In celebration of Julia Donaldson and Sara Ogilvie’s best-selling children’s bookThe Detective Dogmarking 10 years, Tiny and Tall Productions are bringing their beloved stage adaptation to theatres across the UK this spring. Specially created for Deaf and hard of hearing family audiences, this heartwarming story of one curious dog with an extraordinary snout is set to wow all ages with magical puppetry, toe-tapping music and lots of surprising smells.
This energetic and tender show follows the rather remarkable dog, Nell, who has an incredible sense of smell and an equally strong love for listening to stories. Brought to life through masterful puppetry from Tiny and Tall Production’s Artistic Director Tess Bide, this inquisitive pup works hard to find lost things, whether that be a lost shoe or hidden fish – Detective Dog Nell is on the case! When a book mysteriously disappears at her owner Peter’s school, Nell’s investigative skills are put to the test. Through this touching relationship between a little boy and his furry friend, families join Nell and Peter as they embark on an adventure to uncover the culprit behind the disappearance.
Tessa Bide, Artistic Director of Tiny and Tall Productions, comments,We can’t wait to bring The Detective Dog back out across the UK to celebrate 10 years since the brilliant book was published. Our feedback last year from audience members both deaf and hearing, children and adults, was overwhelmingly positive and we can’t wait to delight audiences all over again. We hope that we are raising the bar in terms of accessibility in children’s theatre and bringing it to audiences who were previously excluded from this magic art form.
First published by Macmillan Children’s Books in 2016, the award-winningThe Detective Dogis written by Julia Donaldson CBE (The Gruffalo,1999;Room On The Broom,2001;A Squash And A Squeeze,1993) and illustrated by Sara Ogilvie (Dogs Don’t Do Ballet,2010;The Worst Princess, 2012;Sir Lilypad,2015). Making its debut on stage in 2025,The Detective Dogis created by Tiny and Tall Productions and directed by Peta Maurice (The Gruffalo, the Giant and the Mermaid, National Tour;The Gruffalo, the Witch and the Warthog,National Tour). Families will join Julia Donaldson’s loveable protagonist on an exciting literary adventure.
Recognised for its innovative approach to accessible and imaginate theatre, Tiny and Tall Productions collaborates with leading Deaf artists to ensure theatre is made accessible for the Deaf community.The Detective Dogwelcomes audiences all backgrounds to immerse themselves in the show, including an interactive scent activity that invites families to sniff out the smells before the show.
Supported by Arts Council England. Commissioned by ARC Stockton and Barnsley Civic.
This dramatisation ofThe Detective Dogis based on the picture bookThe Detective Dog© Julia Donaldson and Sara Ogilvie 2016, published by Macmillan Children’s Books.
Main Image: Courtesy of The Detective Dog