Kids in London - Peppa Pig and friends at Richmond Theatre

KimT's London for Kids Blog

I borrowed my neighbour’s daughter who is six and a quarter year’s old to join lots of other small people – many of which were somewhat younger – to see Peppa Pig’s Big Splash. Not being an expert, I had a detailed briefing on the train journey to Richmond where she explained that Peppa is a girl and that her younger brother is George. She told me that she has a younger brother but that there wasn’t another character to take the place of her older brother.

So. We ran the gauntlet of toy vendors. I helped her carry the flashing lights on her butterfly-winged princess and the muddy Peppa Pig toy (£13). We bought some crisps and a fruit drink in the bar while we waited for the show.
It started with a game of hide and seek where we met Daisy (the only human) and puppets Danny Dog, Suzie Sheep, Pedro Poney and George Pig – clutching his toy Mr Dinosaur. There was lots of shouting from the audience to find Peppa Pig. My young companion was entranced – and there was pure glee on the faces of all the little people around me.

We sang songs about searching for and jumping in splashy puddles, we jumped up and down to release a toy stuck in a tree, we talked to Polly Parrot and laughed when she repeated what we said. We roared like dinosaurs and played a game of catch with the characters on stage during their Piggy in the Middle fun.

The characters had to organise a fete to raise money for a leaky school roof so there was more fun when we joined in with lucky dips (Mr Bull got a doll and we laughed) and singing fruits.

The music varied quite a bit and some of those songs stuck in my mind – especially the one about five a day fruits and vegetables. Mr Potato and Mrs Carrot danced rather well. Daddy Pig was splendid in his champion splashing outfit towards the end and we all got wet (even those of us upstairs in the dress circle) with the wining splash.

The show started at 1pm and there was a short interval after 40 minutes. But we were back out into the sunshine when it finished at 220pm so there was no chance of the fidgets setting in.

I asked my young companion for her views on the show as we travelled home and this is what she said “I wanted to go on stage to help find Mr Dinosaur. I wish it was real fruit that was sold by Pedro. I liked the bit where the fruit came alive but getting wet was best. I liked singing the song about muddy puddles best. I missed not seeing Granny and Grandpa Pig. Daddy Pig wore a funny suit”. So I guess that was a hit then!

The show is on again at Richmond tomorrow and then continues on its tour around the UK and Ireland. There are some future shows near London including Watford, Gravesend, Crawley, Milton Keynes, Wimbledon, Bromley and Woking.

http://www.atgtickets.com/shows/peppa-pigs-big-splash/richmond-theatre/

http://www.peppapig.co.uk/intro

Posted Date
May 17, 2014 in KimT's London for Kids Blog by KimT