The Enormous Crocodile to Open at Windsor Before Return to Regent's Park

We're thrilled to announce the return of our wickedly funny family musical based on Roald Dahl’s The Enormous Crocodile. Following hit seasons at Leeds Playhouse in 2023 and Regent's Park Open Air Theatre in 2024, The Enormous Crocodile The Musical will open at Windsor Theatre Royal on 8 August 2025 before returning to Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre from 15 August – 7 September 2025 . Director Emily Lim said today, “We can't wait to bring our greedy Croc back to Regent’s Park and to Windsor this summer! It’s been so special seeing how the story and songs have landed with our audiences to date and we’re so glad we get to do it all again.” Co-Director and Puppetry Designer Toby Olié said, “The Enormous Crocodile has been one of the most enjoyable and lively shows to create. So to continue sharing its mischievous glee and playful puppets with audiences in 2025 is an absolute thrill.” ‘For my lunch today I would like… a nice juicy little child!’ The Enormous Crocodile is weaving his way through the jungle in search of delicious little fingers and squidgy podgy knees... Only the other jungle creatures can foil his secret plans and clever tricks, but they’re going to have to find a large amount of courage to stop this greedy brute. This mischievous musical based on Roald Dahl’s snappy book has toe-tapping tunes by Ahmed Abdullahi Gallab , a rib-tickling book and lyrics by Suhayla El-Bushra , and additional music and lyrics by Tom Brady . Developed and directed by Emily Lim , it features a menagerie of puppets by co-director and puppetry designer Toby Olié , with set and costume design by Fly Davis and puppetry co-designed and supervised by Daisy Beattie. The Enormous Crocodile musical was developed by Emily Lim, Ahmed Abdullahi Gallab, Suhayla El-Bushra, Tom Brady and The Roald Dahl Story Company, and originally co-produced with Regent's Park Open Air Theatre and Leeds Playhouse.

New Stage Adaptation of The BFG to Premiere at Royal Shakespeare Theatre

The Royal Shakespeare Company (RSC), Chichester Festival Theatre and the Roald Dahl Story Company , today announce the world premiere of The BFG, based on Roald Dahl’s beloved children’s novel. This magical new stage adaptation by Tom Well s ( The Kitchen Sink, Jumpers for Goalposts ) will open at the Royal Shakespeare Theatre in Stratford-upon-Avon for a 10-week run over the festive season in 2025. The production will be directed by RSC Co-Artistic Director Daniel Evans ( Quiz, South Pacific, Our Generation ) in his directorial debut with the Company. One extraordinary night, a young orphan named Sophie is snatched by a giant and taken far away to Giant Country. There she learns that human-eating giants are guzzling 'norphans' the world over. But she soon discovers that her new friend, the BFG, is different – he's a dream-catching, snozzcumber-munching gentle soul who refuses to eat humans. While other giants terrorise the world, the BFG ignites Sophie's imagination, and they devise a daring plan to save children everywhere. In the end, the smallest human bean and the gentlest giant prove that a dream can change the world. RSC Co-Artistic Directors Daniel Evans and Tamara Harvey said: “This inspiring story - about an unlikely alliance between an orphan, a giant and a queen - tells us that when we have the courage to make our dreams a reality, we can change the world. To be adapting Roald Dahl’s much-loved children’s novel for the stage in collaboration with the Roald Dahl Story Company and Chichester Festival Theatre is a dream come true for us. Tom Wells’ magical new adaptation builds upon the RSC’s longstanding commitment to make spectacular and moving theatre for family audiences - and we’re thrilled to be collaborating with an exceptional creative team to dream up an unforgettable theatrical experience which promises to be larger-than-life." Roald Dahl Story Company Artistic Director Jenny Worton said: "Following the triumphant success of our first two stage shows, The Witches and The Enormous Crocodile, The BFG opens a magical new chapter for us at the Roald Dahl Story Company. Our dream is to bring mischievous joy to audiences of all ages through our growing family of live shows. After years of delicious inventing with Tom Wells, Daniel Evans, and the wider creative team, we are excited to share our passion for this iconic story with the rest of the world. Alongside Chichester Festival Theatre, we’ve created something full of imagination and heart, just as you’d expect from the world of Roald Dahl." Chichester Festival Theatre Artistic Director Justin Audibert said: “We are thrilled to be co-producing The BFG with the RSC and Roald Dahl Story Company and are hugely looking forward to welcoming my predecessor as Artistic Director, Daniel Evans, back to Chichester. I know that our audiences – from the smallest to the largest ‘human beans’ – will love seeing Roald Dahl’s brilliantly imaginative and beloved creation come to life on stage.” The BFG will play at the Royal Shakespeare Theatre in Stratford-upon-Avon from 25 November 2025 – 31 January 2026 with Press Night on Tuesday 9 December 2025. Priority booking opens from 10am on Friday 31 January 2025, with public booking opening at 10am on Wednesday 12 February 2025. The production will run at Chichester Festival Theatre from Monday 16 March – Sunday 12 April 2026. Booking will open in September 2025, with further details and the full schedule announced with CFT’s Winter season. Joining Daniel and Tom on the creative team is Puppetry Designer and Director, Toby Olié ; Set Designer, Vicki Mortimer ; Costume Designer, Kinnetia Isidore ; Lighting Designer, Zoe Spurr ; Video Designer, Akhila Krishnan ; Illusions, Chris Fisher ; Composer, Oleta Haffner ; Sound Designer, Carolyn Downing ; Choreographer and Movement Director, Ira Mandela Siobhan ; Puppetry Co-Designer, Daisy Beattie ; and Senior Set Design Associate, Matt Hellyer . The Casting Director is Christopher Worrall CDG ; and the Children’s Casting Director is Verity Naughton CDG.

Sainsbury's and The BFG Launch their Phizz-Whizzing New Christmas Campaign

In a heartwarming TV advert, two old friends embark on a journey, showcasing the delicious flavours of the festive Taste the Difference and Sainsbury's ranges. The magic of Christmas has begun as Sainsbury's debuts its exciting new advert today. Inspired by Roald Dahl’s timeless and cherished story, the new Christmas advert features the beloved BFG alongside Sainsbury’s colleagues as they take viewers on a whimsical culinary adventure. The ad opens with a captivating scene featuring the infamous ugly vegetable, a towering, knobbly, black-and-white striped snozzcumber that will evoke memories of the beloved book. Suddenly – thud! – a cleaver comes in and chops it in half. Meanwhile, off-camera, a familiar voice is fantasising about much more pleasant alternatives, “Prawn Coat-tails, Beef Welly-boot, Wigs in Blankets”. The camera zooms in on a 24-foot-tall giant with enormous ears, only to discover that it is in fact the BFG, surrounded by magical clutter in his secret cave lined with row upon row of dream jars. After a moment’s contemplation, he turns to the camera and asks, “Hey Sainsbury’s, how can we make this Christmas a bit more… phizz-whizzing?” A Sainsbury's name badge labelled 'Sophie' appears. A colleague in a car park returns a trolley when a colossal sneeze blasts snowflakes and sets off car alarms. A towering figure emerges, and a mighty cloak is lowered to reveal the BFG crouching in the shadows behind the trolley park. “BFG!” exclaims Sophie, “I hear you need our help”. There’s a brief pause as the BFG’s enormous fingers stretch out and unfurl onto the ground in front of her, “As a matter of fact, I does” he replies. The ad cuts to the BFG and Sophie travelling in search of great tasting food, sourcing fresh produce from Sainsbury’s trusted suppliers—including salmon, Brussels sprouts, and deliciously crumbly Stilton cheese. The camera pans out to reveal a bountiful dining table in the BFG’s dream cave overflowing with delectable Taste the Difference dishes, including a roasted Carrot Galette, a Smoked Salmon and Maple Terrine, and a delicious Golden Forest dessert. The retailer has again enlisted the support of real Sainsbury’s store colleagues to take part in the advert. A Food Services Assistant and keen drama student, she stars in her acting debut as the BFG’s friend Sophie, highlighting the vital role Sainsbury’s colleagues play at Christmas and all year round. The advert concludes as we see Sophie and the BFG wishing each other a Merry Christmas and Stephen Fry inviting customers to seek the retailer’s expertise, asking “Want to go big this Christmas? Ask Sainsbury’s. Good Food for all of us”.

Matilda The Musical Announces Second UK and Ireland Tour

Attention maggots! Audiences across the UK and Ireland will get the chance to see the RSC's multi award-winning Matilda The Musical as the production embarks on its second major national tour, opening in October 2025. Based on the beloved book, with music and lyrics by Tim Minchin and book by Dennis Kelly, the musical has already been seen by 12 million people across 100 cities worldwide, and has received over 100 international awards since starting life in Stratford-upon-Avon at The Courtyard Theatre in 2010. The show will celebrate 15 years on stage when it opens at Leicester Curve in October 2025. The first seven stop of the tour will be: Leicester Curve, 6 - 25 October 2025 Alhambra Theatre, Bradford, 30 October - 23 November 2025 Liverpool Empire, 2 December 2025 - 4 January 2026 Plymouth Theatre Royal, 13 January - 7 February 2026 Sunderland Empire, 11 - 28 February 2026 Edinburgh Playhouse, 4 - 22 March 2026 Manchester Palace, 26 March - 25 April 2026 Priority booking for all venues (except Plymouth) opens 10am, 22 October 2024. Public booking for all venues (except Leicester and Plymouth) opens 10am, 24 October 2024. Further tour dates are to be announced – for more information visit the Matilda The Musical website.

The Twits Afternoon Tea Opens to Rave Reviews at Marriott Hotel

Muggle-Wump brownies, Jam Roly-Poly sponge and Trick or Twit scones - indulge your inner child and enter into the story of The Twits with a brand-new themed Afternoon Tea inspired by the iconic book. This summer, take a trip to The Marriott County Hall Hotel for a perfectly playful afternoon tea experience at this quintessential British hotel with iconic views across London’s River Thames. Keep reading to find out what to expect! With a menu for both adults and children, guests will be able to enjoy a delicious afternoon tea filled with tasty twists and tricks, inspired by some of Mr and Mrs Twit’s most memorable moments. Items include a deliciously revolting new take on Wormy Spaghetti (‘Hampshire’ Cucumber Worms, Cream Cheese, Wholemeal Bread), Mrs Twit’s Bird Pie (Chicken, Leek & Ham) and a culinary exploration of Mr Twit’s beard across three separate savories. Sweets are inspired by much loved characters, the Muggle-Wumps and the Roly-Poly Bird. And of course no afternoon tea would be complete without scones, though in true Twits-style there’s a twist! Guests will get buttermilk or marmite scones, but they won’t know which one is which until they try them! To drink, adults can enjoy a selection of teas or add a glass of champagne and children will have the choice of Skillywiggler Lemonade with Frogspawn ( lemonade with apple pearls ) or Roly-Poly Berry Juice ( berry milkshake with white chocolate feather ). The interior of the tea room is a celebration of The Twits story and characters, with nods to their eccentric and tricksy ways decorating the surroundings. Look out for Wormy Spaghetti, Hug-Tight Glue, the Big Dead Tree, and a collection of horrible twit-ish books. Children also receive an activity booklet with colouring pencils to keep them entertained while waiting for their tea, with puzzles inspired by Mr Twit's beard and Mrs Twit's many balloons. Fans from all over the country have made the trip to try the afternoon tea. Tea From Above said, "Roald Dahl fans young & old... this treat's for you!" while Junior Magazine said, "The menu is revolting but DELICIOUS!" Kiddo Adventures were blown away, describing the experience as, "Perfect for families, with whimsical decor, unique savoury bites and sweet treats," and EatnLondon summed it up with, "I live for afternoon teas like this."

'The Twits': Everything You Need to Know About the Animated Film

Buckle up for a thrilling adventure because we’re heading to Twitlandia. In 2025, Netflix will release the animated film The Twits — written, directed and produced by Academy Award nominee Phil Johnston ( Ralph Breaks the Internet ) and animated by Jellyfish Pictures ( The Boss Baby , The Bad Guys ). Rounding out the filmmaking team are co-directors Katie Shanahan and Todd Demong; producer Maggie Malone; co-producer Daisy West; and writer Meg Favreau. The Twits marks the first screen adaptation based on the Roald Dahl book of the same name, which has been translated into 41 languages and sold 16 million copies worldwide. The story of the film follows Mr. and Mrs. Twit — who are the miserable owners of a dangerous amusement park — and their meteoric rise to power in their town. The Twits’ takeover leads to an ongoing conflict between them, two children, and a community of magical animals who are determined to stop them. Johnston was excited to take on the project, as The Twits was his favorite book growing up. “I’ve always been attracted to reprehensible characters. I don’t know what this says about me, and I really don’t want to look into it,” he told Netflix earlier this year. “I love the Twits and their terrible tricks. I love that they lack self-awareness and personal hygiene and any inkling of human decency. And I love this movie because it reminds us that twits like the Twits, whose default emotions are anger and vengeance, can’t be allowed to win in our world.” Whether you’re already a fan of The Twits or discovering a new soon-to-be obsession, here’s everything you need to know about upcoming film. What is The Twits about? Mr. and Mrs. Twit are the meanest, smelliest, nastiest people in the world who also happen to own and operate the most disgusting, most dangerous, most idiotic amusement park in the world, Twitlandia. But when the Twits rise to power in their town, two brave orphans and a family of magical animals are forced to become as tricky as the Twits in order to save the city. A hysterically funny, wild ride of a film (chock-full of the Twits’ beloved tricks — from the Wormy Spaghetti to the Dreaded Shrinks), The Twits is also a story for our times about the never-ending battle between cruelty and empathy. Who is in the cast of The Twits ? The voice cast is set to feature Margo Martindale, Johnny Vegas, Natalie Portman and Emilia Clarke. When will The Twits be on Netflix? The Twits will be available to stream on Netflix in 2025. It’s the first animated release in an exciting lineup of Roald Dahl projects coming soon to Netflix, including an animated series based on the world of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory .

'Rapturously Received': The Enormous Crocodile Reviews Are In

The Enormous Crocodile the Musical opened at Regent's Park Open Air Theatre this week, receiving rave reviews and delighting young and old audiences alike. Read what the critics are saying about this deliciously funny musical, playing in London until 8th June. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ London Theatre Reviews 'Prepare for an adventure that's wild, whimsical, and wonderfully wacky with the musical adaptation of Roald Dahl's beloved 1978 tale.' 'The production is colourful, entertaining, and full of joy, ensuring that it captivates audiences of all ages. Whether you're new to the theatre or a seasoned theatre-goer, this show promises a snapping good time.' ' Malinda Parris shines as the Enormous Crocodile, delivering a performance brimming with energy and charisma. Whether she's manipulating the giant puppet jaws or zipping around the stage, Parris captivates the audience with her mischievous flair.' ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Curtain Call Reviews 'Expect audience interaction, lots of wild animals, and one VERY hungry reptile!' 'Ahmed Abdullahi Gallab's tunes mean that people of any age will have a great time bopping along, and Suhayla El-Bushra compliments this wonderfully with a book and lyrics that are entertaining for all.' 'This is a must-see summer show, with jungle fun for everyone!' ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Afridiziak Theatre News 'A lot of work has been put into making this production fun, vibrant and interactive.' 'The singing, the puppetry, the acting – all of it culminated in an enjoyable and vivid stage production that kept my (just about to turn) two- year-old daughter engaged throughout.' 'This is one for the little people and the big people alike. Go and see it.' ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ West End Best Friend ' Toby Olié’s puppets are clearly inspired by the original illustrations, as well as being great creations in their own right. It is a difficult balance to create puppets that relate to 2D drawings and 3D creatures, but the result is extremely impressive.' 'In the title role, Malinda Parris not only creates a sympathetic villain, but also leads much of the singing; this has to be the best sung crocodile ever seen on the London stage.' ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ All That Dazzles 'What a musical it is – pop, jazz and classic Musical Theatre styles are all thrown in the mix.' 'The children in the audience were frankly ecstatic as the actors came forward for their bows at the end. And if that’s not a good metric for the success of a children’s show, then nothing is. The raw enthusiasm it generated from them is hard to fake, and it’s impossible to ignore what an impact it had on them. So take your child to the jungle this summer. You might just change their life.' ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Stage to Page 'Speaking of the cast, their performances are truly impressive. They skilfully juggle multiple roles, develop specific accents for the characters, swiftly change costumes, all while delivering spirited musical numbers.' 'Even if you're no longer part of the "young audience" demographic but hold a fondness for the book, this musical is a wonderful way to reconnect with your inner child.' ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ The Spy in the Stalls 'A croc of gold for younger audiences!' 'As the audience arrives, there are bubble machines and recorded jungle noises, and animal roars and trumpeting, creating a fun and happy atmosphere in the perfect surroundings of the Open Air Theatre. 'The Enormous Crocodile is a snappy tuneful wonder.'

 Brand New Stories Featuring Roald Dahl's Iconic Characters Coming in 2024

We are thrilled to announce new books inspired by Roald Dahl’s iconic stories and characters, created by acclaimed contemporary storytellers and illustrators. The new publishing for 2024 includes two new books alongside a new picture book series to add to the Roald Dahl preschool range. These new books are designed to bring new readers to Roald Dahl’s original stories, which continue to delight generations of readers around the world with their unique mix of mischief, irreverence, and memorable characters. Told by acclaimed contemporary storytellers and illustrators, they will give readers more of Roald Dahl’s unique worlds and iconic characters - standing alongside the much loved and much-loved books by Roald Dahl, illustrated by Quentin Blake - to excite and entertain present and future fans in new ways. The major publishing moment of the year will be THE TWITS NEXT DOOR , a deliciously revolting adventure filled with twists and tricks and starring two of Roald Dahl’s most popular creations, The Twits. This brand new story is written by internationally bestselling authors and children’s literacy advocates Greg James and Chris Smith and illustrated by Emily Jones . Mr. and Mrs. Twit are just about as nasty and revolting as two people can get. The only thing that brings the two of them pleasure is playing pranks on one another. But, when a new family called the Lovelies move in next door, with their lively 10-year-old twins, they teach The Twits to stop being so mean and horrible and they all live happily ever after . . . Ha! Not really. The Twits HATE the Lovelies. But how far will The Twits go to rid themselves of their horribly nice new neighbours? And what happens when these new neighbours, who are armed with utter loveliness, start to fight back? Greg James and Chris Smith said: 'We have spent many years visiting schools around the world with our children’s books, and we were never far from a child whose head was buried in a Roald Dahl book. It’s magical to see a writer we both loved growing up still able to encourage new generations of young people to pick up a book and have a great time. To be offered the opportunity to write a story starring the most revolting and hilarious pair of his famous characters was exciting, a little bit frightening and certainly too good to resist. We’ve had such a great time playing with The Twits and have loved expanding their world and introducing some new characters to it. We can’t wait to share it with everyone.' THE TWITS NEXT DOOR will publish in hardback, trade paperback, audio, and ebook in August 2024. Following on from THE TWITS NEXT DOOR will be CHARLIE AND THE CHRISTMAS FACTORY , a magical yet hilarious short story collection which will see a host of bestselling, much-loved storytellers writing brand-new short stories based on their favourite Roald Dahl characters and worlds. CHARLIE AND THE CHRISTMAS FACTORY offers a seasonal reading experience for readers keen to find out why Matilda is worried about being on the naughty list, what happens when, years after the creation of his original marvellous medicine, George’s granddaughter Gigi decides to make her own potion, and how Charlie plans to celebrate Christmas at the chocolate factory. Illustrated throughout by Klauss Flugge Prize longlisted artist Rikin Parekh , the storytellers and their respective Roald Dahl characters and worlds are: Adam Hills (The Enormous Crocodile), Adam Kay (George’s Marvellous Medicine), Ben Bailey-Smith (James and The Giant Peach), Elle McNicoll (Matilda), Greg James and Chris Smith (The Twits), Hannah Gold (Fantastic Mr Fox), Konnie Huq (Danny the Champion of the World), Nadia Shireen (The BFG), Nathan Bryon (The Giraffe and the Pelly and Me), Pamela Butchart (The Witches), Sally Rippin (The Magic Finger), and Sibéal Pounder (Charlie and the Chocolate Factory). Rikin Parekh said: 'Of course, I am a firm believer in the magic that is created when words and illustrations blend perfectly. And no combination is as magical as that of Roald Dahl and Quentin Blake. To collaborate with some of today’s best storytellers, to bring our own interpretations to some of the most iconic worlds and characters in the history of children’s books, has been an absolute privilege and a lot of fun. I hope that aspiring storytellers feel the same magic and excitement by Charlie and The Christmas Factory as we all did when we picked up a Roald Dahl and Quentin Blake book for the first time.' CHARLIE AND THE CHRISTMAS FACTORY will publish in hardback, trade paperback, audio, and ebook in October 2024. This new publishing will be complemented in May 2024 by LITTLE RED RIDING HOOD – the first in a series of picture book versions of Roald Dahl’s Revolting Rhymes – seeing Roald Dahl’s original text accompanied by Adam Larkum ’s wonderfully mischievous and exuberant illustrations. Harriet Murphy , Director of Publishing at RDSC said: 'We have been so impressed by the authors’ brilliant ability to capture the unique spirit of a Roald Dahl story and bring us some wonderfully funny tales of their own imagination. Roald Dahl’s stories are amongst some of the greatest children’s books, but we aren't looking to imitate him, instead we wanted the authors to have fun and to use their own voice to take his extraordinary characters and creations into new stories which can delight existing fans and new readers alike.' Ruth Knowles , Publishing Director at Puffin said: 'We’re delighted to be celebrating Roald Dahl’s unique sense of the extraordinary, the magical and the mischievous with these very special new books. Greg and Chris, Emily, Rikin and the Christmas team of authors have created completely unique, brilliant, hilarious stories that lifelong fans and readers new to Roald Dahl will love. As well as being wonderfully accessible middle grade new books, they also perfectly celebrate the original characters and worlds they’re based on and so, alongside Dahl's classic texts, offer even more choice for readers as to how they experience Roald Dahl.' THE TWITS NEXT DOOR and CHARLIE AND THE CHRISTMAS FACTORY are available to pre-order now.

Wind Down with Roald Dahl Stories on Calm this World Sleep Day

It's World Sleep Day! To celebrate, we're taking a look at all of the Roald Dahl content you can find on Calm, the number one app for meditation and sleep. What is a sleep story? Unlike a traditional audiobook, or a guided meditation, sleep stories give listeners a gradual unwind, rather than a gripping build-up. The character’s experience becomes slower and calmer as the story goes on, lulling the listener gradually to sleep. You can find sleep stories and extracts from The BFG , Matilda and Charlie and the Chocolate Factory on the Calm app, offering listeners a sensationally soporific experience inspired by all their favourite characters. Excerpts from The BFG: The Marvellous Ears First up is an extract reading narrated beautifully by Jerome Flynn - actor from Game of Thrones and mindfulness advocate. Listen in as Sophie and The BFG wonder about all things dream-blowing, snozzcumbers and secret whisperings of the world. What’s more, the audio experts at Calm have whipped up a delightfully dreamy soundscape to help listeners unwind. Just a minute of this will have you transported to Giant Country, sitting next to a cosy fire in the BFG’s cave. Charlie and The Chocolate Factory sleep stories For fans of Willy Wonka, you can find two completely original sleep stories. The first invites listeners into a previously off-limits room in the famous chocolate factory – one which turns dreams into reality - and the second explores all the magical ingredients needed for sleep. These gentle adventures have been igniting sleepy imaginations with a peek inside yet another corner of Willy Wonka’s factory. Excerpts from Matilda Last but by no means least, join Kirby (of The Sandman and The Good Place fame) as she guides you on a visit to Crunchem Hall primary school in two sleep stories inspired by Matilda. There you will meet a very special teacher… and don’t worry – we’re not talking about the Trunchbull. Who better to help you drift off to sleep than Miss Honey herself? You can also find a Miss Honey inspired soundscape to help you transport off to a peaceful country garden. All Roald Dahl sleep stories can be found on the Calm app. Find out how to listen by visiting the Calm website.

The Enormous Crocodile is Sneaking into Regent's Park

Watch out! The Enormous Crocodile is on his way to crunch up all the children in London! After its hit run at Leeds Playhouse, The Enormous Crocodile: The Musical is taking a trip to Regent's Park Open Air Theatre this summer. London audiences will get the chance to take on The Enormous Crocodile, meet the magnificent Roly-Poly Bird and watch Trunky the Elephant come to life on stage in this joyful musical for titchy toddlers and cheerful chiddlers. WHAT'S THE SHOW ABOUT? For my lunch today I would like… a nice juicy little child! The Enormous Crocodile is weaving his way through the jungle in search of delicious little fingers and squidgy podgy knees. Only the other jungle creatures can foil his secret plans and clever tricks, but they’re going to have to find a large amount of courage to stop this greedy brute. This new musical version of Roald Dahl’s snappy picture book, about a large hungry crocodile searching for a child to devour, puts global contemporary music and puppetry at the heart of the production. Recommended for ages 4+. WHEN TO WATCH The musical opens at Regent's Park Open Air Theatre on 17th May and closes on 8th June 2024. Performance times are at 10:15am and 1:45pm. You can snap up your tickets from Thursday 2nd January on the Regent's Park Open Air Theatre website (or now if you are a member!). ABOUT THE PRODUCTION TEAM The Enormous Crocodile: The Musical is brought to life with a playful, eclectic score by composer Ahmed Abdullahi Gallab (who performs under the band name Sinkane ) and a rib-tickling book and lyrics by Suhayla El-Bushra ( Arabian Nights , Royal Lyceum Edinburgh; The Long Song, Chichester Festival Theatre and Channel 4’s Ackley Bridge ), and additional music and lyrics from Tom Brady ( The Butterfly Lion , Chichester Festival Theatre; Musical Supervisor & Arranger for Guys & Dolls , Bridge Theatre). Developed and directed by Emily Lim ( Brainstorm, Company Three / National Theatre; Pericles , National Theatre), the production will feature a menagerie of mischievous puppets by one of the UK’s leading puppetry directors and designers Toby Olié, (Spirited Away, Imperial Theatre Tokyo; Pinocchio, National Theatre ; 101 Dalmatians, Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre) who also co-directs. Set and costume design is by Fly Davis ( I Want My Hat Back, National Theatre; The Ocean at the End of the Lane, National Theatre/West End). Hurry to get your tickets before Croc snaps you up!

Wonka Tops New York Times Bestseller List

The world has gone Wonka! Alongside the success of Wonka in cinemas, the novelisation of the hit motion picture has been dominating bookshelves across the globe. Wonka has hit number one on the coveted New York Times Best Sellers list, in the category for Children's Middle Grade books, as well as topping Amazon Best Seller lists in both the UK and Italy. MORE ABOUT THE BOOK Wonka is based on the central character of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory , focused on Willy Wonka's origins and career. The film is created by Paul King (writer and director of the Paddington films) and written for film by King, along with writer and actor Simon Farnaby . The Wonka film tie-in novelisation is written by children's author Sibéal Pounder. Head of Books at the Roald Dahl Story Company, Harriet Murphy, commented "Both the movie and its novelisation capture the unique spirit of Dahl's original stories and characters - thanks to the brilliance of Paul King's original story and Sibéal Pounder's skilful adaptation from screen to page." WHAT HAPPENS IN THE STORY? Before Charlie, before the Chocolate Factory, comes a story of invention and imagination . . . Ever since he was a child, Willy Wonka had dreamed of making chocolate and sharing it with the world. As a young man, he arrives at the world-famous Galeries Gourmet, determined to change the world one delectable bite at a time. But hounded by a trio of jealous chocolatiers, and tricked into a lifetime of washhouse drudgery, Wonka will need a little luck and a whole lot of magic – along with some help from a few friends – to fulfil his destiny. Because if you’re lucky enough to meet Willy Wonka, anything is possible. Snap up your copy - available wherever books are sold!

Snaps for The Enormous Crocodile at Leeds Playhouse

The Enormous Crocodile opened its doors at Leeds Playhouse last week to delighted audiences and rave reviews! Read what the critics are saying about this deliciously funny new musical, playing in Leeds until 6th January before taking a trip to London for Regent's Park Open Air Theatre's summer season. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Theatre & Tonic "A snappy, funny, riotous children’s musical to really sink your teeth into." "The auditorium was jam-packed with kids who loved this, and even adults who surrendered themselves to the silliness, enjoyed it, myself included." "The staging is stunning, creating the theatre into a swamp, with wonderful scenery, puppetry and even bubbles, all the staples of a jungle! The puppetry is magnificent and fits the Dahl aesthetic perfectly." ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ The Reviews Hub "This zany story has been turned into a joyous and funny musical directed by Emily Lim , that has both children and adults tee-heeing and guffawing throughout. A beautiful combination of song, movement and silliness, it is a delight to watch and and listen to." "Some songs are beautiful and others brilliantly kooky, including a song with audience participation about the huge reptile being ‘Sizzled like a sausage’." "The 11 year old and 8 year old I was sitting next to loved every second of the musical, and they were not the only ones. This is a joyful way to spend 55 minutes." ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ The Stage "This lavishly staged musical adaptation, co-produced by Leeds Playhouse, Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre and the Roald Dahl Story Company, expands Dahl’s relatively slim story to visually striking effect, without sanitising its more blood-thirsty elements." " Olié’s puppet creations wittily transform adult actors into children, while his animals look like Quentin Blake’s distinctive illustrations made real. The crocodile itself is particularly ingenious, and suitably massive, often snaking around the whole stage, and deconstructed to be disguised as a seesaw or coconut tree." ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ What's On Stage " Elliotte Williams-N’Dure is the Enormous Crocodile. Dragging her mighty length behind her, seeking every opportunity to fill her belly via that vicious mouth and belting out her songs with hints of jazz and gospel, she is terrific." "It’s Toby Olié’s work as co-director and puppetry designer that grabs the eye. From small hand-puppets we graduate to larger-scale efforts worn like a costume and, in the case of the enormous crocodile, a huge head with a jaw that clamps shut and a detachable train." "London will have a chance to see this lively, inventive and delightful production next summer when it surfaces at Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre." ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Musical Theatre Review "Based on Roald Dahl’s popular tale for children, the text continues the tradition of telling a story that delights children by being transgressive. The infant classes that came to see it would recognise the tale and relish being frightened while knowing they are perfectly safe." "With Emily Lim at the helm, Leeds children can enjoy a piece that throbs with energy and sings along at a great pace."

Five Stars for The Witches at the National Theatre

This week The Witches at the National Theatre opened to outstanding critical acclaim. It was a magnificent night of spell-binding tunes and spine-tingling action, with plenty of laughs along the way (not to mention a standing ovation!). Take a look at what critics have been saying about this brand-new production. The upshot is - you wouldn't want to miss it! "A dazzling show" - The Times "This is a stunning achievement. As well as some terrific songs, here's a show that doesn't try to gloss over the issue of morality. It stares death in the face, and laughs." "Perhaps the best song is, in fact, a wickedly amusing number, Vouldn't It Be Nice? which taunts parents in the audience with daydreams of how perfect life would be if they didn't have to sacrifice themselves to the insatiable demands of their offspring. The sleek villain-in-chief, Katherine Kingsley's Grand High Witch, delivers the acerbic lyrics with a Garbo-esque snarl." ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ "This essential Roald Dahl musical warms your heart and chills your bones all at once" - The Independent "The National Theatre’s sparkling adaptation of Dahl’s story about a group of child-hating witches has the sardonic humour of Matilda and Paddington 2 and is as electrifying as a failed bid to untangle your broken fairy lights." " Dave Malloy ’s songs draw from such an eclectic musical palette – pop, Christian plainsong, 1940s showtune razzmatazz and African-inspired drumming – that each feels like a highlight in its own way." ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ "The National Theatre’s vivid, irreverent Roald Dahl adaptation is a hysterically funny triumph." - Time Out "Sure, it’s notionally aimed at families. But the National Theatre’s Roald Dahl adaptation ‘The Witches’ really is for everyone, (everyone over eight anyway). Because it’s quite easily the funniest new musical London has seen since at least ‘The Book of Mormon’." " Bertie Caplan gives an adult-level, superbly charming performance as spirited hero Luke, while Cian Eagle-Service devours his big Fosse-style number as sweet-obsessed posh boy Bruno. Give them a decade and these boys are either going to be global celebrities or running the country." ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ "A rip-roaring, acid-tongued delight of a show." - Broadway World "'We're not women, we're hell' is not a line you would expect at a family show, but Lyndsey Turner's production combines exuberant fun, quick-witted comedy and a positive attitude towards death to produce an entralling, clever and incredibly funny production." " Lucy Kirkwood (book and lyrics) and Dave Malloy (music and lyrics) make a remarkable duo with huge wit and warmth, capturing the magic of Dahl's writing." ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ "The best new musical I’ve seen this year, hands down." - London Theatre "There’s wonderful detail, and gags galore, in every corner of this enchanting show. When Luke shares his yearning to take risks, children pop up with casts and crutches, or wearing traffic cones. Later on, we see kids turned into a frozen painting and a Henry Hoover." "A gobsmackingly great musical adaptation of Roald Dahl’s The Witches , which takes the premise seriously – while perfectly balancing the scares with vivid, heart-warming and properly funny theatre." ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ "This terrific new musical, directed by Lyndsey Turner, it’s an absolute cracker of a show." - Financial Times "Roald Dahl’s The Witches features a plucky kid, sinister strangers, sudden loss and a giant battle of good versus evil... Altogether bewitching." ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ "Dark new musical based on the Roald Dahl novel is a heady, mischievous brew that leaves you grinning." - The Stage "The dancing erupts into rapturous MGM spectacle for Bruno’s big sugar-rush song 'Bruno Sweet Bruno', which sees the cast decked out in candy colours and Eagle-Service – a phenomenal, pint-sized, triple-threat talent – all but bring the house down." "The show is a potent potion: treacly dark and lip-lickingly delicious, pleasingly subversive, giddy with wit and invention." ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ "This is the Christmas show to beat." - The Evening Standard "Forget the old adage 'never work with children or animals', this production has great fun with children *as* animals." "A deliciously spiky supernatural tale that honours the dark streak in Roald Dahl's child-pleasing writing." ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Win Wonderful Wonka Prizes in Content Competition

Introducing the Wondrous #WonkaPureImaginationContest! Our friends at Warner Bros are whipping up something sweet over the next four weeks, and there are some delightfully delectable treats to win. The competition invites chocolate lovers (and Timothee Chalamet fans!) to show off their wild and wonderful Wonka-inspired art, fashion, style, décor, food… the impossibilities are endless! HOW TO ENTER It really is Wonka-fully easy! Submit a video of less than 60 seconds long on Instagram using #WonkaPureImaginationContest. Show us your very best Wonka-inspired content. WHAT CAN YOU WIN? Well, dear friends, many wonderful surprises await you. A new prize will be announced every Friday until Wonka premieres on 15 th December – and they really are spectacular. The first scrumdiddlyumptious prize just announced is a custom set of Wonderful Wonka-fied Beats Studio Pro headphones with real gold elements to get lost in the sounds of pure imagination. Now hurry, Wonka fans, we have so much time and so little to do! No! Wait! Cross that out! Reverse it!

Full Cast Announced for The Enormous Crocodile

We are enormously excited to announce the full cast for the world premiere of our snaptastic musical extravaganza of The Enormous Crocodile , featuring a menagerie of puppets, toe-tapping tunes and mischievous audience interaction. The Enormous Crocodile premieres to brave young audiences in the Courtyard theatre at Leeds Playhouse from 2 December to 6 January. Elliotte Williams-N'Dure (she/her) (Ursula, Unfortunate: The Untold Story of Ursula the Sea Witch ) stars as the hungry Crocodile searching for a delicious child to snap up for dinner. The company includes: Charis Alexandra (she/her) ( Tina: The Tina Turner Musical , West End) as Trunky the Elephant, Lawrence Hodgson-Mullings (he/him) ( Dick Whittington , National Theatre) as Humpy Rumpy the Hippopotamus, Philippa Hogg (she/her) ( Peter Pan, National Theatre Productions) as the Roly Poly Bird, and Robyn Sinclair (she/they) ( A Midsummer Night’s Dream , The Watermill Ensemble) as Muggle Wump the Monkey. Director Emily Lim said: “We're so excited to have assembled such an amazing team and cast to bring this joyful, hilarious story to life. We can't wait to get in a room together to start work on all the brilliant songs, scenes and dances – and, most importantly, to figure out exactly how the Enormous Crocodile is going to get sizzled up like a sausage.” This wildly exciting musical based on Roald Dahl ’s wickedly funny The Enormous Crocodile will bring instantly unforgettable music, world-class puppetry and enormous fun to audiences in Leeds this winter and at Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre in summer 2024.

The Witches Adventure Trail Opens at the National Theatre

This October half term the National Theatre is hosting The Witches Adventure Trail ; a family friendly puzzle activity across the building, inspired by our upcoming staged musical production of The Witches. Young visitors to the South Bank building will be given a game pack containing a series of activities inspired by Luke’s quest to defeat the Grand High Witch and stop her from seeing out her most evil plan yet. Players will move around the theatre completing challenges on display, including spotting the hidden witches illustrated on the National Theatre’s walls, decoding the Grand High Witch’s spells, and deciphering a map to her deluxe suite at Hotel Magnificent. Players will then be able to return their completed game pack to claim their prize. This free activity will run over October half term, opening tomorrow and continuing until 27 January, in line with performances of The Witches in the Olivier theatre. The trail is recommended for ages 8+ and no booking is required, just collect your trail pack from the main entrance foyer on the ground floor and get puzzling! MORE ABOUT THE WITCHES Everything you know about witches is wrong. Forget the pointy hats and broomsticks: they’re the most dangerous creatures on earth. And now they’ve come up with their most evil plan yet. The only thing standing in their way is Luke and his Gran. But he’s ten and she’s got a dodgy heart. Time is short, danger is everywhere, and they’ve got just one chance to stop the witches from squalloping every stinking little child in England. A firm fan favourite across the generations, The Witches is a brilliant blend of Roald Dahl’s trademark humour and hair-raising action, featuring the iconic villain The Grand High Witch. Cast includes three-time Olivier-nominated Katherine Kingsley (The Larkins) as the Grand High Witch and BAFTA Award-winner Daniel Rigby ( One Man, Two Guvnors ) as Mr Stringer. The Witches is a musical version of Roald Dahl’s timeless tale, filled with wit, daring and heart. This exciting new adaptation of The Witches will play in the Olivier Theatre from November, written by Olivier Award-winner Lucy Kirkwood and Tony Award-nominee Dave Malloy . The production is directed by Lyndsey Turner , hot off the back of her Olivier Award-nominated production of The Crucible for the National Theatre earlier this year. The Witches will play in the Olivier theatre from 7 November and is recommended for ages 8+. Tickets are on sale now on the National Theatre's website, so make sure you snap one up before those pesky witches snap you up!

First Song Released from The Witches

It's less than three weeks until The Witches opens at the National Theatre and as a treat, we've released a studio recording of one of the many songs from this rip-roaring new musical. Composed by Dave Malloy, the song Get Up! shows off the immense talent and impressive pipes of some of the youngest members of the cast as they band together to take down the Grand High Witch and her coven of conniving companions. And what's more, this is just a sneak peek into all the marvellous music that The Witches has to offer. You can expect over two hours of toe-tapping, hair-raising tunes. Head to the National Theatre on YouTube to listen now! MORE ABOUT THE PRODUCTION Everything you know about witches is wrong. Forget the pointy hats and broomsticks: they’re the most dangerous creatures on earth. And now they’ve come up with their most evil plan yet. The only thing standing in their way is Luke and his Gran. But he’s ten and she’s got a dodgy heart. Time is short, danger is everywhere, and they’ve got just one chance to stop the witches from squalloping every stinking little child in England. A firm fan favourite across the generations, The Witches is a brilliant blend of Roald Dahl’s trademark humour and hair-raising action, featuring the iconic villain The Grand High Witch. Cast includes three-time Olivier-nominated Katherine Kingsley (The Larkins) as the Grand High Witch and BAFTA Award-winner Daniel Rigby ( One Man, Two Guvnors ) as Mr Stringer. The Witches is a musical version of Roald Dahl’s timeless tale, filled with wit, daring and heart. This exciting new adaptation of The Witches will play in the Olivier Theatre from November, written by Olivier Award-winner Lucy Kirkwood and Tony Award-nominee Dave Malloy . The production is directed by Lyndsey Turner , hot off the back of her Olivier Award-nominated production of The Crucible for the National Theatre earlier this year. The Witches will play in the Olivier theatre from 7 November and is recommended for ages 8+. Tickets are on sale now on the National Theatre's website, so make sure you snap one up before those pesky witches snap you up!

Four New Roald Dahl Publishing Releases 

We’ve had an exciting month for publishing here at Roald Dahl, with four brand-new releases for brilliant bookworms to get their hands on. From recipe books to new novels, keep reading to discover the splendiferous new range. WHERE'S WONKA? Open the gates of the chocolate factory and explore a wonderfully wonky world of delights with the new search-and-find book: Where’s Wonka?. You’ll find twelve unique double spreads based on the world of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory , brought to life by the ingenious illustrations of Wren McDonald and bursting with unlikely surprises. From the Boiled Sweet Boat to the Inventing Room, you'll be looking for a collection of hidden items including Golden Tickets, toffee apple trees, scrumptious sweets, and all the weird and wonderful fascinations that walk the factory floors (a cow in a wig anyone?). You’ll meet all your favourite characters from the story, the good and the gruesome. We’re talking Charlie Bucket, Veruca Salt, Augustus Gloop and of course, the man we’re always on the search for – Willy Wonka himself (he’ll be especially tricky to track down). MARVELLOUSLY REVOLTING RECIPES Introducing the new book in the Revolting Recipes collection! Marvellously Revolting Recipes features 26 brand new recipes inspired by Roald Dahl stories including marvellous (and most revolting) recipes for Fried Snowballs from James and the Giant Peach , Vita-Wonk from Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and Monkey Bark inspired by The Twits . The delightfully disgusting recipe book also features beloved family favourites from previous books in the Revolting Recipes series such as Wormy Spaghetti, Snozzcumber and The Enormous Crocodile! The recipes are newly illustrated by some of the most celebrated artists working in children’s books today including Chris Riddell, Axel Scheffler, Emma Chichester-Clark, Diane Ewen, Mini Grey and Rikin Parekh alongside Quentin Blake ’s well-known and much-loved illustrations. A PHIZZ-WHIZZING 123 FINGER TRAIL BOOK Have fun learning your very first numbers with your favourite Dahl characters in this interactive board book! From one rotsome beard to five grubby toes, chiddlers can follow the finger trails to form first numbers and have phizz-whizzing counting fun! This is the most recent in a collection of board books in the Roald Dahl range including ABC, Shapes, Opposites, Lift-the-flap Hide and Seek , and First 100 Words . Absolutely perfect for the most titchy of budding bookworms. WONKA You can now pre-order the novelisation of the upcoming Wonka film! The film is a prequel based on the central character of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory , focused on Willy Wonka's origins and career. It is created by Paul King (writer and director of the Paddington films) and written for film by King, along with writer and actor Simon Farnaby . The Wonka film tie-in novelisation is written by children's author Sibéal Pounder , and is publishing on 15th December 2023. Our Head of Books commended, "Both the movie and its novelisation capture the unique spirit of Dahl's original stories and characters - thanks to the brilliance of Paul King's original story and Sibéal Pounder's skilful adaptation from screen to page."

One Aldwych Revamps Charlie and the Chocolate Factory Afternoon Tea

In the heart of London’s Covent Garden you can find a tantalising taste of Wonka wonder. Indulge your inner child and adventure into the magical, mouth-watering world of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory with the newly re-imagined afternoon tea at One Aldwych, complete with a new menu and a carefully curated, Wonka-inspired interior. What’s new on the menu? One Aldwych have been working with their tremendously talented, award-winning Executive Chef Dominic Teague and the Roald Dahl Story Company to seamlessly blend expert patisserie skills with the best moments from the iconic story. Here we share a little taster of what you can expect from the new menu. To begin, feast on delicious savouries such as the not-quite-as-it-seems macaron, spinach roly-poly and classic coronation chicken before moving onto an array of scrumptious sweets inspired by Wonka’s incredible inventions. Fizzy lifting lemonade posset – inspired by the miraculous drink that defies the laws of gravity: “ They fill you with bubbles, and the bubbles are full of a special kind of gas, and this gas is so terrifically lifting that it lifts you right off the ground just like a balloon, and up you go until your head hits the ceiling – and there you stay.” ‘Hair toffee’ mousse – if you dream of growing luscious locks you might want to give this one a go: “ You eat just one tiny bit of that, and in exactly half an hour a brand-new luscious thick silky beautiful crop of hair will start growing out all over the top of your head! And a moustache! And a beard!” Caramel chocolate milkshake (mixed by waterfall) – ever wondered why a waterfall is the perfect chocolate mixing device? “The waterfall is most important! It mixes the chocolate! It churns it up! It pounds it and beats it! It makes it light and frothy! No other factory in the world mixes its chocolate by waterfall!” ‘All the beans’ ganache (tonka, coffee and jelly) – dig into this wickedly indulgent three-bean treat before it’s too late, you don’t want to be a has bean like poor Violet: “ALL THE BEANS – CACAO BEANS, COFFEE BEANS, JELLY BEANS AND HAS BEANS. ‘Has beans?’ cried Violet Beauregarde. ‘You’re one yourself!’ said Mr Wonka.” If you find this thirsty work, wash it down with chocolate or lemon sherbet tea, ‘juicing room’ mix, ‘water pistol punch’ cocktails, or ‘fizzy lifting’ Champagne – spot on for spectacular special occasions or simply an indulgent afternoon with one of the tastiest tales ever told. Book your Charlie and the Chocolate Factory afternoon tea on the One Aldwych website – tremendous things are in store for you!

The Witches Announces Extra Two Weeks at the National Theatre

Calling all witch-o-philes far and wide - the National Theatre's new musical version of The Witches has extended its run for this winter! It's less than five months until this rip-roaring musical opens its doors in London on 7th November, and now two more weeks have been added from 8th January 2024. The Witches is a musical version of Roald Dahl’s timeless tale, filled with wit, daring and heart. This exciting new adaptation of The Witches will play in the Olivier Theatre from November, written by Olivier Award-winner Lucy Kirkwood and Tony Award-nominee Dave Malloy . The production is directed by Lyndsey Turner , hot off the back of her Olivier Award nominated production of The Crucible for the National Theatre earlier this year. Visit the National Theatre website to snap up the best tickets for the new dates! WHAT TO EXPECT FROM THE PRODUCTION Everything you know about witches is wrong. Forget the pointy hats and broomsticks: they’re the most dangerous creatures on earth. And now they’ve come up with their most evil plan yet. The only thing standing in their way is Luke and his Gran. But he’s ten and she’s got a dodgy heart. Time is short, danger is everywhere, and they’ve got just one chance to stop the witches from squalloping every stinking little child in England. A firm fan favourite across the generations, The Witches is a brilliant blend of Roald Dahl’s trademark humour and hair-raising action, featuring the iconic villain The Grand High Witch. Cast includes three-time Olivier-nominated Katherine Kingsley (The Larkins) as the Grand High Witch and BAFTA Award-winner Daniel Rigby (One Man, Two Guvnors) as Mr Stringer. Rufus Norris , Artistic Director and Chief Executive of the National Theatre has said: ‘I’m thrilled that the National Theatre and Roald Dahl Story Company are coming together for the first time to bring one of Dahl’s most enduring stories to the Olivier stage. This extraordinary production with Lucy Kirkwood’s brilliant, witty book and Lyndsey Turner’s ambitious vision is the culmination of many years of development with our exceptional New Work Department. With Dave Malloy at the musical helm, I couldn’t be more excited to be bringing this innovative piece of music theatre to fruition.’ The Witches will play in the Olivier Theatre from 7 November and is recommended for ages 8+. Tickets are on sale now on the National Theatre's website, so make sure you snap one up before any pesky witches snap you up!

New Roald Dahl Theatre Productions Coming to the Stage

Here at the Roald Dahl Story Company, we are thrilled to announce three exciting new theatre productions: A new musical for young audiences of The Enormous Crocodile, co-produced with Leeds Playhouse and Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre. A new theatrical reading of Roald Dahl’s The Magic Finger, presented for online release for schools and families, co-produced with the Unicorn Theatre. A spectacular large-scale circus , which is currently in development, inspired by Roald Dahl’s stories and featuring a range of beloved characters. The productions have been created and developed by the Roald Dahl Story Company’s in-house theatre division. Led by Artistic Director Jenny Worton and Executive Producer Anna Schmitz , the theatre division was set up in 2018 to create and produce innovative productions inspired by Roald Dahl stories in collaboration with world-class artists and leading theatre producers. These productions join a major new musical of The Witches , co-produced with the National Theatre, which was announced last month, to form a growing slate of new theatre adapted from Roald Dahl’s work. Alongside these shows the Roald Dahl Story Company currently has a further four productions under commission and development. Executive Producer Anna Schmitz and Artistic Director Jenny Worton said: “ We couldn’t be more excited to be able to reveal these new productions, which demonstrate our ambitions in making new work. Far beyond simply ‘putting the book on stage’, we want to create original pieces of theatre, which both capture the timeless appeal, characters and spirit of Roald Dahl stories and speak powerfully to today’s audiences. From puppetry to musicals, free digital productions to large-scale events we’re working across theatrical forms and collaborating with extraordinary artists and producers to create shows that will illuminate the original stories in a new way, inspiring the next generation of theatregoers.” Talking about The Enormous Crocodile and The Magic Finger they added, “With The Enormous Crocodile we wanted to make a show that speaks to four-year-olds, delights their older siblings and treats their parents to some brilliant music. The music is like Dahl’s stories in its capacity to capture audiences of all generations. It is at once dark, funny and compulsively moreish! “ We are passionately committed to reaching new audiences with our work and are delighted that the online storytelling production of The Magic Finger will ensure that young people from all backgrounds can enjoy a theatricalised reading of this story in their classroom for the first time.” THE ENORMOUS CROCODILE A co-production with Leeds Playhouse and Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre. For my lunch today I would like… a nice juicy little child! The ENORMOUS crocodile is weaving his way through the jungle in search of delicious little fingers and squidgy podgy knees. Only the other jungle creatures can foil his secret plans and clever tricks, but they’re going to have to find a large amount of courage to stop this greedy brute. This new musical version of Roald Dahl’s snappy picture book, about a large hungry crocodile searching for a child to devour, puts global contemporary music and puppetry at the heart of the production. It will be brought to life with a playful, eclectic score by composer Ahmed Abdullahi Gallab (who performs under the band name Sinkane) and a rib-tickling book and lyrics by Suhayla El-Bushra (Arabian Nights, Royal Lyceum Edinburgh; The Long Song, Chichester Festival Theatre and Channel 4’s Ackley Bridge), and additional music and lyrics from Tom Brady (The Butterfly Lion, Chichester Festival Theatre; Musical Supervisor & Arranger for Guys & Dolls, Bridge Theatre). Developed and directed by Emily Lim (Brainstorm, Company Three / National Theatre; Pericles, National Theatre), the production will feature a menagerie of mischievous puppets by one of the UK’s leading puppetry directors and designers Toby Olié, ( Spirited Away, Imperial Theatre Tokyo; Pinocchio, National Theatre; 101 Dalmatians, Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre) who also co-directs. Set and costume design is by Fly Davis (I Want My Hat Back, National Theatre; The Ocean at the End of the Lane, National Theatre/West End). The production runs from 2 December 2023 – 6 January 2024 at Leeds Playhouse playing in the Courtyard Theatre. Tickets are on sale to Leeds Playhouse’s Priority Access, Playhouse Pass Members and Under 30 Scheme from 25 May, with tickets on general sale from 1 June. The production will then head to Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre for summer 2024. THE MAGIC FINGER A co-production with the Unicorn Theatre . The Gregg family spend every Saturday morning out in the woods searching for animals and birds to hunt. But the girl next door cannot stand hunting, and she’s so angry about it she’s going to set the magic finger on them all. One thing is for certain, very strange and spectacular things are about to begin.... Roald Dahl’s The Magic Finger will be presented in a new theatrical reading for online release. Created in co-production with the Unicorn Theatre, the UK's leading theatre for young audiences, this imaginative reading of Roald Dahl’s mischievous story will be directed by Milli Bhatia (Seven Methods of Killing Kylie Jenner, Royal Court) and designed by Shankho Chaudhuri (Alice in Wonderland, Brixton House). The Magic Finger will be released online for free to schools and families across the UK and beyond from Spring 2024. A CIRCUS INSPIRED BY ROALD DAHL STORIES Currently in development, the theatre division is also concocting a large-scale circus spectacle, that brings together beloved characters from the most popular Roald Dahl stories for the first time. This brand-new show is being cooked up by a stellar creative team including Olivier Award-winning director Polly Findlay , masters of circus spectacle Cirque Bijou and Stephen Long and Iain Sharkey - the minds behind many of Derren Brown’s TV and stage illusions.Further details will be announced in due course. THE WITCHES A co-production with the National Theatre . The Witches is a rip-roaring musical version of Roald Dahl’s timeless tale, filled with wit, daring and heart. With book and lyrics by Olivier Award-winner Lucy Kirkwood , music and lyrics by Tony Award-nominee Dave Malloy , and directed by Lyndsey Turner . Set and costume design is by Lizzie Clachan . 7 November 2023 to 6 January 2024

Matilda The Musical Coming to Netflix UK and Ireland

Revolting news! Netflix has announced the date you’ve all been waiting for: Matilda The Musical will be on Netflix UK and Ireland from 25 th June 2023. The film took the world by storm in December, when Alisha’s Weir’s Matilda and her Crunchem Hall classmates sang and danced their way into our hearts. If you didn’t manage to catch it in cinemas at Christmas, you can now look forward to summertime streaming of the film that has become beloved in households all over the world. Reasons to stream Matilda The Musical this summer... It’s the perfect escape Matilda Wormwood is a little girl with big curiosity, a sharp mind and a vivid imagination. Whether you’re a tiny child or an all-powerful grown up, you can’t help but delight in the mischievous, rebellious and utterly joyous story of Matilda as she takes on the terrible Trunchbull and shows us that even if you’re little, you can do a lot. The music will not disappoint Originally an internationally loved musical, the film is packed full of toe tapping, hell-raising songs. The most popular track, “Revolting Children”, has over 8 million plays on Spotify, with “Naughty” and “School Song” both raking in over 5 million each. You might even recognise “Revolting Children” from the viral TikTok trend, where fans worldwide recreated the wickedly fast dance in the style of “Red Beret Girl”. It’s already racked up a lot of praise Matilda The Musical was nominated for two BAFTA awards, including Outstanding British Film of the Year. Alisha Weir’s spirited portrayal of the titular character gained her a nomination for Young British/Irish Performer of the Year at the London Critics Circle Film Awards, with Emma Thompson also nominated for British/Irish Actress of the Year for her terrifying Miss Trunchbull. You don’t want to be left out! Millions of people around the world have already seen the film - in fact, Matilda The Musical remained at the top of the box office in UK cinemas for three consecutive weeks. Internationally, it was the second most watched film on Netflix this Christmas after Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery, and boasted the number one spot for family film views. Don’t miss Roald Dahl’s Matilda The Musical on Netflix UK and Ireland this June.

The Witches Musical to Premier at the National Theatre

The National Theatre, together with the Roald Dahl Story Company, has today announced a new production of Roald Dahl’s The Witches for their Winter 2023 season. The Witches is a rip-roaring musical version of Roald Dahl’s timeless tale, filled with wit, daring and heart. This exciting new adaptation of The Witches will play in the Olivier Theatre from November, written by Olivier Award-winner Lucy Kirkwood and Tony Award-nominee Dave Malloy . The production is directed by Lyndsey Turner , hot off the back of her Olivier Award nominated production of The Crucible for the National Theatre earlier this year. WHAT TO EXPECT FROM THE PRODUCTION Everything you know about witches is wrong. Forget the pointy hats and broomsticks: they’re the most dangerous creatures on earth. And now they’ve come up with their most evil plan yet. The only thing standing in their way is Luke and his Gran. But he’s ten and she’s got a dodgy heart. Time is short, danger is everywhere, and they’ve got just one chance to stop the witches from squalloping every stinking little child in England. A firm fan favourite across the generations, The Witches is a brilliant blend of Roald Dahl’s trademark humour and hair-raising action, featuring the iconic villain The Grand High Witch. Cast includes three-time Olivier-nominated Katherine Kingsley (The Larkins) as the Grand High Witch and BAFTA Award-winner Daniel Rigby ( One Man, Two Guvnors ) as Mr Stringer. Rufus Norris , Artistic Director and Chief Executive of the National Theatre has said: ‘I’m thrilled that the National Theatre and Roald Dahl Story Company are coming together for the first time to bring one of Dahl’s most enduring stories to the Olivier stage. This extraordinary production with Lucy Kirkwood’s brilliant, witty book and Lyndsey Turner’s ambitious vision is the culmination of many years of development with our exceptional New Work Department. With Dave Malloy at the musical helm, I couldn’t be more excited to be bringing this innovative piece of music theatre to fruition.’ CAST AND PRODUCTION TEAM Book and lyrics by Lucy Kirkwood, music by Dave Malloy, Director - Lyndsey Turner, Set and Costume Designer - Lizzie Clachan, Choreographer - Stephen Mear, Music Supervisor - Nigel Lilley, Music Director - Cat Beveridge, Lighting Designer - Bruno Poet, Co-Sound Designers - Alexander Caplen and Ian Dickinson, Video Designer - Ash J Woodward, Illusions by Chris Fisher and Will Houstoun, Casting Director - Bryony Jarvis-Taylor, Associate Director - Séimí Campbell, Staff Director Priya Patel Appleby, Associate Set Designer - Shankho Chaudhuri, Associate Costume Designer - Johanna Coe, Associate Choreographer - Jo Morris, Associate Music Director - Natalie Pound, Children’s and Assistant Music Director - Sarah Morrison Cast includes Katherine Kingsley, Daniel Rigby, Julie Armstrong , Chrissie Bhima , Zoe Birkett , Daniele Coombe , Molly-May Gardiner , Tiffany Graves , Tania Mathurin , Jacob Maynard , Laura Medforth and Ben Redfern . The Witches will play in the Olivier theatre from 7 November and is recommended for ages 8+. Tickets are on sale now on the National Theatre's website, so make sure you snap one up before any pesky witches snap you up!

Matilda The Musical's 'Red Beret Girl' Nominated for a Webby Award

Hortensia is an older student at Crunchem Hall and a leading figure in the revolt against the terrible Trunchbull.

Everything You Need to Build a Reading Habit like Matilda

Have you got a budding bookworm or reluctant reader who wants to build a reading habit that will stick? We know that sitting down to read a book can be a daunting task for a chiddler, but there’s no reason why they too can’t become a brilliant bookworm just like Matilda. Show them this list of top tips to build a reading habit, inspired by the Reader of Books herself: 1. CREATE A COSY READING ENVIRONMENT Matilda’s home isn’t a comforting place, but she manages to make a reading den in her small bedroom, a place with no distractions where the books can carry her away. TOP TIP: Make sure you have somewhere cosy that you can settle down to read your book. How about making a den out of sheets or snuggling down in your favourite armchair with a blanket? 2. DON’T FORGET THE SNACKS You’ll need some fuel for all that brainbox power you’ll be using! Matilda loves a cup of hot chocolate by her when she reads. TOP TIP: Get yourself a snack or a drink to enjoy at the same time. Make reading a time to really spoil yourself! 3. FIND SOMEONE TO HELP YOU Even though Matilda’s peevish parents are less than supportive of Matilda’s books, our hero still manages to find supportive people to help her along her reading journey. TOP TIP: Whether you find someone to help you choose books like Mrs Phelps, or someone to help you improve and challenge yourself like Miss Honey, it’s always fantastic to know that you have a helping hand. 4. VISIT A LIBRARY The village library is where Matilda truly discovers her love of books. She starts reading in the children’s section, one of the most wonderful places around! TOP TIP : Get yourself to a library. Matilda goes alone but do ask an adult to come with you (they can help you reach books on high up shelves). We’d also recommend talking to the librarian, they will have wonderful knowledge and can help you choose the right book for you. 5. WRITE DOWN YOUR FAVOURITE WORDS Matilda loves words. She loves learning how to spell them, how to rhyme them, and discovering new ones. One of our favourite Matilda quotes is “Words went off like fireworks” as the new words are like sparks in her brain. TOP TIP: Keep a notebook and a pen by you when you read. Write down your favourite words and phrases as you go and read them back when you have finished. Maybe you can impress your teacher by including one in your next piece of writing. 6. EXPERIMENT WITH DIFFERENT GENRES There are so many genres in the world, from adventure to fantasy, drama to comedy. Not everyone likes the same books, and that’s ok! Matilda particularly adores funny books, because, as she says, “children are not so serious as adults and love to laugh”. TOP TIP: When you have finished one book, try something completely different for your next read. If you have just finished a funny book, try a serious one, and if you have just finished a fairy-tale, try something a bit more gruesome (Roald Dahl’s stories are great for this). 7. BRANCH OUT! There are so many different things to read in this world. With the lack of books in her house, Matilda starts reading newspapers, magazines and cookbooks! TOP TIP: If you really want a challenge, why not ask your parent if you can try and read a bit of their newspaper, or next time you are baking, see of you can be the one to read out the instructions. 8. AND FINALLY… Enjoy yourself! Reading is a truly wonderful hobby and can take you on all sorts of adventures. So, in the words of our trusty librarian Mrs Phelps, “Don’t worry about the bits you can’t understand, sit back and allow the words to wash around you, like music”. Once you do this, you are sure to fall in love with reading for life.

The Best Quotes from Roald Dahl Stories about Reading

Roald Dahl stories are packed with brilliantly booky quotes, so we’ve rounded up our very favourites all in one place. If you’re celebrating World Book Day or Read Across America, these quotes are sure to inspire the bookworm in you. ‘Don’t worry about the bits you can’t understand. Sit back and allow the words wash around you, like music.’ - Matilda These wise words from Mrs Phelps (the helpful librarian) truly capture the spirit of sharing stories; it doesn't matter if you can't understand every single word, as long as you're enjoying the journey. ‘I is reading it hundreds of times,’ the BFG said. ‘And I is still reading it and teaching new words to myself and how to write them. It is the most scrumdiddlyumptious story.’ - The BFG Like the BFG we should all love learning new words, even if they are made up! For example, 'scrumdiddlyumptious': an adjective used to describe a food that is utterly delicious... or 'repulsant': something disgusting and vile - like slimy snozzcumbers! ‘ So many of them were always begging him to tell and tell again the story of his adventures on the peach, he thought it would be nice if one day he sat down and wrote it as a book. So he did.’ - James and the Giant Peach We're with James' friends on this one - we want to hear our favourite story again and again and again. (And maybe just once more after that.) ‘The books transported her into new worlds and introduced her to amazing people who lived exciting lives.’ - Matilda Where might you go and who might you meet today, dear reader? “May I tell you a story?” - Matilda The answer to this should always be "yes, Miss Honey!" ‘“All right,” he said. “What sort of story shall we have tonight?”’ - Danny the Champion of the World An all-important follow up to Miss Honey's question above. Do you think, perhaps, you might like to hear an adventure involving pheasants today...? ‘Her witch stories, unlike most of the others, were not imaginary tales.’ - The Witches Like Grandma's tales about witches, sometimes the best stories are based on things that are absolutely, categorically real. ‘All the reading she had done had given her a view of life that they had never seen.’ - Matilda In the pages of a good book you might see through the eyes of a witch-hunting mouse-boy, or a ladderless window cleaning giraffe, or even an incredible inventor of chocolate treats. ‘No book ever ends when its full of your friends.’ - The Giraffe and the Pelly and Me Whether your favourite friends are a strange trio of window washers or any of the other friendly faces from Roald Dahl’s stories, you can always visit them by simply opening a book.

Find the Perfect Twinkl Resource for your Roald Dahl Lesson

We have been working in partnership with our friends at Twinkl to bring over two hundred new Roald Dahl resources to our fans. They are all inspired by your favourite Roald Dahl stories and characters, with iconic illustrations by Quentin Blake, and are tailored to school curriculums. What’s more, they are one-hundred percent free to download! With World Book Day just around the corner, we wanted to make it easy to find exactly what you need to celebrate the bookiest of days. Here’s what’s on offer over on Twinkl… Resources by title: Whether you’re learning about the brilliance of being a bookworm with Matilda , going on a peachy adventure with James and the Giant Peach , or getting creative with Charlie and the Chocolate Factory , there are collections of resources for each title. There are currently ten titles to explore on the Twinkl website, with more and more being added every month… watch this space! Resources to help with reading: Whether your little reader needs a helping hand or simply wants more practice to become a genius like Matilda, you can find plenty of tools on Twinkl inspired by the Roald Dahl stories. We recommend trying the comprehension resources and the sixty-second reads – indulge in an extract from a Roald Dahl book and answer questions to better understand the text. These are perfect if you’re celebrating World Book Day! Resources to unlock creativity: If there’s one thing Roald Dahl books are packed full of, it’s imagination, invention and creativity. To get the creative juices flowing, you could try inventing a new sweet inspired by Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, building a minibeast hotel inspired by James and the Giant Peach, or practicing creative writing prompted by our short burst writing packs . Short resources for when you need something light: We all need a little break from learning every now and then, so if you’re looking for quick fun activities you can download character colouring sheets , word searches and bookmark design worksheets . Make your classroom splendiferous: If you fancy going the extra mile, you can find display lettering and display borders for each title to help you showcase all the wonderful, creative, inventive, gloriumptious work of your students.