There’s something about a JULIA DONALDSON story that keeps us all enthralled. Children obviously, but us older kids find something in her amazing books, which have sold more than 100 million copies worldwide. She is multi award winning, far too many fir us to list here, and her stories have been adapted into eight award-winning animated films.
Julia is a former Children’s Laureate to boot, and also a qualified teacher, so no wonder she has a feel for what makes a story extra special. We must also give a mention to the illustrator Julia works with, the man who brought The Gruffalo to life AXEL SCHEFFLER.
When a stage adaption of one of Julia and Axel’s stories comes to town, you just know the kids are in for a holiday treat. Zog and his crew are flying to Swansea today and tomorrow in the brand-new stage adaptation of ZOG AND THE FLYING DOCTORS! Based on the bestselling sequel by Julia and Axel.
The show is out on it’s world premiere UK tour and this smash-hit production lands at Swansea Grand Theatre for four performances only on Friday 5th and Saturday 6th August.
Zog, super keen dragon turned air-ambulance, still lands with a crash-bang-thump. With his Flying Doctor crew, Princess Pearl and Sir Gadabout, they tend to a sunburnt mermaid, a unicorn with one too many horns and a lion with the flu. But Pearl’s uncle, the King, has other ideas about whether princesses should be doctors, and she’s soon locked up in the castle in a crown and a silly frilly dress! With a bit of help from her friends, will Pearl prove princesses can be doctors too?
First published in 2016, Zog and the Flying Doctors is the smash-hit sequel to Zog, and became a bit of a lockdown favourite for families everywhere. On Christmas Day 2020, Magic Light Pictures premiered an animated film of the tale on BBC One featuring an all-star cast including Sir Lenny Henry and South Wales own Rob Brydon, who was actually born in Swansea so knows the Grand Theatre really well. Something like four and half million of us watched Zog on the day.
Zog and the Flying Doctors follows Freckle Productions’ smash-hit adaptation of Zog and reunites director Emma Kilbey and composer and lyricist Joe Stilgoe for this truly modern take on the much-loved story. The cast features Ben Raymond as Zog, Alex Bloomer as Sir Gadabout, Lois Glenister as Pearl, Sarah Freer as Mermaid/Lion, Danny Hendrix as King/Unicorn and Annie Rose Chapman as Ensemble.
It’s brought to the stage by Freckle Productions and Rose Theatre. Freckle Productions are pioneers in imaginative storytelling for children and the team behind hits including Stick Man. Rose Theatre is the largest producing theatre in South West London and has established itself as one of the most exciting theatres in the UK.
ZOG AND THE FLYING DOCTORS gets to the Swansea Grand today Friday 5th and Saturday 6th of August. Performances are at 10:30am, 1:30pm and 4:30pm. It lasts an hour, so is perfect for little ones who may get a bit restless after a while. For more details, and to get tickets, go HERE.
