Reviewed by Jodie Crawford

Opening Night verdict ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

A trip to the Lowry on a Tuesday afternoon to see the musical version of Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler’s The Smartest Giant in town was just what me and my four year old needed today.

This musical is so beautifully crafted, it is an absolute must-see for preschoolers and early years children. It is captivating and joyous.

The show tells the tale of a kind hearted giant, who is known to be rather scruffy and unkempt. With the help of two shopkeepers, the giant manages to get himself a new smart outfit. When he leaves the shop to make his way home, feeling rather pleased with himself, he comes across various characters who need some help and the giant knows just how to do that: this is a story of generosity, friendship and selflessness.

Turning this story into a musical is a stroke of genius! The use of the same short song between scenes not only allows the cast to change the props and set, but also enables the audience to learn one of the songs, which my young one was still singing five hours later.

The puppets are beautiful, and the way in which they are used by the cast is engaging. Everything is simple and effective: the set, the costumes, the songs, the plot. There is just the right amount of interaction between characters and audience. It isn’t an easy job to keep the attention of hundreds of tiny people at once, but this show does just that.

This is a giant sized treat for half term at the Lowry. I walked away hoping that maybe, just maybe we could all just be a bit more like the giant today.

The Smartest Giant in Town is on at The Lowry until Sunday 26th February tickets available here.