If you have a toddler the chances are you have a Julia Donaldson classic on your bookshelf. The Children’s Laureate’s percussive prose coupled with Axel Scheffler’s instantly recognisable characters ooze charm and provide rich fodder for theatre adaptation. If you are looking to bring your child’s favourite characters to life, London currently has quite the selection of Julia Donaldson theatre shows. Here are the best Julia Donaldson theatre shows London in 2024.
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Stick Man Live
Leicester Square Theatre
Tube: Leicester Square
21st October – 2nd March 2024
Freckle Productions’ delightful adaptation of Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler’s Stick Man makes a return to London’s west end this autumn.
What better way to start the slow build in anticipation to Christmas than with a festive theatrical treat? Journey with Stick man on this tale of triumph over adversity as we will him home after his morning jog spirals into a series of misadventures which threaten Christmas at the Family Tree.
Complete with live music, puppetry and dance, this award-winning production, from the team behind Zog, Zog and the Flying Doctors, Tiddler and other Terrific Tales, and Tabby McTat is set to delight family audiences. A perfect hour-long adventure that will have its young audience up on its feet.
What could be better than the gift of Julia Donaldson this Christmas 2023? Click here for a family review.
- Suitable for ages- 3+
- Buggy Parking available? Yes although limited and down a flight of stairs
- Booster Seats? Yes
- Babes In Arms? Up to 18 months
Charlie Cook’s Favourite Book
Where: Little Angel studios
Tube: Highbury and Islington
Dates: 18th Nov – 4th Feb 2024
Charlie Cook loves to read but his sister does not. Can he persuade her with a book about a pirate who is reading a book about Goldilocks who is reading a book about a knight..and so on?
A celebration of the joy of reading and the power of imagination. Packed with puppetry and song, this show will transport children to a world of endless possibilities.
- Suitable for ages – 3-8yrs
- Buggy Park – Yes
- Booster Seats Available – Yes
- Babes in arms – Free under 12 months
The Gruffalo’s Child
Where: Garrick Theatre, Charing Cross Road
Tube: Leicester Square
Dates: 1st Dec – 7th Jan 2024
Joining the line up of Julia Donaldson Theatre shows this festive season is Tall Stories’ ‘The Gruffalo’s Child’. Snuggle up in this West End Theatre and follow the snowy tracks of the young Gruffalo in tentative pursuit of the infamous big bad mouse. All is not as it seems in this charming sequel to Julia Donaldson’s best-selling picture book. An hour-long feast of storytelling.
- Suitable for ages – 3+
- Buggy Park – Yes
- Booster Seats Available – Yes
- Babes in Arms – Yes
The Smartest Giant in town
Where: St. Martins Theatre
Tube: Leicester Square
Dates: 2nd Dec – 7th Jan 2024
When it comes to heart-warming, feel good Children’s theatre, Little Angel Theatre are a ‘dab hand’.
The Smartest Giant in town sees George, the woeful scruffiest Giant endeavouring to smarten himself up when a new shop with giant-sized clothes opens up in town. Feeling dapper in his new look – smart trousers, smart shirt, shiny shoes and stripy tie, George quickly realises what is really important to him when he encounters a whole host of colourful characters who need his help. The ultimate ‘Good Samaritan’ story about helping others in need is bought to life in this charming adaptation with catchy songs and clever puppetry. A lovely way to indulge Julia Donaldson fans this Christmas 2023.
- Suitable for ages – 3+
- Buggy Parking available? limited, collapsable buggies only
- Booster Seats? TBC
- Babes in arms? Yes under 12 months
Charlie Cook’s Favourite Book
Another chance to see Little Angel Theatre’s puppetry and song bonanza about a book within a book within a book.
A great treat for February Half Term.
- Suitable for Ages – 3+
- Buggy Parking? Yes
- Booster Seats? Charged at £3
- Babes in Arms?Yes up to18 months
Zog and The Flying Doctors
Join everyone’s favourite dragon as he swoops into the limelight in this enchanting sequel to the smash-hit Zog Live! With his trusty companions, Princess Pearl and Sir Gandabout, Zog takes to the skies to save a sun-kissed mermaid and a feverish lion. But when Pearl is trapped by her grumpy uncle who thinks princesses should only wear frilly dresses and sew, Zog finds himself on a mission to save his friend.
A heartwarming adventure from Freckle Productions which will enjoy a month long residency at Cadogan Hall in Summer 2024 also.
- Suitable for Ages – 3+
- Buggy Parking – Yes
- Booster Seats – Yes, £3 each
- Babes in Arms- Yes up to 18 months
The Singing Mermaid
In this much loved adaptation of Julia Donaldson and Lydia Monk’s Story, we learn that glitter is not always gold. When the Singing Mermaid is tempted away to join a travelling circus with promises of fame and fortune, her friends smell a rat. Indeed their fears are realised when the mermaid finds herself enslaved and exploited by the no good circus master. But how will she escaped with no legs to carry her? And who will help her?
With beautiful puppets mastered by a cast of three and stand out songs and music by Barb Jungr ( The Pixie and The Pudding, We’re going on a bear hunt).
- Suitable for Ages – 3+
- Buggy Parking – Yes
- Booster Seats? – Yes, charged at £3 each
- Babes in Arms? – Yes up to 18 months
Zog and The Flying Doctors
Another chance to catch Zog and his friends this May Half term at South West London’s much loved children’s theatre.
- Suitable for Ages- 3+
- Buggy Parking – can be left in foyer at own risk
- Booster Seats- limited, first come first served
- Babes in Arms? – Yes, up to 18 months
Charlie Cook’s Favourite Book
Little Angel Theatre’s ‘story within a story’ heads to South West London for a limited run this Summer.
- Suitable for Ages – 3+
- Buggy Parking? – Can be left in Foyer at own risk
- Booster Seats – Limited, first come first served
- Babes in Arms? – yes, up to 18 months
Zog and The Flying Doctors
This Summer Zog and friends take up a sizzling month long residency at London’s Cadogan Hall – a Summer holiday treat for all the family.
- Suitable for Ages – 3+
- Buggy Parking? – Yes
- Booster Seats? – Yes
- Babes In Arms – Yes, Up to 18 months
The Baddies
Dates: 29th October – 3rd November 2024
Fresh from their world debut at Edinburgh’s Lyceum Theatre , ‘The Baddies ‘ (a Freckle Production original) are set to take London by storm. This is one show to mark in your diaries and get booked asap.
- Suitable for ages – 3+
- Buggy Parking? – Can be left in Foyer at Own risk
- Booster seats? – Limited
- Babes in Arms? – Yes, Up to 18 months