What’s it all about?
Three little porkers, their mum and a big bad wolf who justifies his pork-based meals by claiming he’s just a little bit misunderstood. Try telling that to the piggies Mr Wolf; you did, after all, gobble up their daddy.
And with names like Bar, Bee and Q, one can only imagine who’s next on the menu…
How do they tell the story?
This is a Stiles & Drewe musical so inevitably some catchy tunes are involved in telling the pigs’ well-known home-making, wolf-avoiding story. But that’s not all. Designer Jason Denvir provides some super cute costumes, making the title characters less little and more rotund, and a clever set that helps transport the porkers from luscious countryside to construction sites.
Plus there’s playful choreography that sees the hammy trio – Taofique Folarin’s body-building Bar, Leanne Jones’s eco-friendly Bee and Daniel Buckley’s book-loving Q – bust out dance moves that include everything from bum-wiggling to moonwalking.
What should I look out for?
A witty voiceover intro featuring Simon (Cow)ell and big number twos, and the porkers’ unwavering commitment to health and safety.
What will I be humming?
When in need of a bit of a pig me up, you can’t beat The World Is Perfect For A Pig and One, Two, Three Little Pigs for a cheerful singalong, while Simon Webbe’s performance as the one of fairytales’ most notorious baddies sees him deliver a deep and brooding A Bit Misunderstood.
What did the kids like best?
Webbe’s cheeky hayfever-suffering Big Bad Wolf, whose presence on stage sends the young audience’s loyalties to the little piggies completely out of the window.
In a nutshell?
There’s snout not to love about this tuneful take on the classic pig(tale).
Will my little one like it?
While there are plenty of pigs – well, four – in this new family musical, a boar is something it is not. The kids will laugh, sing along and, inevitably where the Big Bad Wolf is concerned, boo while waving their 3 Little Pigs flags with glee.
The 3 Little Pigs is playing at the Palace Theatre until 6 September. You can book tickets through us or for performances this month you can take a child for free with Kids Week.