Prince William’s children among The Gruffalo’s biggest fans as stage show marks anniversary
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The young royals are thought to be big fans (Image: Samir Hussein/WireImage)
The Prince and Princess of Wales have long counted The Gruffalo among their children’s favourite bedtime stories, and now the much-loved tale is celebrating a major milestone.
As the acclaimed stage adaptation marks its 25th anniversary, Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler’s fearsome but lovable monster remains one of Britain’s greatest children’s success stories, adored by generations of families and celebrity parents alike.
The royal couple have previously spoken about reading Julia Donaldson’s books with Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis, helping cement The Gruffalo as a modern children’s classic. Prince William previously said of the book, penned in 1999: “It’s a big hit in our household, The Gruffalo.”
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The fun-filled stage adaptation has kept families entertained for a quarter of a century
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The fearsome but lovable creature came from the brilliant mind of author Julia Donaldson(Image: PA)
The story’s popularity exploded even further with the Oscar-nominated 2009 animated film, produced by Magic Light Pictures for the BBC.
Featuring an all-star cast including Helena Bonham Carter, Robbie Coltrane, James Corden, Rob Brydon, Tom Wilkinson and the late John Hurt as the Gruffalo, it has become essential Christmas viewing for millions of families. Celebrity parents, including Stacey Solomon, Amanda Holden, Rochelle Humes, Billie Shepherd and Giovanna Fletcher, have also shared their children’s love of the famous story over the years, proving its appeal stretches far beyond the pages of a picture book.
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The kids show is adapted from Julia Donaldson’s classic picture book
Now, parents who grew up reading about Mouse’s walk through the deep dark wood are taking their own children to see the adventure brought to life on stage.
Since premiering in 2001, Tall Stories’ adaptation has entertained more than three million people worldwide, making it one of the UK’s longest-running and most successful children’s theatre productions. Its enduring popularity lies in its simplicity. Rather than relying on spectacular special effects, the production uses puppetry, songs, humour and imaginative storytelling to recreate the magic of the bestselling book, a formula that has stood the test of time.
As nostalgia continues to shape family entertainment, The Gruffalo remains a rare cultural phenomenon that has successfully bridged three generations through books, film and theatre.
The Gruffalo tells the story of a mouse, the protagonist of the book, taking a walk in a European forest and has sold more than 13 million copies worldwide.
