Review of the Tiger Who Came To Tea at the Piccadilly Theatre

Would you like 55 minutes of pure nostalgic bliss where life was a million times easier and all you had to worry about was what your mum had cooked for tea? Well, you’re in luck my friends because you’ll be instantly transported back to your childhood with the vivid stage adaptation of Judith Kerr OBE’s picture book classic which is back in the West End for a special 10th anniversary run this summer. A big happy roar to that. Tigers roar right?!

We were kindly invited to the press preview on Sunday and I’m not ashamed to admit I was up in the aisles singing and dancing (at the cast’s request to the audience, I’m not crazy), unleashing my inner 5 year old with abandon (giving my ACTUAL 5 year old son a run for his money in the booty-shaking stakes) for this feel-good show the whole family lapped up and adored.

With a brilliant ensemble cast with the energetic protagonist Abbey Norman stealing the show as Sophie, Stage Adaptor and Director, the eminent David Wood OBE delivers a lively, delightfully hyper-real and utterly enchanting adaptation in The Tiger Who Comes to Tea.

Every minute detail is considered here too from the check print tights Sophie wears in the book to creating a Postergramme rather than a standard programme so children can take a piece of the production home with them to be treasured on their wall. We also loved how interactive the production was, fully immersing and also involving the little ones in the audience reflecting more of a Pantomine in parts than a play. Just brilliant.

And it’s not just us who think so either.

With 4 and 5 stars all-round check out some more well-deserved reviews.

★★★★
‘This Tiger is the cat’s meow’
The Times

★★★★
‘A rare and grrreat achievement’
Mail on Sunday

★★★★
‘All the fun of the fur’
Daily Express

★★★★
‘Perfectly pitched’
Daily Telegraph

★★★★★
‘Delightful’
WhatsOnStage

If you’re not familiar with the story (where have you been?)…

The doorbell rings just as Sophie and her mummy are sitting down to tea and who could it be but a strapping big, stripy tiger who happens to be starving hungry (and up for a boogie) turning every preconception of this wild animal on its head!

The highlight of the day was taking a picture with Tiger and the cast after the show and if you look closely, you can see just how happy the boys were at meeting their new furry friend. Oliver’s eyes are literally sparkling!

Alexander actually collects cuddly tigers who sleep amongst his ever-growing cuddly collection of animals, every night so you can imagine his excitement at one that was over 6 foot!

Isn’t childhood magical?!

I wish I could bottle up these memories forever, but then stage shows like this do just that.

5 stars.

Don’t miss it.

Book your tickets now.

This show is suitable for 3+.

Production stills from 2017 by Michael Jean-Marain.

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