Saturday 30th August 2025 • Promotional Content
Theatre to inspire young imaginations
Tall Stories theatre company is tour- ing three musical stage shows adapt- ed from Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler’s well-loved picture books, and everyone is invited. Te Smeds and Te Smoos, Te Gruf-
falo’s Child and Te Gruffalo can be found in UK theatres throughout 2025 and 2026. “Tall Stories brings their own special magic to their stage pro- ductions based on my books,” says Ju- lia Donaldson. Tall Stories’ magical skills with
puppetry, play, songwriting, audience interactions and humour have cele- brated imagination and transported families into fantastical worlds for nearly 30 years. What makes a Tall Stories show special is that it lasts beyond the theatre visit, with young audiences recreating these magical worlds at home. A joyful tale of star-crossed aliens,
Te Smeds and Te Smoos “is a bit like Romeo and Juliet, but with aliens and a happy ending”, says director Toby Mitchell. On a far-off planet, Smeds and Smoos can’t be friends. So when a young Smed and a young Smoo fall in love and zoom off into space together, their families have wild adventures flying to other planets trying to get them back. Grandfather Smed and Grandmoth-
er Smoo meet a multitude of cute and hilarious alien puppets on their quest to recover their grandchildren. With multiple five-star reviews and described as ‘Perfect family viewing’ by Beyond Te Curtain, Te Smeds and Te Smoos is showing at the Lyr- ic Teatre in London’s West End this summer — before heading out on tour with a Christmas run at the Pavilion Teatre, Dublin. Touring in autumn is the wintry
sequel to the classic book Te Gruff- alo. Described as ‘exciting, enchant- ing and entertaining’ by Manchester Evening News, Te Gruffalo’s Child is set on a wild and windy night, where we find the Gruffalo’s child ignoring her father’s warnings. She tiptoes out into the deep dark wood, follow-
ing snowy tracks and encountering mysterious creatures. Tall Stories’ theatrical adaptation
of Te Gruffalo’s Child is jam-packed with catchy songs, dancing and clev- er shadow puppetry. It inspires young audiences to face their fears, while knowing they can always return home to their parents. Julia Donaldson her- self says that, “Te Big Bad Mouse is worth waiting for.” A festive Christ- mas treat, Te Gruffalo’s Child is at the Lyric Teatre, London, this Christmas and tours the UK from October 2025 to April 2026. Te Gruffalo is arguably the most
famous children’s picture book of the 21st century, and the stage show is cel- ebrating its 25th anniversary in 2026. Over the last quarter-century, this celebrated show has played venues far and wide, from village halls in the UK to the Sydney Opera House, and from New York to Hong Kong. To mark the show’s 25 years on stage, Tall Stories has lots planned, including a UK tour, a London West End run in the sum- mer and a special gala performance. More plans are due to be announced towards the end of this year. Tall Stories is an internationally
touring theatre company known for other shows like Room on the Broom, Te Elmer Adventure and Te Snail and the Whale. Te Sunday Times says, ‘Tall Stories
sets the benchmark for children’s the- atre’ and BBC’s Gaby Roslin says, “Tall Stories put on the best kids’ theatre.”
Te Modern Family
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To find out more about Tall Stories and the shows near you, please visit
tallstories.org.uk
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