The Tiger Who Came To Tea show Review

Spoiler alert, it’s not a real tiger. If you’re taking a four year old to see this production, expect to hear that, a lot.

I’ve been to see The Tiger Who Came to Tea show twice now. Once with Ida, and once with both girls, and Matt. I thought it was about time I wrote up a review of The Tiger Who Came To Tea theatre show.

What is the Tiger Who Came To Tea?

Here’s a little history for you. The book by the same name as the production was written by Judith Kerr. She told the story to her three-year old daughter after they’d been to the zoo. She used to tell the story to her daughter every night at her request to “talk the tiger.” Judith was clearly an incredible story teller with a great imagination – don’t we all need it when we’re entertaining toddlers?!

When her children started school she decided to write the story. In 1968 it was published by HarperCollins. The story was, and is, a huge success, having sold over five million copies. People just love this hungry tiger so much that 15 years ago it took to the stage.

In late 2019, the book became an animation featuring the song “Hey There Tiger” by Robbie Williams. It’s an amazing song, but don’t expect to hear it in the musical. Sorry.

Kerr died in May 2019 following a short illness. She wouldn’t have seen the finished production of the animation, but I hope she saw enough of the workings to feel proud. It’s easily one of my top 5, and Martha’s.

If you haven’t got the book yet, find it at World of Books.

Tiger Who Came To Tea show

The Tiger Who Came To Tea tours around minor and major theatres in the UK. I’ve seen it at Derngate in Northampton and the Waterside in Aylesbury.

If you have a small child with you, try and grab a booster seat. Some places are first come first serve, others charge you to rent them. In Aylesbury it was £1.50 to rent one but we just plonked the girls on our coats and that worked fine.

There are lots of things to buy before you go in. Expect tempting tigers, paper tigers on big sticks that are just going to annoy people behind you and then you for the next six months as you repeatedly fix it with tape.

Once seated, the fun starts.

There are only three or four actors on the stage and they are dressed perfectly to the book. If you’ve read the book as many times as I have you will know the exact outfits they each wear!

Dad does get more of a part in this. He’s not just the man who’s got his key and suggests a meal out. No, he bumbles around the kitchen and the kids love it.

Well mine did.

I won’t give too much away here, but all I say, is have an open mind. Remember who it’s for. Kids, who love repetition. There’s lots of that. Tick Tock is all I’ll say.

Now, onto the loveable, cheeky, starving hungry tiger. Who if I’m honest reminds me of me in my first trimester of pregnancy with Marfs.

The tiger is spectacular. Not scary. He’s a big, furry, stripy tiger, just as you’d expect.

He gets everyone dancing too, which is probably not so expected.

The show lasts one hour, and on both occasions the kids started to get a little restless around the 50 minute mark. Maybe it is a song too long.

Each time I saw the show, I left with a really wholesome feeling. Like, “Yep, this is what I’m meant to be doing with my kids on Easter weekend.”

And as an adult I didn’t hate it. I wasn’t bored, and I wasn’t stressed. When you go somewhere like this with lots of kids, it takes the pressure off if yours need to get up to go to the toilet or they want to move about a little. Kids like to move, and they should. The two audience participation dances were actually very welcome. Though I couldn’t get one out my head for weeks!

What age group is Tiger Who Came To Tea theatre production for?

I’d say, probably 0-5. Now I wouldn’t take a newborn baby, but if you had a 2 year old and a new baby, you’d be fine. There were plenty of little ones. I wouldn’t say I saw anyone older than 5/6. Online it says 3+, but Marfs is two and she loved it. Maybe they’re just worried about kids being scared?

Is the Tiger Who Came To Tea theatre production suitable for a 1 year old?

You know your child. Do you think they’ll happily sit on your lap and watch it? Do you think they’ll care? If the answer is no, hang on a year and go then.

This is a tea guzzling, bun banking tiger that you just can’t help but love. He charmed me. And I’d see the show again. That’s right, I’d go a THIRD time!

How much does Tiger Who Came To Tea Show cost?

The show costs between 12 and 32 pounds. This will depend on where you sit, and possibly the theatre you go to.