The Very Hungry Caterpillar Show at The Lowry

Step inside a magical world of colour and transformation as the acclaimed stage production of The Very Hungry Caterpillar Show comes to The Lowry this May half-term holiday.

Based on four popular children’s books by Eric Carle, Jonathan Rockefeller’s production of The Very Hungry Caterpillar Show features a menagerie of 75 lovable puppets, each delicately created to bring Eric Carle’s much-loved characters to life. From the top favourite, greedy Caterpillar, to the adorable Brown Bear, Brown Bear characters, and more.

Inspired by some of Eric Carle’s most popular books – Brown Bear, Brown Bear, 10 Little Rubber Ducks, The Very Busy Spider, and, last but not least, The Very Hungry Caterpillar, this charming show takes the audience on a journey through these delightful stories. With bright, colourful props and characters as well as storytelling that keeps you hooked, this production stays true to the spirit of Eric Carle’s work and the amazing illustrations scattered throughout his books.

The Very Hungry Caterpillar, now a live show, started off as an extremely popular book about a tiny caterpillar who eats everything he can find: fruit, sweets, chocolate cake, ice cream cone, pickle, cheese, salami… BUT HE’S STILL HUNGRY! Anyway, it’s no surprise when he starts to get tummy ache. On Sunday, the seventh day of his huge feast, the hungry caterpillar eats a tasty leaf and begins to feel better! This household title has sold over 48 million copies worldwide since its publication in 1969. Meanwhile, Eric Carle’s Brown Bear, Brown Bear celebrates its 50th anniversary, with over 18.2 million copies sold.

The Very Hungry Caterpillar Show is for both seasoned theatre-goers and complete newbies. At less than an hour long, and jam-packed with fun, delight and, of course, some subtle education, this is a perfect show for a curious child who’s never been to the theatre before. Grownups will love it too, with its catchy music and puppetry and props that can only be described as beautiful art. It’s also, at its core, a show that genuinely celebrates the power of imagination, the amazing-ness of the creatures on our planet, and, we should add, a great lesson about not being greedy! And most importantly, you get to make memories with your little ones – yes, please!

A heart-warming experience for children and adults alike, The Very Hungry Caterpillar Show will have you smiling from start to finish and the whole auditorium buzzing. Get ready for catchy music, imaginative storytelling, immense colour, and of course hilarious antics from both the puppets and the people on stage – a perfect treat to round off the half-term holidays. So come along, enjoy, and maybe – or maybe not – bring some tasty popcorn and sweets while you’re watching. Just make sure you have some green leaves to munch on – in case you start feeling sick…

This show is recommended for children aged 0-6 and their families.