Preview: Zog and the Flying Doctors, MAST Mayflower Studios, Southampton

Preview: Zog and the Flying Doctors, MAST Mayflower Studios, Southampton

Zog and the Flying Doctors, based on the bestselling sequel by Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler, will fly into Southampton this summer, playing at MAST Mayflower Studios from Tuesday 23 to Thursday 25 July 2024.

Zog, super keen student turned air-ambulance, still lands with a bang-crash-thump.

Together with his Flying Doctor crew, Princess Pearl and Sir Gadabout, they tend to a sunburnt mermaid, a unicorn with one too many horns and a lion with the flu. However, Pearl’s uncle, the King, has other ideas about whether princesses should be doctors, and she’s soon locked up in the castle back in a crown and a silly frilly dress!

With a bit of help from some friends and half a pound of cheese, can Pearl make her uncle better and prove princesses can be doctors too?

Zog and the Flying Doctors is one of the best-loved creations of Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler, the UK’s number one picture book pair behind many modern classics including The Gruffalo which has been published in 75 languages. Together their books have sold over 75 million copies.

First published in 2016, Zog and the Flying Doctors is the smash-hit sequel to Zog, which has sold over 1.5 million copies. On Christmas Day 2020, Magic Light Pictures premiered an animated film of Zog and the Flying Doctors on BBC One featuring an all-star cast including Sir Lenny Henry and Rob Brydon.

Zog and the Flying Doctors is brought to the stage by Freckle Productions in association with Rose Theatre Kingston. Freckle Productions are pioneers in imaginative storytelling for children and the team behind smash -hit stage hits including Stick Man and Zog.

Zog and the Flying Doctors is co-directed by Katie Beard and Bobby Delaney, with music and lyrics by Joe Stilgoe, choreography by Katie Beard, with Heather Scott-Martin as associate choreographer, set and costume designs by Lucy Bradridge and with new 2024 costumes designed by Deborah Mingham, and Louise Smith as costume supervisor. Lighting design is by Ric Mountjoy. The musical director is Bobby Delaney and the musical supervisor and orchestrator is Paul Herbert. Edie Edmundson is puppetry director.

Tickets for Zog and the Flying Doctors (23 – 25 July) are on sale at mayflower.org.uk or 02380 711811.

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