Watch a brilliant musical recreation of Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffer’s 2003 picture book that delighted young and old alike! A perfect show for the entire family, The Snail and The Whale is sure to be a colourful 55-minute display of unmatched acting and music.
Why Watch The Snail and the Whale
Why Watch The Snail and the Whale
Tall Stories, the company behind the West End production of The Snail and the Whale, has been well known since its inception in 1997 for bringing some of the best children’s shows to the stages of London. Shows such as The Gruffalo, The Snow Dragon, and Room on the Broom have won critical acclaim for their characteristic inventiveness and appeal. With artistic directors Olivia Jacobs and Toby Mitchell at its helm, the company has performed in some of the most sought after venues at cities ranging from New York to Sydney.
The Snail and the Whale has won several accolades including the Best Pre-School Book Award in 2004, the Blue Peter Award in 2005, and a Giverny award in 2007. In fact, the story became so popular amongst children that it was adapted for various mediums including board books, jigsaw puzzles, sticker books, audiobooks, and the stage. This winter, the stage adaptation of The Snail and the Whale is set to feature at the Apollo Theatre.
The Story
An ambitious snail, which lives on a rock near the docks, is intent on travelling the world and witnessing its many wonders. After an advert titled ‘lift wanted around the world’ is published, a humpback whale offers to take the tiny snail across the sea and straight to the horizon. The snail gladly agrees, and thus begins an adventure. The two companions are thrilled by the sights they see as they travel the world. On one fateful day, the whale is disoriented by the raucous noise of racing speedboats, causing it to swim unwittingly onto the beach. With its friend stranded on the beach, the snail sets out to look for help. It finds a local school and manages to scrawl a message on the blackboard asking for help. The emergency services, the fire department, and the local populace of the town pitch in to save the whale by keeping it wet until the tide turns once more. The snail and the whale return to the docks from which they embarked on this epic adventure. After a narration of all the events that transpired on their travels, the other snails at the docks are thoroughly impressed, and the whale offers to take them all on a journey to see the world.
Good For
Family Audiences | Children | Lovers of Musicals
Reviews
“Tall Stories' adaptation of the much-loved children's book is a small but ingenious pleasure”
“This amazing production showed how a story can take you around the world without ever leaving your room.”
Cancellation policy
Cancellation policy
These tickets can't be cancelled or rescheduled.
Reviews
Reviews
Know Before You Go
Know Before You Go
Show Details
The show will run for a limited season from 30 November 2019 to 5 January 2020.
Show Timings
Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, 18th December | 11 AM | Sunday | 11 AM, 2 PM, and 4 PM | 23rd and 30th December | 11 AM, 2 PM |
A relaxed 11 AM performance for schools is available on 4th December, and a relaxed performance for the public is scheduled on the 15th December. A BSL performance will run for schools at 11 AM on 11 December.
Produced and brought to stage by
Tall Stories
Written by
Julia Donaldson
Illustrated by
Alex Scheffler
Artistic Direction by
Olivia Jacobs and Tony Mitchell
Additional Information
Duration
55 minutes with no intermission
Available Facilities
Wheelchair Accessible
In-house Bar
Comfort Cooling System
Cloak Room
Outside Food
Strictly prohibited. If you'd like to grab a meal before or after the show, check out our guide to the 30 Best Restaurants in the Theater District.
Dress Code
Smart and casual wear is recommended. Keep in mind, the theater is air conditioned throughout the year and can get a bit chilly.
Important Information
Although the show is recommended for children over the age of 4, parents or guardians may choose to bring kids under 4 if they believe the show is appropriate for their children. Children under 18 months are admitted free of charge.
My tickets
My tickets
You will receive an email confirmation along with your mobile voucher shortly after you book the tickets. You will need to display a photo ID along with your voucher at the Theatre's Box Office to collect your tickets.
Theatre Address
Apollo Theatre, Shaftesbury Avenue, London, W1D 7EZ
Getting There
By Bus: Take bus lines 14, 19, 38, N19, or N38 and get off at Trocadero / Haymarket (Stop K). The theatre is a short 2-minute walk from this bus stop.
By Tube: Take the Bakerloo or Piccadilly lines to Piccadilly Circus Station. The theatre is a short 4-minute walk from this station.
Validity
This ticket is valid for the date selected at the time of booking.