Tall Stories’s THE GRUFFALO’S CHILD Is Ready To Welcome Back Audiences To Alexandra Palace Theatre This Christmas

Alexandra Palace Website / Twitter / Facebook / Instagram
The Gruffalo’s Child Website / Twitter / Facebook
Tall Stories Website / Twitter / Facebook / Instagram

THE HIT MUSICAL ADAPTATION OF THE PICTURE BOOK
BY JULIA DONALDSON AND AXEL SCHEFFLER 

THE GRUFFALO'S CHILD IS READY TO WELCOME BACK AUDIENCES TO ALEXANDRA PALACE THEATRE THIS CHRISTMAS

THE GRUFFALO’S CHILD WILL BE ARRIVING AT ALEXANDRA PALACE THEATRE THIS WEEKEND AS PART OF THE ALLY PALLY CHRISTMAS SEASON

ALLY PALLY FESTIVITIES WILL ALSO INCLUDE SANTA’S GROTTO, CHRISTMAS MOVIE SEASON, ICE SKATING & MORE

The Gruffalo said that no gruffalo should
Ever set foot in the deep dark wood...

Today Tall Stories have released a first look at The Gruffalo’s Child which will be arriving at Alexandra Palace Theatre for a limited Christmas season this weekend 5 December 2020 – 3 January 2021.

One wild and windy night the Gruffalo’s Child ignores her father’s warning and tiptoes out into the snow. After all, the Big Bad Mouse doesn’t really exist… does he? Join the Gruffalo’s Child on her adventurous mission in this magical musical stage adaptation, of the much-loved picture book by Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler.

Tall Stories’ hit musical adaptation of the award-winning sequel to The Gruffalo, published by Macmillan Children’s Books, is ‘everything good children’s theatre should be’ (The List) featuring songs, laughs and lots of fun for children aged 3 and up, and their families.

The Gruffalo’s Child is produced by award-winning theatre company Tall Stories - a creative force whose productions include The Gruffalo, the Olivier Award Nominated Room on the Broom, The Snail and the Whale and The Snow Dragon. The creative team includes Director Olivia Jacobs, Creative Producer Toby Mitchell, Designer Isla Shaw, Composers Jon Fiber & Andy Shaw of JollyGoodTunes and Lighting Designer James Whiteside.

Christmas doesn’t stop there as the Palace’s East Court will also host Santa’s Grotto. This year we have made some adjustments to the experience and a safe and suitable distance will be maintained between Santa and the children as well as a one-way system. Santa will be in residence on selected dates between 5-23 December, with full information available via the Alexandra Palace website. Skating is a year-round activity at Ally Pally, but the Ice Rink feels particularly celebratory and joyous at Christmas time, giving everyone yet another reason to make this iconic venue a destination for a full-on-festive day out. The Theatre is also the venue for the Ally Pally Christmas Film Season. The programme runs over three weeks, starting on the 5 December. Festive classics on show include, Miracle on 34th Street, Elf, Santa Claus the Movie and Die Hard, among a host of others.

Listings Information

Read about Alexandra Palace’s COVID measures here                   

Tall Stories’ The Gruffalo’s Child
Live on Stage
Running time: 55 Minutes (no interval)
Recommended for ages 3 years and up
Alexandra Palace Theatre, Alexandra Palace, Alexandra Palace Way, London N22 7AY
Tickets
Ticket Prices: £12 – 18 + £1 booking fee
Dates: 5 December  – 3 January, 10am, 12.15pm, 2.30pm
Various performance days and times – see full listings here
Press Performance:  Due to social distancing, press tickets are spread out across selected performances in the first two weeks.

Access Performances 
Relaxed Performance: Sunday 6 December 10am
BSL British Sign Language Performance: Saturday 19 December 12pm

COVID Measures for the Theatre are here

Santa’s Grotto
Alexandra Palace East Court, Alexandra Palace Way, N22 7AY
Tickets £13.70 incl booking fee per child can be booked here from 1 November
Santa’s Grotto will be open on the following dates:

• 5 December: 9am-4pm
• 6 December: 9am-4pm
• 12 December: 9am-4pm
• 13 December: 9am-4pm
• 19 December: 9am-4pm
• 20 December: 9am-4pm
• 21 December: 10am-4pm
• 22 December: 10am-4pm
• 23 December: 10am-4pm

Alexandra Palace Ice Rink
Alexandra Palace, Alexandra Palace Way, N22 7AY
For opening times and to book tickets click here

Ally Pally Cinema
Alexandra Palace Theatre, Alexandra Palace Way, N22 7AY
Film showings doors 18.45 film 19.30

Tickets Adults £15 + booking fee; Under 14s £10 + booking fee, book here

• 5 December:  Die Hard
• 6 December: Home Alone (5.30pm)
• 11 December: Last Christmas
• 12 December: Santa Claus the Movie
• 13 December: Miracle on 24th Street
• 20 December: Elf
• 23 December: A Christmas Carol

About The Gruffalo’s Child

• The award-winning picture book, The Gruffalo’s Child by Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler was first published by Macmillan Children’s Books in 2004.
• The Gruffalo's Child Live stage show premiered at London's Polka Theatre in October 2005.
• The Gruffalo’s Child Live has toured the UK and the world including North America and Australia.
• The Gruffalo series of books has sold over 17 million copies worldwide and been translated into nearly 100 languages.
• The Gruffalo’s Child received the W.H. Smith Children’s Book of the Year award in 2005 and the award-winning animated film premiered on BBC1 on Christmas day 2011 to 10 million viewers.
• Sales of The Gruffalo's Child books around the world are now 8.3 million
• Julia Donaldson was Children’s Laureate from 2011 to 2013
• There is a CD of songs from the show available for sale at the Tall Stories shop.

Julia Donaldson is one of the most popular writers of children’s books today; her titles include The Gruffalo, The Gruffalo’s Child and Room on the Broom. Other titles by Donaldson and Scheffler include The Snail & the Whale, A Squash and a Squeeze, The Smartest Giant in Town and The Tales from Acorn Wood series.

Axel Scheffler has achieved worldwide acclaim for his children’s book illustrations, as co-creator of The Gruffalo series, and for Jingle Jangle Jungle, Pip and Posy and Old Possum’s Book of Practical Cats among many others. Born in Germany, Axel now lives in London with his partner and daughter.

Olivia Jacobs (Director) Olivia trained at Central/University of London. She has directed shows in the West End, on Broadway and in Sydney Opera House. Credits include: The Gruffalo (including live DVD), Room on the Broom, Snow White, Mr Benn, William’s Monsters, Something Else, Emily Brown and the Thing and Latke Who Couldn’t Stop Screaming. She is former Director of Camden People’s Theatre and co-founder of Tall Stories.

Toby Mitchell (Creative Producer) studied at Cambridge and trained at Central School of Speech and Drama. UK and international directing credits for Tall Stories include: Alfie White: Space Explorer, The Snail and the Whale, The Snow Dragon and My Brother the Robot. UK includes: The Owl and the Pussycat and Alice and Mr Dodgson. Other directing/devising work includes: Monsters Got Talent, A British Guide to French Pop and The Island of First Loves. He is co-founder and joint artistic director of Tall Stories.

About Tall Stories Theatre Company
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 co-directors Olivia Jacobs and Toby Mitchell. Tall Stories shows have played in the West End, on Broadway, in the Sydney Opera House as well as all sorts of venues and countries in between.

Connect - Twitter @tallstoriesnews / Facebook @tallstoriestheatre

“Tall Stories sets the benchmark for children’s theatre” Sunday Times

About Alexandra Park and Palace        
Alexandra Park and Palace Charitable Trust is the body responsible for maintaining and repairing the charitable assets of Alexandra Park and Palace as a place of public resort and recreation, forever, by Act of Parliament. The Charity aims to restore the iconic assets to create a successful and sustainable asset for all.

Today Alexandra Palace is surrounded by 196 acres of Grade II listed parkland and offers unprecedented views of the city. The multi-award-winning destination maintains its original enterprising spirit by hosting an eclectic mix of live music, sport, cultural and leisure events throughout the year.