REVIEW - ROALD DAHL'S THE ENORMOUS CROCODILE THE MUSICAL | THE LOWRY | 14/12/2025

🐊 THE ENORMOUS CROCODILE AT THE LOWRY – A SNAPPY JUNGLE ADVENTURE THAT GETS LITTLE AUDIENCES ROARING WITH DELIGHT

There’s something especially exciting about seeing a Roald Dahl story brought to life on stage, particularly when it’s created with young audiences in mind. The Enormous Crocodile at The Lowry takes one of Dahl’s most mischievous picture books and transforms it into a lively, playful piece of family theatre that immediately knows who it’s for.

I went along with my two children, Alice (8) and Leo (6), making this very much a family theatre experience. From the moment we arrived, it was clear that this production has been thoughtfully designed for younger audiences, balancing humour, interaction and just the right level of theatrical magic.

Developed and directed by Emily Lim, with music by Ahmed Abdullahi Gallab and a playful book and lyrics by Suhayla El-Bushra, this musical leans fully into imagination and fun, offering a welcoming introduction to live theatre while still giving adults plenty to enjoy alongside their little ones.

The jungle’s greediest resident has a bold plan: for lunch, he would quite like “a nice juicy little child.” What follows is a series of “secret plans and clever tricks” as the Enormous Crocodile disguises himself in increasingly inventive ways in an attempt to catch his meal.

Thankfully, the other jungle animals are always watching. Each plan is foiled in turn, with the story gently exploring ideas of bravery, teamwork and speaking up — all delivered with humour and a lightness that never feels heavy-handed. The comedy is perfectly pitched — cheeky, playful and just daring enough without ever being genuinely scary.

Both Alice (8) and Leo (6) were completely absorbed throughout. Alice’s favourite character was Muggle Wump the Monkey, while Leo instantly latched onto Trunky the Elephant. One moment they both loved was when the Crocodile pretended to be a tree to trick one of the children — they were fascinated by how the puppet was taken apart and cleverly rearranged to transform him into something completely different. It was such a smart piece of visual storytelling, and the kind of theatrical trick that really captures young imaginations.

The magic of The Enormous Crocodile at The Lowry begins before the show even starts. The auditorium is already bathed in soft jungle lighting, bubbles float gently through the air, and performers move through the audience with delicate fly puppets, stopping to interact with children and invite them into the story. It’s a calm, welcoming introduction that immediately builds excitement — Alice and Leo were utterly captivated, watching the bubbles drift overhead and following the tiny puppets as they passed by.

Once the show gets underway, Fly Davis’s bold set and costume design transforms the Lyric Theatre into a vibrant jungle world. The colours are rich and playful, creating an environment that feels exciting without ever being overwhelming for younger audience members.

The puppetry, designed by Toby Olié and co-designed and supervised by Daisy Beattie, is a standout throughout. Alongside the animal characters, the production also uses child puppets, where the puppet body is paired with the puppeteer’s own head as the child’s head. It’s a striking design choice at first, but it very quickly becomes part of the show’s visual language, fitting naturally into the playful, storybook world.

Audience interaction is woven into the performance beautifully. Children are encouraged to shout out warnings, respond to questions and help the jungle animals outwit the Crocodile. During one of the songs, simple actions are taught, allowing young audience members to move along with the music. Leo loved knowing exactly when to shout, while Alice happily copied the actions — participation that feels inclusive, confidence-boosting and genuinely fun.

One of the biggest highlights is the moment where the audience is invited to throw prop nuts at the Crocodile, which went down an absolute storm and added to the sense that this is a show being created with its audience, not just performed to them.

The music is lively, rhythmic and easy to follow, helping to drive the story forward while keeping energy levels high from start to finish.

The cast deliver a hugely engaging performance, seamlessly combining acting, singing and puppetry throughout. Chelsea Da Silva is deliciously mischievous as the Enormous Crocodile, capturing his swagger and silliness while keeping the character playful rather than frightening. Her performance anchors the show, leading the energy and interaction with confidence and warmth.

Precious Abimbola brings humour and heart to Trunky the Elephant, quickly becoming a firm favourite with Leo, while Jordan Eskeisa is wonderfully expressive as Humpy Rumpy the Hippopotamus, adding both comedy and charm. Ciara Hudson shines as the alert and lively Roly Poly Bird, and Marienella Phillips is an absolute joy as Muggle Wump the Monkey, instantly winning Alice over with her playful energy and physical storytelling.

Together, the ensemble work beautifully, constantly shifting between characters, puppets and musical moments while keeping young audiences fully engaged from start to finish.

The Enormous Crocodile at The Lowry is a bright, joyful and brilliantly engaging piece of family theatre that understands exactly how children experience a show. From the gentle pre-show interaction and floating bubbles to the lively songs, imaginative puppetry and constant invitation to join in, young audience members are welcomed, respected and fully included throughout.

Alice and Leo came out buzzing, still talking excitedly about their favourite moments — the Crocodile’s tricks, the shouting and, of course, the nut-throwing — a clear sign that the show had really connected with its audience.

It’s theatre that makes children feel welcome, involved and part of the magic, leaving them with big smiles and plenty to chat about on the way home.

A snaptastic jungle adventure packed with puppetry, participation and pure family joy.🌟🐊

The Enormous Crocodile will be showing at The Lowry until Sunday, 4th January 2026. Tickets are available for purchase through the link provided below.

Click Me

For more information about the show, please click the button below to visit the official website.

Click Me

Photo Credit - Danny Kaan

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