REVIEW - A SQUASH AND A SQUEEZE | THE LOWRY | 05/08/2025

Name: A Squash and a Squeeze at The Lowry – A Joyful Puppet-Filled Spectacle
Item: A Squash and a Squeeze
Rating: 4
Author: Sarah Monaghan

Sarah Monaghan
Aug 5
3 min read

Updated: 7 days ago

Old woman, animals (cow, goat, pig, hen) in field; man on rock with birds nearby. Text: "A Squash and a Squeeze," on stage promo.

Text "ALL ABOUT THEATRE" in bold white with pink outline on a vivid purple background. Four faint stars are visible below the text.

🚪 A Squash and a Squeeze at The Lowry – From Bedtime Favourite to Stage Delight!

As big fans of Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler, A Squash and a Squeeze has always been a firm favourite in our home. We own all the books, and this one held special memories for both Alice (7) and Leo (6) from their younger years. Seeing it brought to life on stage at The Lowry was a truly exciting experience for them—and us!

From the moment the wise old man wandered through the audience with his suitcase of “Easy Peasy Solutions”, the stage was set for a fun-filled family adventure. With audience interaction, live music, and plenty of farmyard chaos, this was theatre tailor-made for little ones.

from the stage adaptation of A Squash And a Squeeze, three actors on stage; one with a polka dot dress holds a pink umbrella. Another pushes a goat cart. Colourful tree backdrop.

📖 The Story – From Picture Book to Play

This beloved tale tells the story of a little old lady who finds her home far too small—there’s not even room for the cat! She enlists the help of a quirky tradesman who offers a rather unusual fix: bring in the animals! One by one, a hen, a goat, a pig, and a cow fill the house to bursting point. But when they all leave again, the old lady realises just how much space she truly has.

The message is simple and sweet: sometimes, we don’t realise what we’ve got until we look at it a little differently. And in true Julia Donaldson fashion, it’s delivered with heart, humour, and just the right amount of mayhem.

from the stage adaptation of A Squash And a Squeeze, People act in a colourful kitchen scene. A woman in polka dots holds an apple, surprised by a puppet in a pot. A man points, another tends a pig puppet.

🐄 Set, Songs & Silliness – A Squash and a Squeeze Full of Spectacle 🎶

The set, designed by Kate Bunce, drew gasps as the old lady’s cottage unfolded before our eyes. The charming house opened up to reveal a cosy, colourful interior that felt straight out of a storybook. Cleverly, the cottage could be moved around to reveal different angles adding a fun sense of surprise and variety to each scene. The clever use of space and props brought endless delight to the young audience.

Lighting by Sherry Coenen beautifully enhanced the mood, shifting seamlessly from sunshine to thunderstorm to the pulsing lights of a house party.

Maia Kirkman-Richards’ puppets were a true highlight. Each animal was lovingly crafted from everyday objects, giving the show a delightfully handmade, imaginative feel. The goat’s body was a hay-filled wheelbarrow, the pig was made from a trough, and the cow featured milk pails and a yoke. Alice adored the feather-flicking hen, Leo couldn’t get enough of the dancing cow, and I was tickled pink by the posh pig with a passion for fancy snacks (Florentines, no less!).

Barb Jungr’s original songs were catchy, characterful, and perfectly matched to each animal. The pig crooned about posh biscuits, the goat sang about not liking rain, and the cow sang about being lonely. Leo’s favourite was the pig’s song about fancy snacks, while I enjoyed the goat’s rainy-day tune.

from the stage adaptation of A Squash And a Squeeze, two men perform on stage; one swings a fork with puppet bees, the other flinches holding a racket, wearing a helmet. Playful, bright scene.

👩‍🌾 The Cast – A Trio of Talent

The three-strong cast was delightful. Ruth Calkin brought warmth and great comic timing to the old lady, balancing indignation with infectious charm. Chris Dobson’s quirky salesman-turned-wise-man was full of energy, mischief and physical comedy—his expressions alone had the kids giggling. Mark Esaias impressed with his narration and nimble puppetry, often handling multiple characters at once without ever breaking the magic. Their chemistry kept the pace brisk and the audience engaged throughout.

from the stage adaptation of A Squash And a Squeeze, a scene with actors in a colorful farmhouse set; one holds a cow prop, another a pig. Bright blue backdrop creates whimsical mood.

🎉 Final Thoughts – Big Fun in a Little House!

A Squash and a Squeeze is a gentle riot of puppetry, playfulness and pint-sized philosophy. While some scenes feel a little stretched to fill the hour-long runtime, the cast’s energy and the clever staging more than make up for it. With catchy songs, clever puppets and plenty of chances to join in, it’s a theatrical treat for children and their grown-ups too.

Our verdict? It’s an easy peasy solution for a joyful family outing.

“Big fun in a small house – a perfect hour of farmyard mayhem!”

A Squash and a Squeeze is at The Lowry until Sunday 24th August 2025. Tickets are available for purchase through the link provided below.

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If you would like more information about the show, please click the button below to visit the show's official website.

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Photo Credit - Suzi Corker

*Our tickets for this show were kindly gifted in exchange for an honest review.