Theatre News

Nickelodeon’s Dora the Explorer comes alive at West End’s Apollo, 28 Aug

The latest kids’ show to secure a West End berth is the stage adaptation of Nickelodeon’s Dora the Explorer LIVE! Search for the City of Lost Toys, which moves into Shaftesbury Avenue’s Apollo Theatre for three weeks from 28 August to 16 September 2012 prior to an extensive national tour in spring 2013.

Dora the Explorer will play daytime performances only – 10.30am, 1.00pm and 3.30pm  – from Monday to Sunday. The Apollo’s current main slot resident, the David Suchet-led revival of Eugene O’Neill drama Long Day’s Journey into Night, completes its limited season on 18 August. The next scheduled productions for the venue, the Globe transfers of Twelfth Night and Richard III starring Mark Rylance, do not arrive until 2 November.

Nickelodeon, Life Like Touring and Daniel Sparrow & Mike Walsh Productions present the UK premiere of Nickelodeon’s Dora the Explorer LIVE! Search for the City of Lost Toys, arriving at the Apollo Theatre, Shaftesbury Avenue for a limited three week run from 28 August to 16 September 2012.

In Dora the Explorer LIVE! Search for the City of Lost Toys, Dora has lost her teddy bear Osito, and the search is on to retrieve him. With the help of the audience, Map, Backpack, Boots, Diego and their courageous friends, Dora uses her map-reading, counting, musical and language skills to successfully pass through the number pyramid and the mixed-up jungle to reach the City of Lost Toys. But watch out – you never know what that sneaky fox Swiper might be up to along the way.

The stage show, which has so far been seen by over two million people Dora the Explorer fans will delight in this two act, song and dance spectacular that invites them to think, sing and play along. Nickelodeon’s Dora the Explorer LIVE! is designed to teach kids to explore, communicate, overcome obstacles, solve puzzles and discover a diverse and exciting world…all while having a lot of fun!

Nickelodeon’s popular animated TV programme was watched by over 7.5 million viewers around the globe last year, and this stage adaptation has already been seen by over two million people. The two-act “song and dance spectacular” invites children to think, sing and play along and is designed to teach them to explore, communicate, overcome obstacles, solve puzzles and discover a “diverse and exciting world”.

The UK premiere production – presented by Nickelodeon, Life Like Touring and Daniel Sparrow and Mike Walsh Productions – comes to the West End direct from Pleasure Beach Blackpool, where it runs from 10 to 26 August. An extensive UK tour kicks off in spring 2013.