The Gruffalo Theatre Royal, Newcastle (From The Northern Echo)

The Gruffalo Theatre Royal, Newcastle

11:20am Friday 16th July 2010 in

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AS every child knows, there really is such a thing as a Gruffalo and he’s proof that having misfortunes, including a poisonous nasal wart and purple dorsal prickles, do not necessarily prevent one achieving megastar status.

This popular stage adaptation of Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler’s smash hit story is back to delight the North-East branch of the fan club this week.

Stage adapters often face the challenge of timing with stories written with the young in mind. How do you transform a tale which takes five minutes to read (and only a little longer for a listener to memorise) into a theatre show?

Tall Stories have got around the “padding” problem with some sweet songs, comic characterisation and audience participation to create a nutty treat for their audiences,which meanders charmingly around the classic tale. Design-wise, the stage and costumes (with the exception of our favourite dim-witted monster) haven’t even tried to emulate Scheffler’s illustrations.

The audience certainly had ample opportunity to hoot with laughter as the super-talented cast of three seem to have as much fun onstage. Critic Junior’s fave was, predictably Scott Armstrong’s Gruffalo.

There’s also some fun to be had in the deep dark wood for grown ups, especially with the characters of the Mouse’s predators, all played by David Garrud, including a vain maraca-bearing Mexican snake.

My only disappointment is with the money men. This show is clearly hugely successful so it would have been nice to see more of the profits ploughed back into the set (brown papier-mache) as well as the costumes and props which were minimal. And I’m convinced that replacing the bizarrely beaver-like tail which the Fox was sporting wouldn’t bankrupt anyone either. But ultimately, this is a top tall tale for the not-so-tinies.

Sarah Scott

■ Until tomorrow Tickets: 08448-11-21-21 theatreroyal.co.uk