The Gruffalo Celebrates 25 Years With a UK Tour & West End Run
Tall Stories’ beloved stage adaptation of The Gruffalo is celebrating 25 years of sparking young imaginations with a major UK-wide tour, a West End summer season, special livestreams into children’s hospitals, and a brand-new free Gruffalo nature storytelling experience.
Based on the award-winning picture book by Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler, The Gruffalo live on stage invites families into a playful, silly and joy-filled world where imagination leads the way.
Since its premiere, the show has:
- Welcomed over 3 million audience members
- Toured to 18 countries
- Been translated into 7 languages
- Featured 37 different actors playing the Gruffalo
Produced by the acclaimed company Tall Stories (creators of The Gruffalo’s Child, The Smeds and The Smoos, Wilde Creatures and more), this much-loved production is directed by Olivia Jacobs.
The show tours over 30 UK venues from 31 March 2026 and arrives in London’s West End at the Lyric Theatre from 17 July 2026, with tickets starting from just £10.
A Classic Story Brought to Life on Stage
First published in 1999, The Gruffalo became an instant classic, and the stage adaptation—premiering in 2001—has been enchanting audiences for over two decades.
The story follows a clever little Mouse on a brave journey through the deep dark wood, meeting:
- A cunning Fox
- An eccentric Owl
- A high-spirited Snake
—all brought to life with puppetry, playful humour, and irresistible ska, disco and rock-inspired songs.
To stay safe from predators, Mouse invents the tale of a fearsome creature called the Gruffalo… only to discover the legend might be real after all!
Tall Stories’ Signature Storytelling Style
After 28 years of developing their distinctive storytelling approach, Tall Stories has become one of the UK’s leading family theatre companies. Their productions are known for:
✨ Playfulness and imagination
✨ Puppetry and physical theatre
✨ Engaging music and audience participation
✨ A joyful connection between performers and families
Every Tall Stories show is created in-house, ensuring high quality, creativity, and a welcoming atmosphere for audiences aged 3 to 103.
Families are encouraged to return to the magic of live storytelling — leaving the theatre inspired, energised and ready to keep playing long after the show ends.
The Gruffalo’s Child is now playing at London’s Lyric Theatre until 11 January 2026
