Recently, I took my five-year-old daughter to see The Enormous Crocodile at the Lighthouse, Poole. Based on the classic Roald Dahl story, the show brings the mischievous and greedy crocodile to life in a way that feels exciting, funny and completely captivating for young children. From the moment the show began, my daughter was glued to the stage. There was so much energy packed into the performance that it never lost her attention for a second and that’s no small achievement when you are entertaining a theatre full of little ones.
What really made the show special was how interactive it was. The audience participation had the children absolutely roaring with laughter, especially during the peanut-throwing – if you know you know! Seeing so many children enthusiastically joining in while parents laughed along too created such a fun atmosphere. It never felt forced or over-the-top; it was just the right balance of silliness and involvement to keep younger audiences engaged.
The cast were fantastic throughout particularly the crocodile! They made it easy for children to follow the story while still giving adults plenty to smile about. The humour worked on multiple levels too – there were lots of visual gags and playful moments for the kids, alongside clever little jokes that parents could appreciate.
One thing I especially appreciated was the pacing. Family shows can sometimes feel too long for younger children, but this production got it exactly right. It was the perfect length for little attention span, long enough to feel like a proper theatre experience, but short enough that there were no restless moments or watches being checked. The energy stayed high from beginning to end.
The production managed to create a colourful, playful world that felt straight out of a storybook. It captured the charm of the original Roald Dahl tale while still feeling fresh and lively on stage. There is something really special about watching your child fall in love with a character and story that you once loved yourself.
Theatre trips with young children can sometimes feel unpredictable, but this show was incredibly family-friendly and welcoming. The audience was full of excited children, and the production fully embraced that joyful chaos rather than expecting perfect silence. It created a relaxed atmosphere where families could simply enjoy themselves.
If you are looking for a theatre experience for little ones, or just a genuinely entertaining family outing, The Enormous Crocodile is a brilliant choice. Funny, engaging, interactive and perfectly paced, it is exactly the kind of show that reminds you how magical live theatre can be for children.
We left Lighthouse with huge smiles, and a very excited five-year-old who has recreated the show several times for the family at home.
The Lighthouse, Pooole have a jam packed schedule of family friendly shows coming up – check out the full schedule now.
*Tickets to the show were kindly gifted.
