The Tiger Who Came to Tea has been a popular picture book for generations, delighting young children with the story of Sophie and her mummy, who are just sitting down to tea when a tiger arrives on the doorstep. It was adapted for the stage in 2008 and remains one of the most loved family theatre shows here in the UK. Let’s look at why it’s the ideal first show for kids.

Aimed at families

Adapted from a children’s picture book, The Tiger Who Came to Tea production is aimed specifically at kids. It tells the story with a fun mix of singing, dancing, magic and clumsy chaos, offering up plenty of interactive moments to keep little ones engaged. The familiar story is easy for children to follow, and the steady pace means their attention is held throughout. 

Short run time

The theatre can be highly stimulating for kids. There’s a new environment to take in, a large audience, music and singing, action and much more. A long performance can prove a bit much for some children and their attention starts to wander after the interval. The Tiger Who Came to Tea was created with shorter attention spans in mind, being just 55 minutes long with no interval. This enables kids to follow the story all the way through to the end and stay engaged.

Familiar

Many families who see The Tiger Who Came to Tea are familiar with the picture book. Some have read it so often that the children know the story by heart. Children typically like familiar things, since they provide a sense of security and predictability. For kids that know the book well, the additional stimulus of the theatre environment is manageable because the story itself is familiar. This makes the whole experience more enjoyable and opens them up to the idea of seeing new productions. 

Etiquette is different

Taking children to a musical, for example, requires them to sit still and watch the show with minimal interaction. For young children in particular this is challenging. With family shows like The Tiger Who Came to Tea, there is less etiquette to observe and kids are encouraged to call out, join in and dance along with the cast. This taps into their natural energy, meaning they can move around, interact and express themselves without the typical restraints they would experience during other theatre productions. 

Capturing imagination

The theatre is all about capturing the imagination. From the story and the characters to the set and costume designs, there’s lots to interest children and prompt questions and imaginative play ideas. The Tiger Who Came to Tea has humour, dancing, mime and more, giving kids plenty to think about and explore creatively when they get back home. 

Don’t miss the production

The Tiger Who Came to Tea is playing at the Theatre Royal Haymarket from 14 July - 7 September 2025. Book your family theatre tickets today and introduce your kids to the magic of the stage.