Review: The Baddies at The Lowry Theatre in Salford Quays

[Ad-gifted] We’re huge fans of Julia Donaldson so were very excited to see The Baddies at The Lowry Theatre in Salford Quays, Manchester.

Based on the book by Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler, meet the very worst Baddies in the world. Don’t you dare to come too close to a witch, a troll and an ancient ghost!

They roar, spook and cast wicked spells to try and scare a girl out of her wits…who will succeed? Or perhaps the girl is braver than they think.

With lots of singing, dancing, and silly spooky fun, it’s the perfect intro to musical theatre for your little one!

Review: The Baddies at The Lowry Theatre in Salford Quays

What we thought of the show

I went to see The Baddies with my four-year-old daughter Jemma, and it was a big hit with both of us! The success of Julia Donaldson adaptations is clear from the popularity of the many animated TV specials, based on the best-selling children’s story books, that are loved by children and their parents alike.

Adapted for the theatre by Freckle Productions and The Royal Lyceum Theatre Edinburgh, The Baddies is a lovely mix of musical theatre and panto-like slapstick and audience participation.

The stage is set as the hollow of a tree stump where Mama Mouse’s is telling a ghost story to her three restless children. Mama Mouse, played by the excellent Lottie Mae O’Kill, brings her story vividly to life for us.

Review: The Baddies at The Lowry Theatre in Salford Quays

The three ‘Baddies’ are wonderfully funny, with Rosie Meek playing the often incompetent Witch, Nic James as the disgusting Troll, and James Stirling as the Ghost that is more comic than spooky.

In our show at The Lowry on May 4 the Girl was played by Georgie McSherry but is credited in the programme as Yuki Sutton. When I asked my daughter what her favourite part of the show was, she said that it was the Girl, who she thought was very pretty and brave! Jemma loved that the girl wasn’t afraid of ‘the baddies’.

We both also loved the witch’s cat, who transforms from a puppet in the witch’s bag to a life-sized cat with a standout performance by James Stirling (who also plays the Ghost). It’s a fun and silly aside to the main story that had us both laughing.

There are some excellently catchy songs by Joe Stilgoe, who also wrote the songs for adaptations Zog, and Zog and The Flying Doctors.

The show lasts approximately 60 minutes and runs straight through without an interval. We love a trip to the theatre, and for my daughter’s age and attention span, I do have a preference for these shorter shows with no interval.

The Baddies is perfect for kids (and their parents) who are fans of the book, or any of Donaldson’s stories. The show is well-paced and entertaining, with colourful costumes, and a wonderful set that is seamlessly changed as Mama Mouse tells her story.

We could both happily watch The Baddies again and again, which proves how much we loved it!

Cast

Ghost James Stirling

Witch Rosie Meek

Troll Nic James

Mama Mouse Lottie Mae O’Kill

The Girl Georgie McSherry

Creatives

Director & Choreographer Katie Beard

Music & Lyrics Joe Stilgoe

Adapted by David Greig & Jackie Crichton

Set & Costume Design Jasmine Swan

Lighting Designer Simon Hayes

Sound Designer Richard Brookes

Musical Director & Orchestrator Paul Herbert

How much are the tickets?

Tickets are priced from £19. Bring your under-2-year-olds to the show without the need for a ticket if they sit on a paying adult’s lap.

How do I book tickets to watch the show?

To book tickets please call The Lowry at 08432086000 or via their website here.

When is the show?

The show will be running until Sun, 4 May 2025 with shows at 10.30am, 1pm and 3pm. You can find other tour dates here.

How long is the show on for and what are the timings?

The show lasts approximately 60 minutes and runs straight through without an interval.

Where will the performance be held?

The Lowry
The Lyric Theatre
Pier 8
The Quays
Salford
M50 3AZ
Manchester
Tel: 0843208 6000

Notes:

The Lowry welcomes all visitors regardless of their disability and strives to meet all individuals needs where possible.
They welcome assistance dogs.
The Lowry website is fully accessible and features BrowseAloud. Browsealoud adds speech, reading and translation support, facilitating access and participation for those people who need support reading print, dyslexia, low literacy, mild visual impairments and those with English as a second language. To use this feature, simply click on the grey ear logo located in the footer.
If you are driving to the show, we would recommend for you to park at The Lowry Outlet which is opposite the theatre, but be aware as there is lack of signage from the car park area to the theatre, so best to ask someone or use google maps to find your way.

Pre paid car parking tickets can be purchased up to 24 hours prior to your performance. Please note they are unable to sell pre paid tickets on your performance date, and you will need to pay at the ticket machines in the car park. The tickets can be booked at the same time as your seats via their website, or over the phone on freephone 0343 208 6000. The cost is £6.50. This allows you to park for the day.

About The Lowry Theatre

The Lowry is a registered charity committed to using visual and performing arts to enrich people’s lives. They present audiences with a diverse programme of theatre, opera, musicals, dance, music, comedy and visual art as well as events and activities to expand the horizons of audiences and artists alike. At the heart of their work is a commitment to the local communities and young people. Tapping into the work on their ur stages and in their galleries, they offer thousands of free creative participation opportunities each year. They are passionate about nurturing talent, developing creative professionals of the future and raising aspirations.

Review: The Baddies at The Lowry Theatre in Salford Quays