Review: A Squash and A Squeeze at The Lowry Theatre*

[Ad-gifted] Julia Donaldson stories are always a hit with my daughter, so she was very excited to see A Squash and a Squeeze at The  Lowry Theatre in Salford Quays, Manchester.

This musical stage adaptation of Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler’s beloved classic is a co-production between Little Angel Theatre and The Lowry. The funny and heartwarming show comes to the theatre as part of its nationwide tour.

Once upon a time, a little old lady lived all by herself in her cosy cottage, but she wasn’t happy – her house felt just too small.  Whatever could she do?  Will the wise old man’s solution of bringing in a flappy, scratchy, greedy, noisy crowd of farmyard animals work?

With beautiful puppets, enchanting songs, and a crowd of farmyard animals, it’s the perfect show to ‘squeeze’ into your summer holiday with the kids.

What we thought of the show

I went to see A Squash and a Squeeze with my four-year-old daughter Jemma and her schoolfriend Lyla on its opening day at The Lowry. Aimed at children aged three to eight, the show is the perfect way to keep the kids entertained.

A tiny house stands at the centre of the stage belonging to a little old lady, performed with wonderful gusto by Ruth Calkin, who despairs over the size of her home and lack of space. On walks a wise old man with an ‘easy-peasy solution’ to her dilemma – a Mr Tumble-type character played by the funny Chris Dobson. Completing the trio of cast members is engaging storyteller Mark Esaias.

All three cast members are puppeteers as well as performers and bring to life the rest of the characters from the story – the cat, chicken, goat, pig and cow which the wise old man invites into the little old lady’s home as part of his mater plan.

When I asked my daughter and her friend what their favourite part of the show was, they both agreed it was the animals… especially the pig. A shout out to puppet designer and maker Maia Kirkman Richards and her remarkable puppets that incorporate farmyard objects into the design of the animals, just brilliant!

The show is filled with lots of fun songs and has the familiar repetition and rhyme expected from a Julia Donaldson book. There is also a few jokes for the parents, such as when the wise old man’s recording of his easy-peasy solutions advert unravels and he asks the audience if anyone remembers the 90s trick of using a pen to fix a cassette tape that’s come loose.

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

A Squash and a Squeeze is perfect for kids (and their parents or grandparents) who are fans of the book, or any of Donaldson’s stories. It also has a nice message about appreciating what you have.

Cast 

Performed by Ruth Calkin, Chris Dobson and Mark Esaias

Creatives

Adapted by Barb Jungr and Samantha Lane
Director Samantha Lane
Music & Lyrics Barb Jungr
Set & costume design Kate Bunce
Lighting designer Sherry Coenen
Puppets designed and made by Maia Kirkman Richards

How much are the tickets?

Tickets are priced at £19. Age recommendation: 3-8 years. It has a running time of 1 hr with no break. Bring your under-2-year-olds to the show for FREE 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 Sunday 24 August 2025 at 11am and 1.30pm daily . No shows on 11/08, 18/08 and 18/08.

BSL Interpreted | By Emma Jane Mansfield on Wed 20 August 2025, 11am & 1.30pm.
Audio Described | By Caroline Burn on Thu 21 August 2025, 11am & 1.30pm. Touch Tour at 10am & 12.30pm.

Where will the performance be held?

The Lowry
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 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 by Danielle Booker

You may also want to read this:

Review: A Christmas Carol: The Musical at The Lowry Theatre

Review: Waldo’s Circus of Magic & Terror at The Lowry Theatre

Review: Lunch at Pier Eight & We are Going On A Bear Hunt at The Lowry

* We were provided with press tickets in exchange for a review. All opinions are our own.

Photo Credit: The Lowry Theatre