In the midst a major UK and Ireland tour of Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler’s Zog, we spoke to Lotti Brogan, who is starring as Madam Dragon and Governess, about the production, theatre for young people and her success at The Pantomime Awards 2024.

Please can you tell us what Zog is about and a little bit about your character?

Zog is about a young dragon who goes to dragon school to learn skills like flying, roaring, breathing fire and capturing princesses. He tries very hard but is often clumsy and gets hurt. A king girl, Princess Pearl, secretly helps him each time. In the end, they decide to become doctors to help people instead of following normal fairytale roles.

My character, Madam Dragon, is the teacher at dragon school. She is strict but fair and encouraging, teaching the dragons their lessons and giving gold stars when they do well.

Zog is another one of many Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler books to make the jump from page to stage. Why do you think these stories work so well on stage?

Stories by Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler work well on stage because they have rhyming text, simple plots and memorable characters. The clear illustrations also help inspire costumes, puppets and sets, making books like The Gruffalo and Zog easy to adapt for theatre by recreating the world to engage live audiences.

You’ve done a lot of pantomimes and family shows in your career so far. What do you enjoy about this genre of live entertainment?

I enjoy pantomimes and children’s theatre because of the audience interaction, the comedy and the high energy performances. I also love the big characters and colourful, imaginative style. I feel that it’s particularly special because for many children it’s their first experience of live theatre, which is something about my job that’s really magical – seeing their faces react to what is happening on stage is so rewarding.

Why is it important that young people have access to high quality live entertainment?

It is so important that young people have access to high-quality live entertainment because it can spark imagination, creativity and a love of theatre and the arts. It also helps them experience stories in a shared, exciting way, build confidence and can inspire some children to become future performers or creatives. High-quality shows make that first experience memorable and meaningful, especially in this day and age with iPads, Netflix and other screen. Live theatre offers something unique and real that children can experience in the moment. I still remember going to watch The Gruffalo with my primary school!

What were some of your earliest memories of theatre and live entertainment that inspired you to pursue a career in it?

One of my earliest memories of theatre was seeing my dad perform in The Rat Pack Live from Las Vegas in the West End when I was about four years old. I remember thinking how fun it looked and how amazing it was that this was his job – it didn’t look like work at all.

At school, I started doing impressions of my teachers in the talent show, which made me realise how much I loved performing for people and experimenting with different accents and silly voices. Not long after that, I played Dorothy in my first school show, The Wizard of Oz, and I absolutely loved singing on stage. From that point on, I knew I wanted to keep performing.

You won the 2024 UK Pantomime Award for Best Secondary Lead – what does this award mean to you?

Winning the UK Pantomime Award for Best Secondary Lead in 2024 means a huge amount to me. To be recognised by the industry for my performance felt incredibly special. It was also a nice full-circle moment because I started out performing in local pantomimes as a dancer in the junior ensemble, and now I’m playing leading Princess roles, so little me would be quite proud!

How important do you think pantomime is to the UK theatre scene? Why do you think it is consistently so popular up and down the country?

Pantomime is incredibly important to the UK theatre scene because it is one of the most accessible and widely loved forms of live theatre. For many families, it’s a yearly tradition and often a child’s first experience of going to the theatre, which helps introduce new audiences to the arts. It remains so popular across the country because it combines comedy, music, audience interaction, politics and well-known stories in a way that appeals to children and grandparents. Pantomime also has a strong sense of community and celebration, especially around the festive season, which makes it a special shared experience that people return to year after year. I love the spontaneity and chaos of panto – to perform in them, and to watch them, is just an absolute laugh!

Why should families come to see Zog at a theatre near them?

Families should come to see Zog on stage at a theatre near them because it’s a fun adventure full of laughter and heartwarming moments. Children can see the characters they love come to life with costumes, music and puppetry, whilst enjoying a story about trying your best, being kind and following your own path.

Zog is currently touring the UK and Ireland. It is set to visit Leeds, Watford, Hornchurch, Worthing, Liverpool, Salford, Lancaster, Southport, Northampton, Southampton, Coventry, Kingston, Hull, Lincoln, Harlow, Guildford, Worcester, Crewe, Carlisle, Glasgow, Edinburgh, York, Swindon, Oxford and Colchester, before culminating in a summer season at London’s Cadogan Hall.