Peppa Pig’s Adventure – West Yorkshire Playhouse, Leeds

Reviewer: Laura Stimpson

To the delight of many pre-schoolers Peppa Pig arrived in Leeds today with her latest theatre offering, Peppa Pig’s Adventure. Based on the animated children’s TV series produced and directed by Astley Baker Davies, the latest theatrical adventure follows Peppa and her friends; Pedro Pony, Suzy Sheep, Gerald Giraffe, and Daisy as they go on a camping trip to the woods.

The set is a simple, bright projection, and the audience are welcomed to the theatre by Daisy, presenter and friend of Peppa Pig, played by the warm and energetic Bronte Tadman. The young audience literally squeals with delight when they are introduced to the puppet characters one by one and encouraged to help Daisy to find them in a panto-style “(s)he’s behind you” way. Audience participation is aplenty; through actions and songs we follow the characters to school and meet Mummy and Daddy Pig who are helping prepare for the school trip. A highlight of the first half is Daddy Pig driving the school bus to pick up Peppa and Friends.

After a short break the audience return, refreshed and ready for the magnificent second half. This show only gets better and better as it goes on. The characters arrive in the wood for their camping trip, the set simply made up of brightly coloured tents. As the lights dim, the characters and audience are introduced to the wildlife in the wood; frogs bounce across the set, bats and owls fly in, but the most magical of all are the fireflies that fly around the campsite. A highlight of this beautiful and sensory spectacular is a shadow tent scene where you can see the characters in their tents at night. When they wake the next day, there is, of course, plenty of time to splash in muddy puddles.

The performance ends on a high when the audience is invited to their feet, dance and sing along to the songs that have been performed throughout the show.

It’s impossible to single out any individual performer from this superb seven strong cast, who perform with gusto and energy throughout, this is a true ensemble performance.

Peppa Pig’s Adventure is simply a great piece of children’s theatre that will delight all generations. Regardless of whether you’re a die-hard Peppa Pig fan, it’s impossible not to love the mix of upbeat songs, audience participation and sensory spectacular. A must see for Peppa Pig fans and very much recommended for all pre-schoolers and their family. You will not be disappointed.

Touring Nationwide | Image: Contributed