REVIEW: Peppa Pig's Surprise at the Pavilion Theatre, Worthing

It was boiling hot, loud and busy, but that didn't stop a theatre full of pre-school children from having the time of their lives at Peppa Pig's Surprise.
Peppa Pig came to WorthingPeppa Pig came to Worthing
Peppa Pig came to Worthing

Stopping off at Worthing’s Pavilion Theatre for two days this week as part of a nationwide tour, the show about the ‘loveable’ talking pig Peppa was colourful, vibrant and seemingly utterly engaging for the town’s theatre-goers of the future.

My two-year-old daughter was mesmerised from the start, as she followed the story of Peppa going on a surprise trip the to the seaside with her family and friends. Clutching the light-up spinner we bought her (£8 from the merchandise stall – we, like the many other parents who’d been convinced to make a purchase, were a captive audience and the producers clearly knew it!), she clapped along to the songs and waved hello to all her favourite characters from the BAFTA Award-winning TV show.

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Rather than have all the characters be people wearing costumes, most of the Peppa Pig characters in the stage show are puppets wheeled along by actors. Only Mummy and Daddy Pig are costumes worn by people, which I think made the whole show less intimidating for younger children. My daughter met Peppa and George once, and they were huge – bigger than me and my husband, which was a bit overwhelming for her. I had feared she might find them a bit scary, but as they were child-size, she was absolutely fine.

At half an hour for each half, with a 15-minute interval (just enough time for parents to purchase more Peppa merchandise – perhaps Peppa Pig’s teddy this time?!), the show was just the right length for children not to get too bored.

There was also enough familiar content – Daddy Pig being a buffoon, driving in the little red car, Peppa and George’s love of jumping in muddy puddles – to make the show recognisable for the little ones, and just enough new songs to ensure that Peppa-weary parents didn’t have to suffer the same old, same old tired songs (please don’t make me listen to the song about grandpa’s miniature locomotive ever again!).

We left relieved to get some fresh air, as it was stifling in the theatre on such a hot day, and just in time to purchase a Peppa Pig helium balloon from outside, should we want one.

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The show isn’t intended to appeal to adults, but despite that, I still found enjoyment in it, particularly seeing my daughter have such a fun time. She proclaimed later that day that she had had ‘a lovely day show’, which to me is all that matters.

More information about Worthing Theatres’ upcoming shows can be found here

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