Fiery, friendly favourite will light up stage

Youngster’s favourite Zog is on way to the city this year

POPULAR children’s character Zog the dragon is being brought to life in a world premiere stage adaptation, which will be coming to Leicester this year.

Based on the book by Julia Donaldson with illustrations by Axel Scheffler, the show, by Freckle Productions and Rose Theatre Kingston, will fly into De Montfort Hall from July 5 to 7.

Big in stature and keen in nature, Zog is eager to win a golden star at Madam Dragon’s school, where dragons learn all the things dragons need to know.

Zog tries very hard, perhaps too hard, as he bumps, burns and roars his way through years one, two and three.

Luckily, the plucky Princess Pearl patches him up ready to face his biggest challenge yet, a duel with a knight, Sir Gadabout the Great!

The story is adapted and directed by Mike Shepherd, founder and artistic director of Kneehigh, with a folk music score by Johnny Flynn – award-winning actor and singersongwriter with The Sussex Wit – played live on stage.

Zog is produced by Freckle Productions, whose most recent production is Tabby McTat, an adaptation of another book by Ms Donaldson.

Ms Donaldson said: “I’m tremendously excited that Zog will be taking flight around the UK in this first-ever stage production. Going to the theatre can be a truly magical experience, I know it will be such a thrill to see the world of Zog being brought to life on stage.”

Ms Donaldson and Mr Scheffler are the UK’s leading picture book partnership, creators of modern classics including The Gruffalo, which is has been translated into 75 languages.

Zog was first published in 2010 and won the Galaxy National Children’s Book of the Year Award. It has gone on to become a perennial bestseller.

This Christmas, an animated film of Zog, featuring an all-star cast, will be screened BBC1,

Tickets for the De Montfort Hall show are £16, available on 0116 233 3111.