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Spotted UK

Local News Reports

Zog the musical where the audience was dancing in the aisles

BySpotted UK

May 31, 2023

If you have a child there is a good chance you are familiar with the stories of Julia Donaldson.

Now 74, in her writing career she has created modern classics such as The Gruffalo, Room on a Broom and Stick Man. All stories I have read over and over with my children.

So seeing her tale of Zog the dragon, who wants to be the very best at dragon school, was a delight. The musical is a wonderful way to introduce your little ones to the theatre.

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Bringing to life the distinctive illustrations of Alex Scheffler with a mixture of live performances and puppets, the show's lovely message of friendship and 'practise, practise, practise' is filled with good natured silliness, catchy songs from Joe Stilgoe and a bit of audience participation. One little girl was asked what she had for breakfast and said "chicken nuggets", much to the approval of her fellow audience members.

From start to finish the five cast members had genuine smiles on their faces as the audience of tiny heads roared back at them and giggled their way through Zog's journey to gain a golden star, helped by Princess Pearl. And there are some real laugh out loud moments as the dragons gain their skills, my three-year-old thought the fart joke was hilarious (to be fair, so did I).

The pacing is well measured, although there did feel like a natural end before the duel with Sir Gadabout the Great, and the performances full of earnest bright eyes to capture even the smallest in the crowd. It always impresses me how clever staging, lighting and props can take you anywhere and Zog, directed by Emma Kilbey, will do just that with some deceptively simple tricks.

And it has found a perfect home in the Liverpool Playhouse who know just how to welcome an audience of Zog fans, with stickers, smiles and booster sets for all. If you are looking for an afternoon of fun, songs and silly laughs, this is the perfect family show that will have you dancing in the aisle by the end.

And my own little dragon said it "I loved it. I loved the songs." Perhaps that is the only review you need, I am off to practise my roaring.

*Zog is at the Liverpool Playhouse until Saturday, June 3, tickets priced at £16 – click here for more information

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