REVIEW - THERE'S A MONSTER IN YOUR SHOW | THE LOWRY | 27/05/2025
- Sarah Monaghan
- 6 days ago
- 3 min read
🎭 A Monster-Sized Treat for Little Theatre Fans!
We first saw There’s a Monster in Your Show in 2024 and loved it, so we were thrilled to catch it again this May during its 2025 UK tour. Inspired by the bestselling books by Tom Fletcher and illustrated by Greg Abbott, the stage version brings Monster and friends to life in a delightful adaptation by Zoe Bourn, with direction by Miranda Larson and music by Fletcher himself. Produced by MEI Theatrical, this playful production is aimed at children aged 2 and up—and it’s safe to say it had both of mine completely hooked.
📚 What’s the Story?
The story kicks off with four lively performers preparing for their big show—until they realise Monster has escaped from his book! Cue giggles, gasps, and a few cries of “He’s behind you!” from an excitable young audience. But this isn’t a story about getting Monster back where he belongs. It’s about inviting him to be part of the fun—and soon his friends Dragon, Alien and Unicorn join in too. There’s a little chaos (okay, a lot), some missing balloons, and plenty of interactive moments, but at its heart, this is a tale about teamwork, imagination, and the pure joy of storytelling.
🌟 Magical Moments & Audience Fun
From the moment we entered the auditorium, the magic began. Members of the cast wandered through the audience, chatting to the children – a small but brilliant touch that made a huge impact. Alice, who is often shy, lit up when one of the performers sat near her and chatted. That gentle pre-show moment gave her the confidence to fully join in with the interactive fun – from pretending to play instruments to shouting “He’s behind you!” with glee whenever Monster popped up.
🎨 Set, Lighting, Costumes, Puppetry & Music
Visually, the show is bright, bold and endlessly playful. Laura McEwen’s set—made up of towering stacks of colourful boxes—was as fun to look at as it was functional, with surprises hidden around every corner. Two screens added an extra sprinkle of magic with animations that helped bring the story to life.
The puppets, designed by Keith Frederick, were the real stars of the show. Each character looked like they’d leapt straight off the page, complete with glowing horns, smoky snouts and expressive eyes. Dragon’s grand entrance (hatching from a giant egg) was Leo’s absolute favourite moment, while Alice adored Alien’s dramatic spaceship arrival!
As for the music – wow! Tom Fletcher, Barry Bignold and Miranda Larson have created an earworm-packed score that refuses to leave your head (in the best way). Every song was lively, catchy, and easy to join in with – no wonder both kids told me their favourite song was “all of them!” I have to agree – I’m still humming them today.
🎭 Meet the Cast
The cast bring a bucketload of energy to the stage. Duncan Taylor (Sam) puppeteers Monster with charm and mischief, while Eloise Hare (Alex) brings both Dragon and Unicorn to sparkling, glowing life. Brian Maitland (Ben) gives Alien just the right mix of kooky and cute, and William Huke (Charlie) ties everything together with charisma and comic timing. The whole team work seamlessly as both actors and puppeteers, switching between characters, singing and dancing with an infectious enthusiasm that lit up the stage.
Special shoutout to the brilliant pre-show interactions—Alice beamed when one of the cast sat in front of her and had a chat. It made her feel part of the story before it had even started and helped her feel comfortable enough to join in later on. As a parent, that kind of gentle, thoughtful engagement means the world.
💖 Final Thoughts
There’s A Monster In Your Show is a monstrously fun, warm and wildly entertaining introduction to theatre for little ones. It’s full of heart, humour, catchy tunes and just the right amount of monster mayhem. Whether your child is a seasoned theatre-goer or it’s their very first show, this production wraps them in a colourful, musical hug and invites them to play. We left with big smiles, full hearts, and a new love for catchy tunes and one very cheeky monster.
This is family theatre at its most joyfully chaotic—a five-star giggle-fest from beginning to end!
A monstrously fun hour of theatre that will leave your little ones grinning all the way home — there’s a monster in the theatre, and he’s an absolute star!
There's A Monster In Your Show is at The Lowry until Sunday 1st June 2025. Tickets are available for purchase through the link provided below.
If you would like more information about the show, please click the button below to visit the show's official website.
*Our tickets for this show were kindly gifted in exchange for an honest review.
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