Review: Gabby’s Dollhouse Live! at Liverpool’s M&S Bank Arena — A Magical Family Day Out as Part of Leo’s Birthday Treats

Name: Gabby’s Dollhouse Live!
Start: 2026-04-26T13:30:00+01:00
End: 2026-04-26T15:00:00+01:00
Location: M&S Bank Arena Liverpool

Apr 28
4 min read

Girl with cat ears and colorful cartoon kittens on stage. "Gabby's Dollhouse LIVE!" text in bold colors. Bright, playful mood.

A Surprise Birthday Treat and a Rainbow-Filled Family Adventure

Sunday 26th April saw us heading to Liverpool for a very special family day out as part of Leo’s birthday treats, taking Alice and Leo to see Gabby’s Dollhouse Live! at the M&S Bank Arena.

With Leo’s birthday having been just two days earlier on 24th April, this felt like the perfect way to continue the celebrations. We had kept the trip as a surprise until his birthday, making the whole experience feel even more exciting for both children.

With an early start, train journey, plenty of excitement and a spectacular rainbow-filled live show, it turned out to be such a fun family adventure from start to finish.

Train with "Liverpool" displayed on the front, blue and yellow exterior, at a station with a modern building and trees in the background.

Our Journey to Liverpool

We were up bright and early and started the day by catching the tram into Manchester Piccadilly. We arrived at the station around 10:25am, giving us plenty of time before our 11:10am train from platform 14 — which, as anyone familiar with Piccadilly knows, always feels like one of the furthest possible walks!

Before boarding, we made a quick stop at Sainsbury’s for drinks and donuts for the train journey, which kept everyone happy during the roughly hour-long trip.

Thankfully, we managed to grab a table seat so we could all sit together, which always makes travelling with the kids much easier.

We arrived in Liverpool just after midday and began making our way towards the arena, although not without a slight detour when Leo suddenly needed the toilet. While Lawrence took him back to the station, Alice and I grabbed Greggs sausage rolls, which turned into a handy little lunch stop while we waited.

Once reunited, we continued on to the arena and arrived at around 1pm, ready for the 1:30pm show.

People gather outside M&S Bank Arena. A sign reads "Liverpool Experience Campus." Flags wave above the modern building facade.

First Impressions & Merchandise

As soon as we entered the arena, the excitement levels instantly ramped up.

Alice and Leo were immediately drawn to the merchandise stand.

Alice had her heart set on a cuddly Pandy, while Leo desperately wanted one of the light-up bubble wands. At £16 each, the prices actually felt fairly reasonable compared to some recent arena shows we’ve attended (Disney on Ice prices were definitely much steeper).

Unfortunately, after queueing for around 20 minutes, disappointment struck when the family directly in front of us bought the final two bubble wands.

Poor Leo was absolutely gutted, and there were definitely a few tears.

Thankfully, staff suggested more may arrive at interval, which helped calm things down a little — although sadly, none appeared. In the end, we opted for a light-up baton for £8 instead, which thankfully saved the day.

Plush toys, t-shirts, and headbands displayed on a grid wall at an official merchandise stall. Prices visible, colorful and inviting setup.

Merchandise Prices:

T-Shirts: £25
15-inch Plush (Cakey or Mercat): £22
12-inch Plush (Pandy, Cakey, Mercat or Gabby): £18
10-inch Pandy Plush: £16
Light-Up Bubble Wand: £16
Cat Ear Headbands (Pandy, Kitty Fairy or Mercat): £14
Bucket Hats (Mercat or CatRat): £10
Bag Clips (Pandy, Cakey or Mercat): £8
Light-Up Baton: £8
Poster Programme: £5
Badge: £4

Audience seated in an arena, smiling family in foreground with kids holding plush toys, purple stage lit, lively and festive atmosphere.

Our Seats & Venue Experience

We were seated in Block 10, Row MM, seats 239–242.

Thanks to a discount code, we paid just £15 per ticket, which felt like fantastic value.

At full price, however, these seats would have cost over £50 each — and honestly, for a 75-minute production (including a 15-minute interval), I do think that would feel quite expensive, particularly given the distance from the stage.

For £15 though, we were really happy. The view was still good, and the kids were completely engrossed throughout.

On the way to our seats, children were handed friendship flower flyers, which became an interactive part of the show and was such a lovely added touch.

Young boy in a seat holding a plush toy, glowing blue wand, and colorful flower fan. Background shows an audience, creating a joyful mood.

Gabby’s Dollhouse Live! — Our Family’s Honest Review

Gabby’s Dollhouse Live! was bright, energetic and completely captivating for young fans.

The story follows Gabby as she works to restore a shattered rainbow after CatRat causes a colourful cat-astrophe, travelling through favourite dollhouse locations like Mermaid-Lantis, the Cat-O-Sphere and more.

Performers on stage with colorful animal costumes, dancing under pink and purple lights. Confetti falls in a playful, whimsical setting.

For Alice, the standout moment was definitely CatRat’s solo You Can’t Spell Meow Without Me — no surprise there, as CatRat is her favourite character.

Leo, meanwhile, absolutely loved Cakey’s Sprinkle Party.

And when Dance Like a Gabby Cat began, the whole arena was up dancing.

The puppetry was hugely impressive, the visuals were vibrant and magical, and the interactive elements helped make younger audience members feel like a real part of the adventure.

A person in a blue cat costume and a character in a stroller on stage, with colorful flower props and a purple curtain backdrop.

After the Show

The show finished around 3pm, and after all the excitement, we made our way to St John’s Shopping Centre for some well-earned dinner before heading back to the station.

Lawrence and I grabbed KFC, while the kids were more than happy with McDonald’s Happy Meals.

We arrived home at around 6:30pm after such a fun-filled family day.

Two children in a theater seat, smiling and holding colorful plush toys. One toy box reads "Gabby's Dollhouse." Blue upholstered seats in background.

Final Thoughts

Gabby’s Dollhouse Live! was such a brilliant family experience and a really lovely choice as one of Leo’s birthday treats.

While merchandise queues were frustrating and full-price tickets may feel a little steep, the show itself absolutely delivered when it came to entertainment, energy and magic for younger audiences.

For Gabby fans, this is a colourful, engaging and joy-filled live experience packed with favourite songs, beloved characters and meaningful messages.

From train snacks and sausage rolls to friendship flowers, dancing and birthday treat memories, this was a day out we’ll all remember fondly.

Colorful stage show with people in animal costumes, rainbow backdrop, and vibrant lighting. Characters include cats and a fox. Whimsical mood.

Tour Information

Gabby’s Dollhouse Live! continues its UK tour throughout 2026, bringing Gabby, Pandy Paws and the Gabby Cats to venues across the country.

For more information about upcoming tour dates, venues and ticket availability, you can visit the official Gabby’s Dollhouse Live! website.

If you’d like to read my more detailed All About Theatre review of the production itself, including full staging, cast and performance insights, you can also head over to All About Theatre for the full five-star review.