Tiny and Tall Productions are taking Julia Donaldson’s beloved children’s book The Detective Dog back on tour across the UK until the end of May.
The Detective Dog has already won the hearts of families through the book — what were the biggest joys and biggest challenges in transforming such a beloved story into a live theatre experience?
It’s such a gift to start with a book that families already love so deeply, but it also comes with a real sense of responsibility—we know the children coming to see it are the real experts on the story! The joy has been finding playful, theatrical ways to bring those familiar moments to life, and to expand them into a full sensory experience. The challenge is always how to honour the simplicity and charm of the book while creating something that feels rich and exciting in a live space.
Nell is a dog with an extraordinary nose and a love of stories. What is it about her character that you think children connect with so strongly?
I think there’s something instantly lovable about Nell—she’s curious, determined and full of joy. Children really connect with her sense of purpose, but also with her playfulness. And of course, dogs are such a familiar part of many children’s lives, so they recognise her behaviours straight away, which makes her feel very real to them.
This production places accessibility at its heart, especially for Deaf and hard of hearing audiences. Why was it so important for Tiny & Tall Productions to make inclusion a central part of the show rather than an added extra?
For us, accessibility isn’t something you bolt on at the end—it’s something you build from the very beginning. Our aim is to create shared experiences where different audiences can sit side by side and enjoy the same story in the same way. There’s something really powerful about that, especially for young audiences, and it feels like a more generous and inclusive way of making theatre.
Puppetry plays a huge role in bringing Nell to life on stage. What can puppetry do in children’s theatre that traditional performance sometimes can’t?
Puppetry has this incredible ability to spark the imagination in a really immediate way. A child can completely believe that a puppet is alive, often even more readily than an adult performer playing an animal. It also allows us to tell stories visually and physically, which makes the work more accessible and often more magical.
Julia Donaldson’s stories have become a huge part of many children’s early years. What do you think makes her storytelling so timeless, and why does The Detective Dog still feel fresh ten years on?
Her stories are so beautifully crafted—they’re simple on the surface, but full of heart, rhythm and detail. They’re also incredibly performative, which makes them perfect for adaptation. The Detective Dog still feels fresh because it celebrates things that are always relevant—stories, curiosity, and the importance of libraries—and those themes only seem to get more important as time goes on.
For families coming to see the show on tour, what do you hope children (and the grown-ups with them) take away after spending an hour with Nell and her world?
We hope families leave having shared something joyful together—maybe singing the songs, trying out some BSL, or talking about their favourite moments. More than anything, we want it to feel like a shared experience across generations, where everyone has been equally included and part of the story.