CDP Theatre Producers, The Gruffalo's Child

CDP presents Tall Stories' production of

THE GRUFFALO'S CHILD

based on the award winning picture book by Julia Donaldson & Axel Scheffler

The Gruffalo said that no gruffalo should
Ever set foot in the deep dark wood…

If you loved The Gruffalo, don't miss the sequel, which returns following previous sellout Australian tours – now in a new West End production! Join the Gruffalo's Child on her adventurous mission in this magical musical adaptation of the much-loved picture book.

One wild and windy night the Gruffalo's Child ignores her father's warnings about the Big Bad Mouse and tiptoes out into the deep dark wood. After all, the Big Bad Mouse doesn't really exist... does he?

The team behind The Gruffalo, Room on the Broom and The 13-, 26-, 52-, 78 and 91-Storey Treehouses return with The Gruffalo's Child, bringing together physical theatre, music and puppetry to deliver songs, laughs and scary fun for children aged 3 and up, and their adults…

Age recommendation: 3+ and their adults
Duration: Approximately 55mins, no interval

This dramatisation of THE GRUFFALO'S CHILD is based on the picture book THE GRUFFALO'S CHILD © illustrations 2004 Axel Scheffler and © text 2004 Julia Donaldson published by Macmillan Children's Books

ELLE WOOTTON - The Gruffalo's Child

Elle Wootton is a graduate of Victoria University of Wellington (Bachelor of Arts in Theatre and English Literature). She has previously worked with CDP on multiple tours of The 13-Storey Treehouse, playing the role of Val. Her other theatre credits include The Griegol (Trick of the Light Theatre); Hole (Ice Floe Productions); The Road That Wasn’t There (Trick of the Light Theatre); Maggot (Scungebags Theatre) and Second Unit (Circa Theatre).

Elle’s film credits include the award winning independent short film Ur Dead To Me (Zsofi Productions) for which she was nominated Best Actress in the Redline International Film Festival 2018.

Elle has been fortunate enough to tour the world, taking award winning shows to Adelaide, Melbourne, Sydney and Edinburgh Fringe Festivals as well as touring around the USA and to Singapore. In 2016 Elle won a Playmarket Plays for the Young award for her play Te Tane Iti and is currently writing several stage and screenplays with a variety of collaborators. Elle is a proud member of Actor’s Equity.

HARRISON RILEY - The Gruffalo/Predators

Harrison is thrilled to be back on tour with CDP, after playing the role Andy in The 78-Storey Treehouse, and working as a swing on Dog Man the Musical. His previous credits include Harry Potter and the Cursed Child as an on-stage swing, covering characters such as Cedric Diggory, Craig Bowker Jr, Polly Chapman and many more.

Other credits include Charlie and the Chocolate Factory as Mike Teavee, and Stalker the Musical as Percy.

JESSIE LANCASTER - Mouse

Jessie is a Sydney-based actor and a graduate of the Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts (WAAPA), where she completed a Bachelor of Arts (Acting). Prior to WAAPA, she trained at the Actors Centre Australia in the 2015 Foundation Program and studied a Bachelor of Psychology (Honours).

Jessie’s recent stage credits include Natasha in Three Sisters (Virginia Plain Theatre) and Mouse in the 2024–2025 musical production of The Gruffalo (CDP Theatre Producers). Her previous work with CDP includes The Gruffalo’s Child (2022–2024) as Mouse, and Mr Stink (2023) as the swing for Chloe.

Additional theatre credits include: touring performer with Poetry in Action (2020–2021), Aphrodite in Death in the Pantheon (Upper Crass Theatre Company, 2024), Anne Page in The Merry Wives of Windsor (New Theatre, 2022), Anna in Ginger. Black. Brunette. Blonde. (Rogue Projects, 2019), Gwendolen Fairfax in The Importance of Being Earnest (WAAPA, 2018), Jacques in As You Like It (WAAPA, 2017), and Elizabeth in Holy Day (WAAPA, 2016).

Her screen work includes: Ruby in Spud (AFTRS, 2024), Billie in Bernice (Hopeful Goose Creative, 2023), Jessie in Ghoul Power (SF3 Film Festival and Etihad Airways in-flight entertainment, 2019), Joey in Filch (WA Screen Academy, 9Now, 2018), Amy in Raw (WA Screen Academy, 9Now, 2018), as well as commercial appearances in First Things First (Department of Health TVC, 2020) and Featured Student (Edith Cowan University TVC, 2017–2018).

We believe in making our shows accessible for children with additional sensory and learning needs.

A visual story is available for The Gruffalo's Child to help you prepare for your visit to the theatre.

DOWNLOAD VISUAL STORY

Accessible performances may be available at some venues. Please check with your local venue for details.

For additional online resources to extend the theatre experience, visit CDP Digital.

Teachers and registered homeschoolers can also access education activities and resources at CDP Education.