TL;DR: The Enormous Crocodile Musical is a delightful family show that perfectly captures Roald Dahl’s mischievous spirit. With clever puppetry, a jazzy score, and plenty of audience interaction, it’s a must-see for all ages.
At its core, the story is deceptively simple: a big, bad crocodile fancies a child for his tea, and the clever jungle animals must unite to stop him. This simple premise is classic Roald Dahl, masterfully combining whimsy with a malevolently terrifying undertone. With songs about ‘bone crunching’ and imagery of children in boiling pots or under silver serving trays, you might wonder if this musical is truly suitable for the youngest of audiences. And yet, The Enormous Crocodile Musical is as enchanting as it is clever, pulling crowds to the Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre for a second consecutive year this summer.
Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links
Armed with a portable fan, sunscreen, and a sunhat, I took my two 6 and under children and their grandma to find out more and bring you the Enormous Crocodile Musical review.
My six-year-old is a huge Roald Dahl fan and this musical retelling hit all the right notes with its almost back-to-back musical numbers and the classic moral of good prevailing over bad. Ahmed Abdullahi’s score is a real treat—it’s contemporary and jazzy, giving the show a fresh, vibrant sound.
Taya Ming is a standout as the Enormous Crocodile. She’s convincingly menacing even without her faux lavish tail and set of pearly whites, and her wide grin and devilish glare really brings the title character to life.
My three-year-old was completely captivated by the various jungle characters, from Trunky the Elephant (Nia Stephen) to the clumsy cabaret Roly Poly Bird (Alison Arnopp) and the nervously farting hippo (Ryan Crellin-Simpson)—all of whom were beautifully crafted in large-scale puppetry by Toby Olié. A brilliant nod to the source material, my son was keen to point out that the monkey was the same one from his favourite Dahl book, The Twits, a testament to how closely the puppets were constructed with Quentin Blake’s illustrations in mind.
The Open Air Theatre adds a whole new dimension to the show. Right from the start, smoke-filled bubbles and exotic soundscapes are used to simulate the humid swamplands of the crocodile’s lair. The theatre itself is a sight to behold, but be warned: the summer sun is unforgiving in a venue with little shade! The atmosphere feels so quintessentially British, like a day out at Wimbledon, with stoic spectators fanning themselves with programs and slurping ice creams but equally ready for a typical British downpour!
There’s a fair amount of audience interaction, which the kids absolutely loved. When we entered, the children were handed foam monkey nuts, which they were later called upon to hurl at the crocodile. This resulted in a full-on frenzy of excitement with children chasing the crocodile down the aisles—it was chaos in the best way possible!
True to the original, the story’s ending is brazenly bonkers, with a quick departure from the jungle to outer space as the crocodile is mercilessly hauled around the solar system and into the sun and pulverized into a green sausage, never to threaten child safety again. The show is a predictable story with a wonderfully unpredictable ending that’s sure to delight. It’s a fantastic family experience and a must-see for any Dahl fan, young or old.
Top Tips for Parents
Here are a few quick tips to make your family’s visit to the Open Air Theatre a breeze:
Pack Snacks: While there are refreshments available, bringing your own water and a few small snacks can be a lifesaver with little ones. Outside you will find a licensed bar, pizzas and ice cream truck.
Dress for the Weather: As the theatre is completely open-air, be prepared for both sun and potential rain. Sun hats, sunscreen, and a light rain jacket are all good ideas.
Arrive Early: The theatre gets very busy, and arriving a bit early gives you time to find your seats, grab snacks, and get your hands on those all-important foam monkey nuts!
Book your seats strategically: We attended a 2pm show in August and noted that the seats facing far Stage Right were in the shade. With my 70yr old mother in tow accessibility was also considered so we made sure to book seats at ground level. Be warned some of the higher seating requires navigating steep steps without continuous handrails.
Buggy Parking: There is a large Buggy Park on entering
Age Guidance: All ages (particuarly 3-8yrs) and definitely a great show to invite the grandparents along to!
READ NEXT: Must See Theatre: London Shows for Toddlers (2025)
