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Roar-some shows to keep little ones entertained at Oxford Playhouse
Dragons galore are coming to Oxford Playhouse this August!
Young audiences will delight as the lovable Zog returns to the stage with his trusty sidekicks Princess Pearl and Sir Gadabout in Zog and the Flying Doctors based on Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler’s bestselling sequel. In this World Premiere tour, Freckle Productions (Zog, Stick Man, Tiddler & Other Terrific Tales, Tabby McTat) bring the creative team behind Zog, Emma Kilbey and Joe Stilgoe, back together for this truly modern take on the classic fairy tale.
Zog, super keen student turned air-ambulance, still lands with a crash-bang-thump. He and the flying doctor crew tend to a sunburnt mermaid, a unicorn with one too many horns and a lion with the flu. However, Pearl’s uncle, the King, has other ideas about whether princesses should be doctors, and she’s soon locked up in the castle back in a crown and a silly frilly dress!
With a bit of help from some friends and half a pound of cheese, can Pearl make her uncle better and prove princesses can be doctors too?
Zog and the Flying Doctors is one of the best-loved creations of Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler, the UK’s number one picture book pair behind many modern classics including The Gruffalo which has been published in 75 languages. Together their books have sold over 75 million copies.
First published in 2016, Zog and the Flying Doctors is the smash-hit sequel to Zog, which has sold over 1.5 million copies. On Christmas Day 2020, Magic Light Pictures premiered an animated film of Zog and the Flying Doctors on BBC One featuring an all-star cast including Sir Lenny Henry and Rob Brydon.
Zog and the Flying Doctors is directed and adapted by Emma Kilbey with music and lyrics by Joe Stilgoe, choreography by Tom Jackson Greaves and Edwin Ray, designs by Lucy Bradridge and lighting design by Aaron J Dootson. The cast features Ben Raymond as Zog, Alex Bloomer as Sir Gadabout, Lois Glenister as Pearl, Sarah Freer as Mermaid/Lion, Danny Hendrix as King/Unicorn and Annie Rose Chapman as Swing.
Next up is Dragons and Mythical Beasts, a fantastical new Olivier-nominated interactive show for all the family, where brave adventurers can enter a magical world of heroes and legends.
Featuring a whole range of creatures from famous myths, including dragons and unicorns, the show explores the many qualities that are more heroic than violence and creates an adventure where it’s possible to be a hero without slaying mythical creatures along the way.
Brought to the stage from the team behind international smash hit Dinosaur World Live, who bring spectacular puppets to life, this spell-binding adventure will captivate young audiences aged 3+.
Writer and co-director Derek Bond commented: “I hope that audiences feel inspired by it – maybe to create their own mythical creatures, or to find out more about the myths behind the creatures in the show. I hope it sparks imaginations, brings people together, and encourages them to be kind to each other.”
Tickets at Oxford Playhouse start at £10 and are available from the Oxford Playhouse Box Office on 01865 305 305, or can be booked online at www.oxfordplayhouse.com