Room on the Broom flies into the Lyric Theatre for a West End Christmas

Room on the Broom is flying back into the West End this Christmas. Tall Stories bring their musical version of the much loved picture book by Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler to the Lyric Theatre on Shaftesbury Avenue from Friday 27 November 2026 to Sunday 3 January 2027, as part of a national tour that runs until April 2027. See dates and tickets for Room on the Broom at the Lyric Theatre.

The show is nominated for an Olivier Award, is recommended for ages 3 and up, and runs for about an hour with no interval, which makes it one of the gentlest ways to bring a young child to a West End theatre on their very first visit. Here is everything the official announcement and the venue have confirmed so far.

What is Room on the Broom about?

The story follows a kind witch and her cat as they fly through the sky on their broomstick. One by one, some very insistent hitchhikers ask to climb aboard: a friendly dog, a green bird and a frantic frog. The official marketing copy puts the problem simply: "But this broomstick’s not meant for five and" then, with a crack, the broom snaps just as a hungry dragon appears.

Tall Stories describe the heart of the piece as kindness and friendship. In the words of the production, "Beneath the fun of the rhymes, the story celebrates togetherness and the magic of helping one another, no matter how crowded things get." The adventure builds to a gloriously chaotic finale where everyone has to dodge the dragon, told through songs, dancing, puppetry and stage magic.

The picture book itself was first published by Macmillan Children’s Books in 2001 and celebrates its 25th anniversary in 2026, with an anniversary edition published on 27 August. An animated short film from Magic Light Pictures followed in 2012 and was nominated for an Academy Award.

When does Room on the Broom play at the Lyric Theatre?

The West End season at the Lyric Theatre runs from Friday 27 November 2026 to Sunday 3 January 2027, covering the whole of the Christmas holidays and the start of the new year. The press performances are on Saturday 28 November at 10.15am and Sunday 29 November at 10.30am, which gives a sense of the family friendly daytime slots the run is built around.

The London season sits inside a much longer tour. Room on the Broom opened its new UK tour in Kingston upon Thames on Tuesday 27 October 2026, and the tour continues around the country until Saturday 10 April 2027. Families outside London who cannot make the Christmas run can check the Tall Stories site for the venues near them.

How long is Room on the Broom and what age is it for?

The age guidance for Room on the Broom is 3 and up. The press release and the Nimax listing give a running time of 60 minutes with no interval, while the Tall Stories show page lists 55 minutes, so plan for about an hour in your seat. With no interval to manage, it is a very achievable first visit for preschool children and their grown ups.

Nimax Theatres, which runs the Lyric, sets a few house rules that apply to every production. Children aged 14 and below must be accompanied by an adult aged 18 or over and must sit in the seat next to them. Children under 18 months count as babes in arms and do not need a ticket, while everyone aged 18 months and older does need one.

Who is in the cast of Room on the Broom at the Lyric Theatre?

The touring cast announced in the official press release is led by Elle Dillon-Reams as the Witch, with Jessica Allan as the Cat and understudy Witch. Finlay McGuigan plays Bird and Dragon, Ed Theakston plays Dog and Frog and understudies the Cat, and Ed Cooke is understudy for Dog, Frog, Bird and Dragon.

A small cast playing several characters each is part of the Tall Stories style, with puppets doing much of the heavy lifting. The puppet characters of Dog, Bird and Frog are each brought to life by a performer in full view of everyone watching, which is often the part that young children talk about most afterwards.

Who created Room on the Broom for the stage?

Room on the Broom Live On Stage was first created by Tall Stories in 2008 and was nominated for the Olivier Award for Best Family and Entertainment production in 2013. Since then it has toured the UK and Ireland extensively and travelled to North America, Australia, including the Sydney Opera House, Hong Kong, Singapore, Dubai and Poland. A German language version is performed by Junges Theater Bonn.

The production is directed by Olivia Jacobs, with Toby Mitchell as dramaturg. Design is by Morgan Large, puppet design by Yvonne Stone, lighting by James Whiteside and choreography by Morag Cross. The music and lyrics are by Jon Fiber and Andy Shaw for Jollygoodtunes, and Sam Conway is associate director.

Jacobs, who founded Tall Stories with Mitchell in 1997, explains how Tall Stories approached the book: "How could we create flying? How could we create a dragon, a mud monster and a magnificent broom… we took the challenges as opportunities for creativity and, working together, created something that we’re hugely proud of." She adds that she hopes "within the laughter and the fun, the show, at its heart, gives a message that no one is left out".

Mitchell, now Artistic Director of Tall Stories, says: "At Tall Stories, we believe that theatre is a chance to put a pause on life and step into another world. Off we go with an Iggety, Ziggety, Zaggety, ZOOM!"

Are there relaxed and accessible performances of Room on the Broom?

Yes. The Lyric Theatre has scheduled a run of access performances for Room on the Broom this Christmas, all listed on the official Nimax page:

• Tuesday 1 December at 1.30pm: audio described, with a touch tour at 12.30pm.
• Friday 4 December at 1.30pm: relaxed, with a touch tour at 12.30pm.
• Friday 11 December at 1.30pm: British Sign Language.
• Sunday 13 December at 10.30am: relaxed.
• Monday 21 December at 1.30pm: relaxed.

The production’s BSL interpreter is Anna Kitson and the audio describer is Caroline Burn. Nimax offers wheelchair spaces with companion seats, end of aisle seating and central row seating, and its access team can help with transfers and larger bookings. Tall Stories say they regularly offer relaxed performances, often with integrated BSL, as part of removing barriers for families.

Why is Room on the Broom a great first West End show?

An hour without an interval, a story many children already know by heart, and daytime performance times all make Room on the Broom a natural first trip to the theatre. The critics have said the same for years. The Sunday Express called it "A perfect introduction to the theatre", Time Out found it "Undeniably charming… Winning performances, jaunty songs and some delightful puppetry", and The Stage wrote that "Children’s theatre doesn’t come much better than this."

Tall Stories have been part of the West End family calendar for a long time, and you can read our earlier review of Room on the Broom at the Lyric Theatre. If your family is hooked on theatre after this, The Lion King at the Lyceum Theatre is the next big step for slightly older children, recommended for ages 6 and over.

How do you get to Room on the Broom at the Lyric Theatre?

The Lyric Theatre is on Shaftesbury Avenue in the heart of the West End. The nearest Underground stations are Piccadilly Circus and Leicester Square, and Charing Cross is the closest mainline station. Buses on routes 14, 19, 22B, 38, 53, 88, 94 and 159 stop nearby, and there are car parks in Soho and Chinatown.

The Lyric is also where you will find Hadestown, which continues its evening run alongside the Christmas family season. Grown ups planning a festive treat of their own could pair a family daytime visit with another London favourite such as The Mousetrap at St Martin’s Theatre.

Ready to hop on board? See dates and tickets for Room on the Broom at the Lyric Theatre.