hot tickets

The hugely popular modern classic, The Gruffalo, by Children’s Laureate Julia Donaldson and celebrated illustrator Axel Scheffler, returns as a musical to the West End for the fifth year running and it doesn’t fail to impress.

Critically acclaimed Theatre Company Tall Stories, once again brings to life Donaldson and Scheffler’s much-loved story in 55 energetic minutes. It’s easy to see the appeal that has driven this performance to have a global appeal – with shows in countries including Poland and Germany and even Australia and Japan. Apparently it was even spied at Camp Bestival in the summer of 2011 playing in front of 16,000 people.

The production is based on the original book - which sold over four million copies in 38 languages - and tells the tale of the quick-thinking Mouse who takes a walk into the deep, dark wood and comes face-to-face with the crafty Fox, the eccentric Owl and the slippery snake. Magical.

The Gruffalo, the Lyric Theatre, Shaftesbury Avenue until the 15 January. Ticket prices: £12.50, £15.50. Suitable for kids 3+. www.gruffalolive.com

Other hot tickets include the Royal Shakespeare Company’s production of Roald Dahl’s Matilda the Musical at the Cambridge Theatre, which won The Ned Sherrin

Award for Best Musical at the Evening Standard Theatre Awards in November 2011. (Suitable for ages 6+).

Or for a favourite film-to theatre production of Shrek The Musical, a modern classic, for 5years + kids, this is also at the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane.