There is something about THE TIGER WHO CAME TO TEA which makes it a classic story which is loved by us, our kids and our kids, kids – I think you get the idea.
The story is celebrating 12 years on stage and over 50 years as Britain’s best-loved picture book written by the late Judith Kerr.
The doorbell rings just as Sophie and her mummy are sitting down to tea. Who could it possibly be? What they certainly don’t expect to see at the door is a big, stripy tiger!
Join the tea-guzzling tiger in this delightful family show; packed with oodles of magic, sing-a-long songs and clumsy chaos! A stunning stage adaptation of the classic tale of teatime mayhem… expect to be surprised!
The story is one that has been told the world over, and in so many different way. A couple of years ago the The Tiger Who Came to Tea touring exhibition arrived at Dyffryn House & Gardens. It was also told in a Channel 4 Christmas special, which is set to become an annual festive favourite.
But there’s something about seeing the show live on stage which makes it really special. Being in a theatre, watching the children engage in the story, with eyes fixed on the stage.
The photos below are by Robert Day.
It also has David Wood OBE, who is undisputedly the country’s leading writer and director of plays and musicals for children behind the stage show. His many successes include The Gingerbread Man, The Witches and Babe the Sheep Pig.
Take a look at the trailer for the live show and you’ll see what we mean about the kids lighting up as the story unfolds – HERE.
Sadly, Judith died in May 2019 at the age of 95. Talking about ‘Tiger” she said……
“I first told this story to my small daughter long ago. She was rather critical of my other stories but used to say, ‘Talk the tiger!’ So, when she and her brother were both at school and I had more time, I thought I would make it into a picture book – and much to my amazement, here it still is 50 years later.”
“I think because it was a bedtime story for this particular child and I put in everything that she liked, such as going out in the dark, because she was crazy about going out in the dark. I’ve heard from other parents that their children love the bit about going out in the dark, so obviously they all feel like that.”
“I make up stories which I hope children will like and which amuse me, but I no longer have this thing of knowing a small child very, very well and therefore, writing a story absolutely tailor-made to that child. In the first Mog book the policeman comes and he says, ‘I’ve known watch dogs but never a watch cat!’ and my son, who loved words, I knew he would think that was wonderful.”
Judith Kerr’s first picture book, The Tiger Who Came to Tea began as a bedtime story for her own children and was published in 1968. It soon became a classic, and by the time it celebrated its 40th anniversary in 2008, it had been translated into 11 languages and sold over five million copies.
THE TIGER WHO CAME TO TEA live has received nothing but 5 star reviews. The nice thing about the show is that it is just under and hour long, and has no interval, so once the family are settled, it’s all eyes on the tiger.
The tour gets to the Grand Theatre in Swansea from Monday 28th to Wednesday 30th August, with a variety of show times. For tickets and details, go HERE.
