The Lion Inside

The Lion Inside is coming to Mayflower Studios from 28 to 30 August, a family-friendly stage adaptation of the best-selling book by Rachel Bright and Jim Field. If you've read the story, you'll know the one: a shy little mouse sets off on a journey to find his roar, and along the way it becomes less about the noise and more about confidence and believing in yourself. It's the kind of thing that works just as well for the kids as it does for the adults in the room.

On stage, the story is told with puppets, music and original songs, so it's more of a performance than a simple reading. The production comes from Rose Theatre, in co-production with Nicoll Entertainment, Curve, MAST Mayflower Studios and Unicorn Theatre. Sarah Punshon directed and adapted the book for the stage, and Eamonn O’Dwyer wrote the music and lyrics, so there's a fair bit of original work behind it rather than just a straight translation of the pages.

It's aimed at families, recommended for ages 3 and up, and children under 2 are welcome too, which makes it a good shout if you've got the whole brood to keep occupied. The show runs for about 55 minutes without an interval, so it's a manageable length for younger ones who might struggle with a full evening.

Tickets are £17, with discounts available, and there's a 'Great British Summer Savings' rate for children at £14.45. It's running at Mayflower Studios from 28 to 30 August, so you've got a few dates to choose from.