DORA THE EXPLORER ON STAGE

Children’s favourite Dora the Explorer is visiting Kent with her new show. What’s On spoke to director Troy Sussman about what will be in store.

Amiable Aussie Troy Sussman is not only the director of Dora the Explorer Live! Search for the City of Lost Toys, but one of its producers. Born and brought up in Melbourne, Troy made his stage debut at the age of six and has been in show business ever since. He co-founded Life Like Touring, the production company behind the Dora show, over a decade ago, and from putting on shopping centre pantomimes, it now produces shows around the world. Troy said: “There was a gap in the market. My business partners had three young children between them and so we had an in-built understanding of the needs of children. We think of ourselves as training an audience for the future and parents seem to love watching their kids become absorbed in what is happening on stage. I always tell the actors that they have to work 40% harder with a young audience than they would do with an adult audience. We certainly push our dancers harder than most.” Animated series Dora the Explorer has been a firm favourite with children in the UK since it was first screened on Nickelodeon in 2000 and fans are sure to love the stage show. “What’s exciting about Dora is that she’s a strong character who provides a positive role model,” said Troy.

Director Troy Sussman