Chances are there’s not a single one of you reading this who haven’t read The Tiger Who Came To Tea by Judith Kerr; it’s an institution, a sure winner no matter how many times I suggest it as Boo’s bedtime story. But can you imagine it as a play? We were invited to the Lyric Theatre last month to watch the story of The Tiger Who Came To Tea jump to life.
“Will there be a real tiger Mummy?” it’s a fair question when you’re four and I have to admit I was a little dubious as to how they were going to portray the tiger on stage; children aren’t suckers when it comes to theatre and the suspension of disbelief still has to be achieved if the audience no matter how young are to have an authentic connection with the story.
The production was lovely, and I use that word wholeheartedly, from curtain up until the final applause, Boo was mesmerized and engrossed on a level I didn’t think would be possible. The tiger is in fact a costume, but one that works so well and really does look like the character from the book. There’s lots of singing and apart from a few tweaks the story is very much the same and just as well received.
The Tiger Who Came To Tea gets a big thumbs up from both me and Boo; it’s got the winning combination of a great story that is well and truly loved with a considerate production which helps to keep such a classic so fresh and appealing – a perfect excuse for a family trip to the theatre.
The Tiger Who Came To Live is at the Lyric Theatre until the 10th January 2016.
Disclosure: We received complementary tickets for the performance. All opinions are 100% honest.
