One Tiny Penguin

One Tiny Penguin opens at the Birmingham Hippodrome on Saturday 5 December, running through to Sunday 3 January 2027. It's playing in the Patrick Studio, rather than the main house, and it's the third production in the Hippodrome's My First Musical series, which follows No Such Thing as Wolves and The Jingleclaw. Both of those were five-star hits, and this one comes from the theatre's own New Musical Theatre department.

The story follows Lumi, who every year watches a polar bear being chosen to light the Northern Lights. This time the job falls to him, but there's a catch: he isn't a polar bear at all, but one tiny penguin. He gathers his courage and travels the world, from the North Pole to Chile, South Africa and the South Pole, making new friends along the way and learning what it means to belong. It's built on snow-stopping songs and magical puppetry, and the lead actor met real penguins at West Midlands Safari Park before rehearsals started.

On stage, Dylan Collymore plays Lumi, with Sarah Palmer as Eira, Benedict Hastings as Sky, Sam Denia as Pablo and Clara Abdilla Joslin as Bonola. Laura Ryder directs, with music and lyrics by Jordan Li-Smith and book and lyrics by Julie Tsang. The show runs about 60 minutes with no interval, and it's recommended for audiences aged three and over. Babes in arms under 18 months are welcome free of charge if you book them in advance. Tickets start from £16.