Dear Zoo live on Stage in Yorkshire: Watch Rod Campbell’s children’s book in Wakefield, Bridlington, Rotherham and Harrogate

Rod Campbell’s best-selling classic lift-the- flap book Dear Zoo, has been brought to life in a new stage production which is coming to Yorkshire.

Dear Zoo live on stage!  will be coming to theatres in Bridlington, Rotherham, Harrogate and Wakefield this year. So Yorkshire Families will get to make the most of the classic children’s book live on stage.

As we’re so excited for the show (we’ll be heading to Theatre Royal Wakefield to see it), we wanted to share this rare interview with Dear Zoo Author Rod Campbell…. 

“I wrote to the zoo

to send me a pet.

They sent me an …”

And so begins Rod Campbell’s famous book, Dear Zoo.

However, it is my solemn duty to inform you that we were almost living in a world without Dear Zoo! Rod Campbell’s immensely successful children’s book, which has sold an eye-watering eight million copies in twenty different languages, nearly failed to see the light of day.

If that had happened, we would also have been deprived of the very exciting prospect of the first ever stage show of Dear Zoo. The bestselling book has been adapted by Rod into a play, entitled Dear Zoo Live on Stage, which is touring the country this spring – more of which anon.

When we meet at his publishers, Macmillan Children’s Books, Rod, who is as charming and as likeable as his most famous book, takes up the story. “When I was younger, I tried to make it as a painter.

“I had no money. I lived in friends’ attics, and moved ten times in eight years. I made ends meet by doing painting and decorating. It was like La Boheme.”

For the decade before the book’s publication in 1982, Rod did a very passable impersonation of a starving artist. Determined to make it as a painter, he had no thought of being a children’s author.

“Then someone whose sister worked at a children’s publishing house saw some of my drawings. I was introduced to them and asked to illustrate some simple books for the under fives. This act of kindness started me on a career in children’s books – serendipity, one could say.”

Rod recalls that, at the time, “One voice in my head was saying, ‘But you’re an artist with a capital A. You can’t possibly do that.’ But another voice in my head was saying, ‘Why not? It looks like great fun.’ The second voice prevailed, thank goodness.”

Thank goodness, indeed. Soon afterwards, the publishers Blackie expressed an interest in his work, and the rest is children’s-book history.

The delightful story of Dear Zoo – in which a child writes to the zoo asking to be sent a pet – has become a publishing phenomenon and celebrated its 35th anniversary in 2017 with a unique partnership with London Zoo.

Now, having established himself as one of the best-loved and most successful children’s authors in the UK, at the age of 72 Rod is entering a brave new world.

Produced by Norwell Lapley Productions and directed by Michael Gattrell, Dear Zoo Live on Stage will appeal particularly to children aged between 2 and 6 years.

Realised through wonderfully child-engaging puppets, original music and lots of audience interaction, it will immediately attract families and children who are already fans of the book. But it will also act as a splendid introduction to those discovering the story for the first time.

The show which toured successfully in 2018 will be touring the country once again in 2019 tis spring, opening on Sunday 3 February at Shrewsbury’s Theatre Severn. The tour features more than 72 scheduled dates around the UK, with more to come. Full details are available at www.dearzooandfriends.com/dear-zoo-live

Dear Zoo Live on Stage will bring the timeless magic of the book to life in an unforgettable way. Children – and of course their parents – will be able to experience the wonder of…

Dear Zoo live for the first time.

Rod has found the process of writing a play quite an eye-opener. He admits that the job of transferring his story to the stage was, at times, challenging.

But the author emerged from the process with a tremendous sense of pleasure at having mastered an entirely new skill. Rod declares that, “It’s been a wonderful experience.

“I have really enjoyed solving problems, and it’s been a great delight to learn something new. I’ve learned a whole new language, including phrases as simple as ‘upstage’ and ‘downstage’. When I wrote, ‘exit stage left’, a frisson ran down my spine!”

Above all, in creating the play, Rod was anxious to remain as faithful as possible to the essence of his widely adored book. To that end, Dear Zoo Live on Stage elicits the same excitement as the book.

The author explains that, “The stage show will play on the thrill of opening the crates.”

“Children up to the age of six love the animals and they also love the guesswork – ‘What’s in the box?’”

It is that curiosity, Rod believes, which has ensured that the book has remained so popular. “Children have a great curiosity about what’s behind the flap. They love to open the flaps again and again.

“Of course, they know what’s behind each one, but every time they approach it as though they don’t. For every child each time is like the first time. The payoff in the play is that inside each crate is an animal that speaks.”

“The other thing children adore about Dear Zoo”, Rod adds, is that, “After the first time, they know that the book is

completely safe. There is nothing in it that will bite them. So they can luxuriate in pretending to be scared by it.

“And of course, it ends with a puppy. That is the present at the end. You’ve gone through several unsuitable animals, and then you get to the perfect animal at the end. It’s a reward.”

Rod is hopeful that audiences will leave the theatre having had a very happy experience at Dear Zoo Live on Stage and that the show will bring many children into the theatre for the first time.

Even today, 35 years after it was first published, people still rush up to tell Rod how much Dear Zoo means to them. The author says, “I remember one parent telling me, ‘My 18-month-old daughter loves it. She walks around all the time with the book under her arm.’ Or they say, and this is the killer, ‘My child loves this book – and I loved it when I was a child, too.’ That sort of reaction is deeply touching and you’re forced to think that Dear Zoo is something that connects.”

I’ll say.

So I think we can safely conclude that at least 8 million of us remain very grateful that three and a half decades ago, Rod chose to write books for young children over his love of fine art.

Full details about the Dear Zoo Live on Stage tour are available at www.dearzooandfriends.com/dear-zoo-live.

Dear Zoo text extract © Rod Campbell, 1982

“I’m absolutely delighted that Dear Zoo is being brought to life on stage for the very first time!” Rod Campbell, author and illustrator

  Dear Zoo live on stage!  will continue to delight audiences when it opens on 4 February at Shrewsbury’s Theatre Severn.    With 73 scheduled dates around the UK, full details are available at:   www.dearzooandfriends.com/dear–zoo-live

Celebrating 35 years in 2017, Dear Zoo, published by Macmillan Children’s Books, the story of a child who writes to the zooasking them to send a pet, continues to delight each new generation of children as they lift the flaps in search of the perfect animal.

“The whole production was full of energy and cleverly pitched at its audience…”   Bury Free Times

Written by Rod Campbell, produced by Norwell Lapley Productions and directed by                                   Michael Gattrell, Dear Zoo live on stage! is suitable for children aged 2 – 6 years. Brought to life through child-engaging puppets, original music and lots of audience interaction, the show immediately appeals to families and children who already love the book and will serve as a wonderful introduction to those coming to the story for the first time.

Rod Campbell is the master of interactive storytelling and an expert in early learning for pre-schoolers. As a trusted household name, his books have stood the test of time and continue to be a staple addition to the family bookshelf and a popular choice for early years’ teachers. The creator of more than 200 books for children, Rod Campbell’s unique ability to be both fun and reassuring encourages children to discover and delight in the world around them.

 

Commenting on Dear Zoo live on stage! Rod Campbell said “I can hardly believe that Dear Zoo has celebrated its 35th anniversary and I really am enormously touched and delighted that successive generations of young children continue to love Dear Zoo – their obvious pleasure when interacting with it is so gratifying to see, and for me is the very greatest of compliments!”

                              www.dearzooandfriends.com

Date	Venue		Box Office/Website		Time
Monday 4 February – Wednesday  6 February	Shrewsbury,                  Theatre Severn		01743 281 281 www.theatresevern.co.uk/		1.30 /3.30
Thursday 7 February Friday 8 February	New Brighton, Floral Pavilion		0151 666 0000 https://www.floralpavilion.com/		1.30 /3.30 11.00 /2.00
Saturday 9 February Sunday 10 February	Ulverston, Coronation Hall		01229 588 994 http://corohall.co.uk/		1.30 /3.30 11.00 /2.00
Monday 11 February Tuesday 12 February	Lancaster, Grand		01524 64695 https://lancastergrand.co.uk/		1.30 /3.30 11.00 /2.00
Thursday 14 February Friday 15 February	Wycombe Swan		01494 512000 wycombeswan.co.uk/Online/		1.30 10.30 /1.30
Saturday 16 February Sunday 17 February	Portsmouth, Theatre Royal		023 9264 9000 https://www.newtheatreroyal.com/		1.30 /3.30 11.00 /2.00
Tuesday 19 February Wednesday 20 February Thursday 21 February	Southport, The Atkinson		01704 533 333 www.theatkinson.co.uk		1.30 /3.30 11.00 /2.00 11.00
Friday 22 February Saturday 23 February	Ipswich, New Wolsey Theatre		01473 295900 https://www.wolseytheatre.co.uk/		1.30 /3.30 11.00 /2.00
Wednesday 13 March Thursday 14 March	Stevenage,                         Gordon Craig Theatre		01438 363200 www.gordon-craig.co.uk/		1.30/3.30 11.00/2.00
Friday 15 March Saturday 16 March	Gravesend, Woodville Halls		0844 243 9480 https://woodville.thebigideaonline.co.uk/		1.30 /3.30                       11.00 /2.00
Sunday 17 March Monday 18 March	Eastbourne, Devonshire Park Theatre		01323 412000 https://www.eastbournetheatres.co.uk/venue/devonshire-park-theatre		1.30 /3.30 11.00
Tuesday 19 March Wednesday 20 March	Basildon,                    Towngate Theatre		01268 465465 http://www.towngatetheatre.co.uk/		1.30/3.30                       11.00 /2.00
Thursday 21 March Friday 22 March Saturday 23 March		Chipping Norton Theatre	01608 642350 http://www.chippingnortontheatre.com/	4.00 11.00 /2.00 11.00 /2.00
Tuesday 9 April Wednesday 10 April		Bridlington Spa	01262 678258 https://www.bridspa.com/	1.30 /3.30 11.00 /2.00
Thursday  11 April Friday 12 April Saturday 13 April Sunday 14 April		Birmingham Hippodrome	0844 338 5000 https://www.birminghamhippodrome.com	1.30 /3.30 11.00 /2.00 11.00 /2.00 11.00 /2.00
Wednesday 17 April Thursday 18 April		Harrogate Theatre	01423 502 116 www.harrogatetheatre.co.uk/	1.30 /3.30 11.00 /2.00
Friday 19 April Saturday 20 April		Sale, Waterside	0161 912 5616 http://watersideartscentre.co.uk/	1.30 /3.30 11.00 /2.00
Sunday 21 April Monday 22 April		Wakefield,                       Theatre Royal	01924 211 311 http://www.theatreroyalwakefield.co.uk/	1.30 /3.30 11.00 /2.00
Tuesday 23 April Wednesday 24 April		St  Albans,                             Alban Arena	01727 844 488 www.alban-arena.co.uk	1.30 /3.30 11.00 /2.00
Thursday 25 April Friday 26 April		Peterborough, Key Theatre	01733 207239 www.vivacity-peterborough.com/vivacity-venues/the-key-theatre	1.30 /3.30 11.00 /2.00
Sunday 28 April Monday 29 April		Bromsgrove, Artrix	01527 577330 www.artrix.co.uk	1.30 /3.30 11.00
Wednesday 1 May Thursday 2 May		Folkestone,                   Leas Cliff Hall	01303 228600 www.atgtickets.com/venues/leas-cliff-hall	1.30 /3.30 11.00 /2.00
Friday 3 May Saturday 4 May		Winchester                   Theatre Royal	01962 840440 https://www.theatreroyalwinchester.co.uk	1.30/ 11.00 /2.00
Sunday 5 May Monday 6 May		Hastings,                  White Rock Theatre	01424 462288 https://whiterocktheatre.org.uk/Online/	2.00 10.30 /1.00
Tuesday 7 May Wednesday 8 May		Harlow, Playhouse	01279 431945 http://www.harlowplayhouse.co.uk/	1.30 /3.30 11.00
Thursday 9 May Friday 10 May		East Grinstead, Chequermead Theatre	01342 302000 www.chequermead.org.uk	2.00 10.30 /1.00
Wednesday 15 May Thursday 16 May		Durham, Gala	0300 026 6600 https://www.galadurham.co.uk/	1.30 /3.30 11.00 /2.00
Saturday 18 May Sunday 19 May		Lincoln, Theatre Royal	01522 519999 www.newtheatreroyallincoln.co.uk	1.30 /3.30 11.00 /2.00
Wednesday 22 May Thursday 23 May		Maidstone, Hazlitt	https://www.parkwoodtheatres.co.uk/Hazlitt-Theatre	1.30 /3.30 11.00 /2.00
Saturday 25 May Sunday 26 May		Rotherham, Civic	01709 823621 www.rotherhamtheatres.co.uk	1.30 /3.30 11.00 /2.00
Tuesday 28 May Wednesday 29 May		Wrexham William Aston Hall	0844 249 1000 www.thewilliamastonhall.com	1.30 /3.30 11.00/2.00
Thursday 30 May Friday 31 May		Darlington, Hippodrome	01325 405405 http://www.darlingtoncivic.co.uk/blog/blog	2.00 11.00 2.00
Saturday 1 June Sunday 2 June		Leamington Spa, Royal Spa Centre	01926 334418 https://www.warwickdc.gov.uk/royalspacentre/site/index.php	1.30 11.00 /2.00

 

** DISCLAIMER: WE WILL RECEIVE A FAMILY PASS TO SEE THE SHOW AND HAVE AGREED TO RUN THIS PREVIEW IN ADVANCE.**