As a child of the early noughties, I remember Julia Donaldson’s The Gruffalo as a distinctive cultural touchstone of my formative years. A couple of decades later, it’s been a while since I engaged with the classic British tale, so I was very happy to pop along to the Lyric Theatre on a sunny Sunday morning to watch Tall Stories’ musical adaptation in celebration of its 25th anniversary.
Our storytellers are Rianna Kellman, Niall Hemingway, and Jordan Cottle, who introduce us to the deep, dark wood – in a beautiful set by Isla Shaw that feels like the perfect homage to Axel Scheffler’s iconic illustrations – where Mouse (Kellman) now resides. On the hunt for the perfect tasty nut, Mouse has to outwit the sneaky Fox, Owl, and Snake (all played by Cottle) before meeting the frightening Gruffalo (Hemingway).
There’s a wonderfully whimsical feeling to the production, with some elements of physical theatre adding to the comedy and storytelling. The trio of cast members are fantastic: Kellman is adorable and charming as Mouse, Cottle’s various villains all feel distinctive and threatening but with a hilarious twist, and Hemingway is a fearsome yet Gruffalo.
The Gruffalo boasts a number of catchy musical numbers, with music and lyrics by Jon Fiber and Andy Shaw. Cottle’s solo numbers as Fox, Owl, and Snake were especially ear-wormy, with one ska-infused song becoming a particular personal favourite. Sometimes musical numbers in children’s shows can rely too heavily on simple melodies and lyrics, so it’s a delight to see such creativity being deployed here to create a distinctive and memorable set of tunes.
Children can be tricky to keep engaged at the theatre (especially in the first weekend of the summer holidays), but Tall Stories seem to have cracked it with The Gruffalo. While the first few minutes saw some kids a bit restless as the cast acted as narrators to set up the story – I heard a few fidgety youngsters asking “Where’s the Gruffalo?!” – the audience soon settled once they met the familiar characters they know and love.
The script manages to strike the right balance between keeping the most beloved moments and lines from Donaldson’s book whilst adding in new jokes and references that adults and children alike can appreciate. Some well-timed moments of audience participation go down a treat, and the kids seemed thrilled to get the opportunity to show off their best Gruffalo roars.
In The Gruffalo, Tall Stories successfully capture the magical warmth of the original book while creating an enchanting piece of children’s theatre that will bring a big smile to grown up faces too.
The Gruffalo plays at Lyric Theatre until 6th September 2026. You can buy tickets at: https://thelyrictheatre.co.uk/
Reviewer: Olivia Cox
Reviewed: 19th July 2026
North West End UK Rating: