Play based on book by David Walliams to visit Yorkshire

The world premiere of The First Hippo on the Moon has been held in Eastbourne, before beginning its journey to more than 40 locations across the
UK.

The play will arrive in Yorkshire from February and performances will be held at both the West Yorkshire Playhouse and York’s Grand Opera House.

Hailed as “explosively funny” by the West Yorkshire Playhouse, the story follows the tale of two hippos and their space race to the moon. What follows, say critics, is a “fantastical adventure featuring puppetry, music and mayhem”.

“David Walliams has taken the literary world by storm and his brilliantly funny stories are adored by children the world over,” the theatre has said. “He has achieved unprecedented critical acclaim and quickly developed a reputation as a natural successor to Roald Dahl.”

Adapted for the stage by acclaimed theatre company Les Petits, the performance features puppets created by Nick Barnes and Finn Caldwell. The creative team behind The First Hippo on the Moon have worked on such hit shows such as Dr. Seuss’s The Lorax, the National Theatre’s Elephantom, War Horse and Raymond Briggs’s The Bear.