Synopsis
A mouse took a stroll through the deep dark wood...
Join Mouse on a daring adventure through the deep, dark wood in Tall Stories' magical, musical adaptation of the classic picture book by Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler.
Searching for hazelnuts, Mouse meets the cunning Fox, the eccentric Old Owl and the high-spirited Snake. Will the story of the terrifying Gruffalo save Mouse from ending up as dinner for these hungry woodland creatures? After all, there's no such thing as a Gruffalo - is there?
Songs, laughs and monstrous fun for children aged 3 and up and their grown-ups, in the much-loved show that's toured Britain and the world!
About Tall Stories
Tall Stories brings great stories to life for audiences of all ages. The company is a registered charity which tours the UK and the world with its exciting blend of storytelling theatre, original music and lots of laughs. Tall Stories was founded in 1997 by Olivia Jacobs and Toby Mitchell. Our shows have played in the West End, on Broadway and at the Sydney Opera House, as well as in all sorts of venues and countries in between.
About the Show from the Directors
When we first read 'The Gruffalo' in 1999, we immediately loved it. the story, the text and the illustrations are fantastic - in both senses of the wrd. We asked Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler if we could adapt it for the stage and we were thrilled when they said yes. We were even more thrilled when the book started to win awards - as it looked like other people love 'The Gruffalo' as much as we did. Little did we know how popular it would become! We're very grateful to all the performers and crew who have worked on the show over the last 22 years, particularly Tom, Felix and Sharon, our original cast. We continue to develop and reinvent the show as time passes, and the set, some of the songs and the costumes have seen multiple iterations and (hopefully!) improvements over the years. We hop that you enjoy watching it as much as we enjoyed making it.
-Olivia and Toby
The Cast
Aaron Dart - The Gruffalo
Aaron trained at East 15 Acting School. He has been touring 'The Gruffalo' since October 2022 and his previous theatre credits include 'Dinner is Coming' (The Vaults, London), 'Beauty and The Beast: A Musical Parody' (Kings Head Theatre, London) and 'Wuthering Heights' (UK Tour). His screen work includes ITV's 'Doc Martin', and various characters in ITV2's 'The Stand Up Sketch Show', Commercials include comedy leade for Taco Bell, Samsung, Cineworld and Bose. Aaron is very excited to be tourin 'The Gruffalo' across the United States this year!
What have been your favorite projects to work on?
I played Mr. Spout the Teapot in Fat Rascal Theatre's gender swapped 'Beauty and the Beast: A Musical Parody'. It was very fun and bonkers!
What was your favorite story as a child?
'The Tortoise and the Har'. It has a good moral to live by - "slow and steady wins the race" - and I really like the pictures too.
Aimee Louise Bevan - Mouse
Aimee trained at Kingston University and at Associated Studios, and she now works as an actor, dancer, movement director and puppeteer. Her credits include 'There's a Rang-Tan in My Bedroom and Other Stories', 'The Gruffalo' UK tour, 'The Firebird', 'In the Night Garden Live' UK tour, 'Reach for the Stars', 'The Fourteenth Stop', 'Puss In Boots' and 'Small Island. Aimee is thrilled to be back with 'The Gruffalo' team and is excited to tour North America.
What have been your favorite projects to work on?
Two of my favorite projects have been 'Small Island' because it was a gorgeous production, and 'Reach for the Stars' because I got to challenge myself with new skills.
What sort of imaginary monster would you invent?
A furry blue monster, with a tail like a beaver, two and a half horns and eyes that change color when they are happy. They would also love ice cream!
Anna Nicholson - Fox, Owl, & Snake
Anna is an award-winning writer and performer and as worked in the UK and internationally for over 10 years. Last year she wrote the script for pantomime 'Cinderella' at the Oxford Playhouse and played Cindy-Lou in 'The Grinch'. In 2021 she co-wrote and starred in series on of 'The Adventures of the Juniper', a children's sitcom set in space. In 202 Anna was a sketch writer for the CBBC's 'Crackerjack' and was short-listed for BBC's Caroline Aherne Character Comedy Bursary. Between 2018-2021 Anna wrote and performed two solo character comedy shows 'Woman of the Year' and 'Get Happy'. Her debut show was developed with Soho Theatre Young Company and BBC's James Cary ('Miranda', 'Bluestone 42'). These shows toured the UK, enjoyed sold out runs at the Edinburgh Fringe and were transferred to international festivals including New Zealand and Adelaide Fringe where she won a Best Comedy Award. Anna is excited to be working with Tall Stories again and can't wait to see you all at the shows.
What have been your favorite projects to work on?
I was the writer and performer of two critically acclaimed solo shows 'Woman of the Year' and 'Get Happy' that have toured the UK, Australia and New Zealand. I also loved work on CBBC's 'Crackerjack'.
What was your favorite story as a child?
'The Velveteen Rabbit' by Margery Williams. It's about a toy rabbit who was loved so much he became real. I had a toy rabbit who I loved to bits. I think she became real too!
Charlie Hodsdon - Company Stage Manager
What have been your favorite projects to work on?
I've previously worked on Tall Stories 'Wilde Creatures' which was also a US tour and it was amazing to see such wonderful places and meet such lovely people.
What was your favorite story as a child?
'Ivor the Engine' - my mom used to make the sound of Ivor chuffing.
What's your favorite food?
A profiterole mountain, has to be a mountain!
What sort of imaginary monster would you invent?
Sleepy the sleep monster. THey would put you to sleep if you annoy them so they can have a peaceful day!
Tall Stories Team
Artistic Director & Co-Founder: Toby Mitchell
Executive Director: Laura Woodward
Finance Manager: Sheila McClenaghan
Marketing Manager: Clare Lewis
General Manager: Harriet Billington
Creative Programmes Coordinator: Fiona Bines
Production Coordinator: Marcus Marsh
Production Assistant: Eman Ansari
Office Assistant: Rachel Benson
Artistic Associate & Co-Founder: Olivia Jacobs
THANKS TO: Julia Donaldson CBE, Axel Schheffler and all at Macmillan Children's Books; Daryl Shute and all at Magic Light Pictures; Felix Hayes, Sharon McArdle, Thomas Warwick and all previous Gruffalo casts; Lisa Aitken; Islington Council and all at Central Library, Islington; the Tall Stories' Board of Trustees; Dan, Joe, Jessica, George and their parents.
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Creative Team
Director: Olivia Jacobs
Creative Producer: Toby Mitchell
Designer: Isla Shaw
Lighting Designer: James Whiteside
Puppet Designer: Yvonne Stone
Choreographer: Morag Cross
Music and Lyrics: Jon Fiber, Olivia Jacobs, Robin Price, and Andy Shaw
Costume Supervisor: Martin Rodges
Company Stage Manager: Charlie Hodsdon
Production Manager: Nick May
Additional Choreography: Bex Allingham and Luanna Priestman
Costume Makers: Christine Atkinson, Calum Harvey Aislinn Luton, Alice Lessing
Creative Team Biographies
Olivia Jacobs - Director
Olivia trained at Central School of Speech and Drama and obtained a degree from the University of London before studying Japanese Children’s Theatre in Tokyo. She worked with Besht Tellers, Black Theatre Co-operative and Soho Theatre before becoming Artistic Director of Camden People’s Theatre. Her directing credits include: ‘Wilde Creatures’ (co-director, West End), ‘Emily Brown and the Thing’ (UK tour), ‘The Gruffalo’ (UK, US including Broadway, Australia including Sydney Opera House, international), ‘The Gruffalo’s Child’ (UK, US, Asia and international), ‘Snow White’ (UK/US tours including Broadway), ‘Room on the Broom’ (UK, US, Australia including Sydney Opera House,international), ‘The Extraordinary Adventures of Mr Benn’ (UK, international), ‘How the Giraffe got its Neck’ (UK tour), ‘William’s Monsters’ (UK, international), ‘Mum and the Monster’ (UK tour), ‘Something Else’ (UK tour), ‘The Happy Prince’ (UK tour), ‘Rumpelstiltskin’ (UK tour) and ‘Latke Who Couldn’t Stop Screaming’ (UK tour). Olivia is co-founder and joint artistic director of Tall Stories.
Toby Mitchell - Creative Producer
Toby studied at Cambridge University and Central School of Speech and Drama. He has been a French and drama teacher, an editor at Macmillan Children’s Books and designer of Total Theatre Magazine. Recent directing credits include ‘Wilde Creatures’ (co-director, West End), ‘The Snail and the Whale’ (UK, international), ‘Alfie White: Space Explorer’ (UK tour), ‘My Brother the Robot’ (UK tour), ‘Twinkle Twonkle’ (UK, US), ‘The Snow Dragon’ (UK, international), ‘Does a Monster live Next Door?’ (UK tour), ‘Cat and No Mouse’ (Edinburgh/London), ‘The Owl and the Pussycat’ (UK tour),‘The Egg’ (Edinburgh/London) and ‘Alice and Mr Dodgson’ (Edinburgh/London). Recent performing/devising work includes: ‘Future Perfect’, ‘Monsters Got Talent’, ‘A British Guide to French Pop’, ‘The Island of First Loves’ (Edinburgh) and ‘Pandemonium’ (Edinburgh/London). He has worked with Soho Theatre and the Royal Court and is co-founder and joint artistic director of Tall Stories.
Isla Shaw - Designer
Theatre includes, for Tall Stories: ‘Emily Brown and the Thing’ , ‘My Brother the Robot’, ‘Does a Monster live Next Door?’, ‘The Gruffalo’s Child’, ‘The Gruffalo’, ‘Mum and the Monster’, ‘Snow White’ and ‘Something Else’. Other theatre credits: ‘Checklist For An Armed Robber’ (Australia), ‘Requiem for the C20th’ (Australia), ‘One Way Street’ (Australia), ‘The Wall Project’ (Australia), ‘Copenhagen’ (The Watermill), ‘Fen’ & ‘Five Kinds Of Silence’ (Live Theatre), ‘Neville’s Island’ (TheWatermill), ‘The Memory Of Water’ (UK Tour), ‘The Argument’ & ‘Three Dark Tales’ (Theatre O), ‘Skin Deep’ (Warehouse Theatre), ‘Desire Under The Elms’ (RSC), ‘Alban 2000’ (St. Alban’s Cathedral), ‘Phaedra’ (Royal Lyceum Edinburgh). Dance & Opera: ‘The Barber of Seville’ (Denmark), ‘Maria De Buenos Aires’ (Norwich Theatre Royal), ‘The Strauss Gala’ (UK Tour), ‘From Berlin to Broadway’ (Denmark), ‘Grabmusik’ & ‘Bastien and Bastienne’ (Germany).
James Whiteside -Lighting Designer
Tall Stories credits include: ‘The Gruffalo’, ‘The Gruffalo’s Child’, ‘Room on the Broom’, ‘Snow White’ and ‘Mr Benn’. West End credits include: ‘Never Forget’ at the Savoy; ‘Footloose’ at the Novello and Playhouse; ‘Holding the Man’ at Trafalgar Studios; ‘The Female of the Species’ at the Vaudeville and ‘Calamity Jane’ at the Shaftesbury. Other recent credits include: ‘The Ragged Trousered Philanthropists’, ‘Wallenstein’, ‘Funny Girl’, ‘Alice in Wonderland’ and ‘The Snow Queen’ for the Chichester Festival Theatre; ‘A Christmas Carol’, ‘Arcadia’, ‘Grimm Tales’ and ‘Gates of Gold’ for the Library, Manchester; ‘Twelfth Night’ for Perth Theatre; ‘The Absence of Women’ for the Lyric, Belfast; ‘Love’s Labour’s Lost’ for Rose Theatre, Kingston; ‘Salonika’ for the West Yorkshire Playhouse; ‘Animal Farm’ for Bath Theatre Royal; ‘Jump!’ for Live Theatre, Newcastle and tours of ‘Midnight Tango’, ‘Shaun’s Big Show’ and ‘Guess How Much I Love You’.
Jollygoodtunes (Jon Fiber and Andy Shaw) - Composers
Jon Fiber and Andy Shaw of Jollygoodtunes have been composing music and designing sound for theatre since 1997. Their work with Tall Stories includes ‘Wilde Creatures’, ‘The Canterville Ghost’, ‘Mr Benn’, ‘William’s Monsters’, ‘The Gruffalo’s Child’, ‘Room on the Broom’, ‘Snow White’, ‘Something Else’, ‘The Owl and The Pussycat’, and ‘Rumpelstiltskin’. Other sound design work includes, ‘And All the Children Cried’ (BAC, London), ‘Change of Heart’, ‘Modern Man’, ‘This Story of Yours’ (New End Theatre), ‘Measure for Measure Malaya’ (Riverside Studios). Beside their theatre work they also compose and record music for TV (BBC2, Discovery Channel, HSBC, Ericsson and Johnnie Walker).
Yvonne Stone - Puppet Designer
Yvonne studied puppetry at the Central School of Speech and Drama. Her theatre work includes: ‘Room on the Broom’, ‘Emily Brown and the Thing’, ‘Mr Benn’, ‘How the Giraffe got its Neck’, ‘The Snow Dragon’ and ‘The Gruffalo’s Child’ for Tall Stories; Theatre Rite’s ‘Rubbish’, Metta Theatre’s ‘Alice’, ‘War Horse’, ‘The Lion King’, ‘Mojo’, ‘Nation’, ‘His Dark Materials’ and ‘Macbeth the Opera’. Previous TV includes: ‘Space Pirates’, ‘Doodle Do’, ‘Mr Bloom’s Nursery’ and BBC3’s ‘Mongrels’.
Julia Donaldson
The author of some of the world's best-loved children's books, including modern classics ‘The Gruffalo’ and ‘The Gruffalo's Child’, which together have sold over 17 million copies worldwide, and the hugely successful ‘What the Ladybird Heard’ adventures. Julia also writes fiction, including the Princess Mirror-Belle books illustrated by Lydia Monks, as well as poems, plays and songs–and her brilliant live shows are always in demand. She was Children’s Laureate 2011-13 and has been honored with a CBE for Services to Literature. Julia and her husband Malcolm divide their time between West Sussex and Edinburgh.
Axel Scheffler
A star illustrator whose instantly recognizable, warm and witty illustrations have achieved worldwide acclaim and numerous awards. Axel is the illustrator of wonderful novelty, gift and poetry books for Macmillan, such as ‘Fish Dream of Trees’ (Two Hoots) and the bestselling ‘The Bedtime Bear’, ‘The Tickle Book’ and ‘Mother Goose’s Nursery Rhymes’–and of course, he is the illustrator of some of the world’s best-loved picture books, including the modern classic ‘The Gruffalo’, with over 30 million books sold worldwide across the series. Axel’s artwork is exhibited internationally; he has illustrated for many charities, and designed the Royal Mail Christmas stampsin 2012. Born in Hamburg, Axel now lives with his family in London.
