As always, the Oxford Playhouse was impeccably organised. We were straight into our seats for Zog, and before the show had even started my boys were busy theorising about what the scaffolding on stage could possibly become.
We were immediately introduced to Princess Pearl, and I thought Jess Lobo absolutely nailed her character. She came across as so sweet and lovely, and I really liked how the show began with a storybook before drawing us into that world. It was a simple but really effective way to start.
The three dragons were all incredibly charming and endearing, each with their own bubbling personality, and Samuel John Taylor playing Zog perfectly captured his clumsy but enthusiastic nature. I was also really impressed by just how physical the performance was. The cast were constantly leaping around the stage, and there were so many songs, more than I remember from previous shows aimed at this age group (3+). There were lovely harmonies throughout the ensemble numbers too.
The performer who completely stole my heart, though, was Lottie Brogan as Madame Dragon. She came across as much more caring and kind than I’d interpreted her from the book, and her singing voice was phenomenal. I was completely mesmerised whenever she sang. She also played the Governess, and the contrast between the two characters was brilliant.
The songs deserve a special mention. They genuinely felt like proper Broadway-style musical numbers, rather than the simple, catchy tunes you sometimes expect from productions for very young children. They added so much to the storytelling.
The pacing was excellent, with plenty of audience interaction woven in. One of our party is a little more sensitive to loud noises and wasn’t keen on the roaring and screaming, but I really appreciated that every audience roar came with a clear countdown. It meant we had plenty of time to cover little ears before the noise started, which made the interactive moments much more accessible.
What surprised me most was that watching the show actually made me appreciate the story more. I’ve read Zog countless times with my children, but seeing it on stage really pulled the narrative together. The songs reinforced messages about perseverance, being yourself and following your dreams in a way that I don’t think I’d fully absorbed from the book alone.
It also felt like the perfect show to see just as the schools break up for summer. One of our party is due to start school in September, and I loved how positively the show portrayed learning and teachers. Madame Dragon was such a warm, encouraging presence, constantly reminding her pupils that not everyone finds everything easy, that learning takes practice, and that it’s worth persevering. Those are lovely messages for any child, but they felt especially timely for children about to start school.
I particularly loved that after the cast took their bows, they returned for an encore that got everyone up dancing. It was such a joyful way to finish the show and, unexpectedly, it left me feeling a little emotional.
As always, my boys grabbed their stickers on the way out and insisted on a photo by the sign outside.
I absolutely loved it.