The Gruffalo at The Lowry – A Magical Family Theatre Trip Through the Deep Dark Wood 🌲🐭
- Jul 8
- 7 min read
The Gruffalo Returns to The Lowry for Another Family Adventure ✨
With Alice and Leo off school for an inset day on Friday, it seemed like the perfect opportunity for a family theatre trip. We were kindly invited to see the 4.30pm performance of The Gruffalo at The Lowry, and after loving the production when we first saw it here four years ago, we couldn't wait to return.
There was just one slight difference this time!
Lawrence had forgotten to book the day off work and my parents were away on holiday, so for the first time in years I was taking Alice and Leo on a theatre trip completely by myself. I've taken them out individually lots of times, but not the two of them together since they were little enough to fit in a double pram!
Thankfully, everything went brilliantly.
We left the house at around 3pm to begin our journey to Salford Quays. Getting to The Lowry means catching two trams, but the children always enjoy travelling by tram, so it's all part of the adventure.
We arrived at MediaCity at around 3.45pm and, with a little time before heading into the theatre, made a quick stop at the Cadbury Outlet in The Lowry Outlet Mall.
The children each chose a bag of Mini Eggs, which were on offer at two bags for £3, while I treated myself to a pick 'n' mix of my favourite Roses chocolates — the strawberry and orange creams! I don't think I can ever walk past a pick 'n' mix without filling a bag.
With our chocolate safely packed away, we headed into The Lowry at around 3.50pm and made our way around to the Quays Theatre, ready for our woodland adventure.
🛍️ Merchandise & Pre-Show Fun
As we walked towards the Quays Theatre, Alice and Leo were each handed a free fold-out programme which doubled up as a colourful Gruffalo poster — a lovely little keepsake before the show had even begun.
At the press desk the children were each given a Gruffalo activity book, a carton of juice and a little activity pack containing colouring sheets and crayons, which was such a thoughtful touch and kept them happily entertained while we waited for the auditorium to open.
While Alice and Leo worked through their activity sheets and enjoyed their juice, I took the opportunity to have a quick look at the merchandise stand.
Merchandise available included:
📖 The Gruffalo Story Book – £7.50
🎨 The Gruffalo Activity Book – £5
🧸 The Gruffalo Toy – £10
🎭 The Gruffalo Pop-out Playset – £10
As the children had already been given activity books, we decided not to buy anything this time, but it was nice to see a few affordable souvenirs available for younger fans.
The atmosphere before the performance was lovely, with excited children proudly carrying their Gruffalo books and cuddly toys while chatting about their favourite characters. It really felt like everyone was looking forward to stepping into the deep, dark wood.
🎭 Our Seats & View
At around 4.15pm the auditorium opened and we headed inside to find our seats.
We were sitting in the stalls, Row G, seats 13–16, with seat 16 being the aisle seat. These turned out to be fantastic seats for a family show. We had a brilliant, clear view of the stage and felt close enough to really appreciate all the action without being too near for younger children who might find some moments a little overwhelming.
Leo initially insisted he didn't need a booster seat, but as soon as someone sat down in front of him he quickly changed his mind! Thankfully, booster seats are conveniently stored just inside the stalls entrance, so it only took a moment to grab one before the performance began. Once he was sitting a little higher, he had a perfect view for the rest of the show.
As the audience began to fill up, there was a lovely buzz around the theatre. Everywhere you looked there were children clutching copies of The Gruffalo, cuddly Mouse and Gruffalo toys, and eagerly chatting about their favourite characters. It was clear there were lots of excited little theatre-goers ready for their journey into the deep, dark wood.
🐭 The Show
Running for approximately 55 minutes with no interval, The Gruffalo is perfectly paced for younger audiences and makes a brilliant introduction to live theatre.
Based on Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler's much-loved picture book, the story follows a clever little Mouse as he wanders through the deep, dark wood in search of hazelnuts.
Along the way he encounters a hungry Fox, Owl and Snake, each hoping Mouse might become their next meal. Thinking quickly, Mouse invents a terrifying creature called the Gruffalo in an attempt to scare them away... only to discover that the mysterious beast might not be quite as imaginary as he first thought.
Although we'd seen the production before, Alice and Leo were completely captivated all over again. Alice couldn't stop laughing at Owl's rather clumsy attempts at flying, while Leo spent the whole show cheering Mouse on as he cleverly outsmarted each of the woodland animals.
One of their favourite moments came during Snake's lively disco number, with its catchy song and colourful lighting effects. Before long they were both up dancing along with lots of the other children around the auditorium.
Later in the show they loved joining everyone else in roaring as loudly as they could to help Mouse scare away Fox, Owl and Snake. It was lovely seeing so many children confidently joining in and becoming part of the adventure.
The arrival of the Gruffalo himself was another huge highlight. He looked exactly as children imagine from the book and, although certainly impressive, never felt too frightening for the younger audience members. Towards the end of the show he also made his way into the auditorium, which created lots of excitement among the children as they watched him getting closer.
By the time the cast took their final bows at around 5.35pm, both Alice and Leo had huge smiles on their faces. It was every bit as fun, funny and engaging as we remembered, and seeing the children enjoy it just as much four years later made the afternoon feel even more special.
🥤 After the Show
After the performance, we made our way back to the main foyer. I'd been given a drinks voucher as part of our visit, but the Quays Bar was closed, so I exchanged it for a refreshing glass of lemonade from the main bar instead.
While I enjoyed my drink, Alice and Leo made a beeline for the little wooden play kitchen they have in the bar. It's something they've spotted on previous visits to The Lowry and they always seem to enjoy spending a few minutes playing there before we head home. It was a lovely way for them to wind down after all the excitement of the show.
I'd originally been hoping to grab something to eat before setting off home, but I discovered the kitchen had stopped serving food at 4pm because there wasn't an evening performance that day. It's something worth bearing in mind if you're planning an afternoon visit and fancy eating at The Lowry afterwards.
After a little while, we made our way back to the tram stop and caught our tram home at around 6.30pm, arriving back home just after 7.15pm after a really lovely afternoon together.
✨ Final Thoughts
Looking back, I'm so glad the three of us had this little adventure together.
I was slightly nervous beforehand about taking Alice and Leo into Manchester on my own, simply because it had been such a long time since I'd taken both of them out together without another adult. In the end, though, I needn't have worried. We had a fantastic afternoon from start to finish.
From the thoughtful pre-show activities and family-friendly atmosphere to the brilliant performance itself, everything about our visit felt relaxed, welcoming and well organised.
Four years after our first visit, The Gruffalo is still every bit as magical. Alice and Leo loved revisiting the story, and it was wonderful watching them laugh, dance and roar their way through the adventure all over again.
Sometimes the simplest days out really are the best.
🌲 More Information About The Gruffalo
Although The Gruffalo has now finished its run at The Lowry, the good news is that Tall Stories' much-loved production is touring theatres across the UK throughout 2026, giving plenty more families the chance to enjoy this magical stage adaptation.
If you're thinking of booking tickets, I'd highly recommend it for anyone with young children. Running for around 55 minutes with no interval, it's a fantastic introduction to live theatre and a brilliant family day out.
If you'd like to read my more detailed theatre review, you can also head over to our sister site, All About Theatre, where I've shared my full five-star review of the production.
🎥 Watch Our Visit in Weekly Vlog #458
If you'd like to come along with us on our family trip to see The Gruffalo at The Lowry, you can watch our visit in Weekly Vlog #458 below.
Our trip to see The Gruffalo begins at 18:51 in the vlog, although the video also includes some other family moments from our week.
🎭 At A Glance
📍 Venue: The Lowry – Quays Theatre, Salford
⌛ Running Time: Approximately 55 minutes (No Interval)
👶 Recommended Age: 3+
🪑 Booster Seats: Available inside the auditorium for younger children who need a better view.
🛍️ Merchandise: Available from £5–£10, including books, activity books, toys and a pop-out playset.
🎁 Family-Friendly Extras: At our performance, children received a free fold-out poster programme
🚋 Getting There: The Lowry is easy to reach by tram, bus or car. The nearest Metrolink stop is MediaCityUK.
🎟️ Tickets: For current performances and ticket availability, visit the Lowry website.
🌍 UK Tour: The Gruffalo is touring theatres across the UK throughout 2026. For the latest tour dates and venues, visit the official Tall Stories website.
🐭 Best For: Families with young children, Julia Donaldson fans and anyone looking for a fun first theatre experience
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