Manchester Theatre News & Reviews

REVIEW - Zog is an all-round imaginative and playful show that everyone can enjoy!

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We went to Lowry, Salford to Zog. See what our reviewer Erin had to say about this superb family show...

As a child, I was always a huge fan of Julia Donaldson’s books, so I was so excited about seeing another fantastic show based on her books Zog! Zog is an eager young dragon attending dragon school, and he desperately wants to win a gold star from his strict teacher, Madam Dragon. Unfortunately, things often go wrong, and Zog doesn’t always succeed on his first attempt. But when a kind and clever girl encourages him to believe in himself, he knows he can never give up! Can the two of them work together so Zog can finally get the gold star he always wanted? Everyone can follow along for the ride and even learn how to become a brave, young dragon themselves!

I thought the music for this show was just incredible. It was catchy and kept all the children engaged, and I thought the songs made it super easy to follow along. The whole cast performed with warmth and enthusiasm; Lotti Brogan (Fair Play, Alice in Wonderland, Sleeping Beauty) particularly did this well, emphasising kindness towards Zog in those smaller moments when he felt defeated. Lee Beka Harper (I Was A Teenage She-Devil) bounced around stage with energy and joy, alongside Hugh Cotton (Joseph and the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat, Sleeping Beauty), who clearly has a knack for comedy, making me laugh so easily, especially as Gadabout.

Jess Lobo (Sensory Cinders, Puss in Boots, The Jolly Christmas Postman) really was a star, supporting the dragons and as Princess Pearl, successfully delivering the important message about being yourself and choosing your own path. Zog himself, played by Samuel John Taylor (Stiletto, Beauty and the Beast, Pirates of), showed the children that determination is key when you want to achieve something. Samuel filled the stage with light and laughter and made sure Zog was relatable to the young viewers. It was so lovely to see the whole cast enjoying themselves and putting such heart and soul into their performances.

It was really interesting to see puppets being used, because they worked really well alongside the acting. The actors were really clear with the movements, and it was so fun when they used the dragon puppets to imitate flying. The awe on the children’s face was magical to see. The puppets brought the dragons to life and made for some really memorable moments.

I also loved the way the changing of seasons was designed. Different umbrellas decorated to match each season were introduced and hung on stage made it really clear what season it was, and it was really visually interesting to watch the way the umbrellas were swapped out. It doesn’t sound like something that would be very important, but little details like this really brought the show together, and I really appreciated that. My personal favourite was spring, because the flowers were gorgeous!

Zog is an all-round imaginative and playful show that can be enjoyed by anyone. I know that whilst the show is technically for kids, all the parents and carers in the theatre were laughing and joining in with everything, having the best time ever. This show is heavy on the visuals, and it has made sure that the story is easy to follow along for everyone. It is jam packed with roaring, soaring songs, energetic dances, and characters that are so easy to love. I would highly recommend taking a trip to the Lowry to see Zog and join in on his adventures!

WE SCORE ZOG...