvonne studied Puppetry at the Central School of Speech and Drama in London having previously attended the Byam Shaw School of Art. She is now an independent puppet designer, director, maker and performer for theatre, television and film.

What have been your favourite projects to work on?

I have loved working on all my projects. It’s just so great to work with puppets.

What was your favourite story as a child?

My favourite stories as a child were the Yvonne and Teresa stories made up by my dad for my sister and I. We couldn’t get enough of them!

What was the first show you saw as a child?

It was a pantomime in London. I’d just got over chicken pox and was a bit shy, but then I was asked to come up on stage and suddenly all my shyness was gone!

Author & Illustrator

Julia Donaldson

Author

Meet Julia

Julia is the author of some of the world’s best-loved children’s books, including modern classics ‘The Gruffalo’ and ‘The Gruffalo’s Child’, which together have sold over 17 million copies worldwide, and the hugely successful ‘What the Ladybird Heard’ adventures. Julia also writes fiction, including the ‘Princess Mirror-Belle’ books illustrated by Lydia Monks, as well as poems, plays and songs – and her brilliant live shows are always in demand. She was Children’s Laureate 2011-13 and has been honoured with a CBE for Services to Literature. Julia divides her time between West Sussex and Edinburgh.

Axel Scheffler

Illustrator

Meet Axel

Axel is a star illustrator whose instantly recognisable, warm and witty illustrations have achieved worldwide acclaim and numerous awards. Axel is the illustrator of wonderful novelty, gift and poetry books for Macmillan, such as ‘Fish Dream of Trees’ (Two Hoots) and the bestselling ‘The Bedtime Bear’, ‘The Tickle Book’ and ‘Mother Goose’s Nursery Rhymes’ – and of course, he is the illustrator of some of the world’s best-loved picture books, including the modern classic ‘The Gruffalo’, with over 30 million books sold worldwide across the series. Axel’s artwork is exhibited internationally; he has illustrated for many charities, and designed the Royal Mail Christmas stamps in 2012. Born in Hamburg, Axel now lives with his family in London.

 

Production

Director: Toby Mitchell
Original Director: Olivia Jacobs
Designer: Isla Shaw
Lighting Designer: James Whiteside

Choreographer: Morag Cross
Choreography by: Morag Cross, Luanna Priestman & Bex Allingham
Costume Supervisor: Martin Rodges
Music and Lyrics: Jon Fiber, Robin Price, Olivia Jacobs, Andy Shaw
Music Production: Jon Fiber and Andy Shaw for Shock Productions
UK Production Manager: Nick May
Marketing: Jane Morgan Associates

Adapted by the company from the picture book by Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler (Macmillan Children’s Books)
The Gruffalo © Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler 1999 – Macmillan Children’s Books 

An actor playing the Owl towering over the mouse. The Owl is wearing a tan jacket, bird wings and aviator hat with glasses. The mouse is wearing a brown vest and white shirt.

Thanks to

Julia Donaldson MBE, Axel Scheffler and all at Macmillan Children’s Books; our initial devisers Tom Banks, Felix Hayes and Sharon McArdle, and all previous Gruffalo casts; all at our tour venues and rehearsal rooms; Clare Fischer; all at CPT (especially Shaun Glanville) and at the Diorama; the Tall Stories board members; Dan, Joe, Jessica, George and their parents.

This show is for Mia.

Previous team members

Mouse

Sharon McArdle (original production), Claire Knight, 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, Alex Tregear, Josie Cerise, Susanna Jennings, Luanna Priestman, Ellie Bell, Angela Laverick, Lauren Scott-Berry, Rebecca Newman, Mia Ward

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, Scott Armstrong, Tom Crook, Tim Hibberd, Owen Guerin, Aaron Millard, Steve McCourt, Elliot Rodriguez, Ashley Sean-Cook, Adam Jay-Price

The Predators

Tom 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, David Garrud, Daniel Foxsmith, Will Towler, Tim Richey, Charlie Guest, Neil Jennings, Alastair Chisholm, Jake Addley, Katie Erich

Associate Choreographer

Bex Allingham

Understudy

Paul Matania, Jeremy Randall, Alastair Chisholm, Emily Waters, Laura Goulden

Company Stage Manager

Benjamin Luke, Jules Millard, Charlie Hodsdon, Rachel Pryce, Emma Eldridge-Doyle, Cat Pewsey, Nicky Bathgate, Gemma Scott

Associate/assistant director

Luanna Priestman (associate), Sam Conway (associate), Emily Howlett (associate for BSL version), Joe Hancock (assistant)

Original design/construction

Zahra Premji, Katie Avis, Neil Gavin and Gus Houssein

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