The West End had better keep a close eye on its ice cream cones and slices of cherry pie with the news that The Very Hungry Caterpillar is wiggling (and no doubt nibbling) its way to the West End for a festive debut.
The iconic children’s literature favourite will be brought to life on stage in The Very Hungry Caterpillar Show at the Ambassadors Theatre this Christmas following the show’s huge success around the world.
Featuring a menagerie of a staggering 75 puppets, the show tells four of legendary picture book author Eric Carle’s best loved stories: The Artist Who Painted A Blue Horse, Mister Seahorse, The Very Lonely Firefly and, of course, The Very Hungry Caterpillar.
Following its most recent hit run in New York, director Jonathan Rockefeller spoke of his excitement to bring the show to the London stage, saying: “When our puppets appear on stage the atmosphere is positively electric – parents and grandparents are swept up in nostalgia, and you can hear peals of laughter and squeals of delight as joy fills the theatre. We can’t wait to bring The Very Hungry Caterpillar to London!”
The Drama Desk-nominated show not only has the seal of approval from its recent celebrity New York visitors including Chelsea Clinton, Emily Blunt, Neil Patrick Harris and Diane Sawyer, but from Carle himself.
The author, whose The Very Hungry Caterpillar has sold in excess of 41 million copies since its publication in 1969, said: “I am delighted my friends in the UK will soon be able to share the same enjoyment I felt when seeing my characters come to life in the beautiful and enchanting Broadway production of The Very Hungry Caterpillar Show.”
The Very Hungry Caterpillar Show will play at the Ambassadors Theatre from 2 December to 8 January.