Review: Peppa Pig’s Surprise for a bubbly family West End experience

‘I liked it when George was crying, and the sand was really funny!’

Yesterday Big Girl, Baby Boy and I parked the car on Dean Street in Soho, ready to hit the West End before 11 in the morning. We were heading to the Phoenix Theatre on Charing Cross Road to see one of my favourite shows for under 5s.

It was Peppa Pig Live with Peppa Pig’s Surprise–the show that was new for the Peppa Pig Christmas season in London last year. I was excited to have been invited to the show with Big Girl and Baby Boy, as it was my first time to see it with both a one-year-old and a four-year-old.

Baby Boy, now 18 months old, was eagerly flapping his arms through a large part of the production and moving to the beat when Peppa and friends were singing the easy-to-follow feel-good songs. Big Girl was equally happy to be at the show, and she was shouting out answers loud at every opportunity and trying to catch the bubbles during Peppa and George’s bath time.

The show features plenty of audience interaction, special effects and larger puppets than the first live show–Peppa Pig’s Big Splash. I think the puppets in Peppa Pig’s Surprise are fabulous–a big upgrade from the first production–and I love the giant-sized Mummy and Daddy Pig puppets.

We also laughed out loud numerous times – and always when George was crying. His tears reach the first few rows of the stalls, which was a definite highlight for Big Girl.

The Peppa and friends puppets are also large enough for actors to duck down and hide behind them when possible, and Big Girl commented this morning that they were ‘so cute’.

Peppa Pig’s Surprise is a fun show for Peppa Pig fans of different ages – an entertaining West End experience for young families to enjoy!

Peppa Pig’s Surprise is playing at Phoenix Theatre until 7 January

Tags: Children's theatre, Peppa Pig, Peppa Pig Live, Review, West End