What's On | The Snail and the Whale
A man holding a wooden snail faces a girl holding a soft toy sea snail. In the background a female violinist plays in front of a large porthole.
Photo © Tall Stories
The Snail and the Whale artwork - A girl with a snail on her shoulder sits above waves as a whale tail appears in the sea, a fishing boat rides the waves, fish float above the sea and a seagull flies in the sky. There is a green porthole in the background. The Tall Stories logo appears in the upper left corner. 5 gold stars appear above the reviewer name 'WhatsOnStage' and again for 'Broadway Baby'. A quote from Edinburgh Festivals for Kids reads:
A man holding a wooden snail faces a girl holding a soft toy sea snail. In the background a female violinist plays in front of a large porthole.
Photo © Tall Stories
A woman smiling while playing a violin.
Photo © Tall Stories
A person in a mustard-yellow beanie hat with yellow goggles on, staring ahead with a look of awe on their face.
Photo © Tall Stories
A girl with headphones on which have springy antennae attached, stares forwards with a look of amazement. A man is perched behind her with a similar look of wonderment on his face.
Photo © Tall Stories

Tall Stories presents

The Snail and the Whale

A play with music inspired by the book by Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler

  • Show Information
  • Reviews

Join an adventurous young girl and her seafaring father as they reimagine the story of a tiny snail’s incredible trip around the world, inspired by Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler’s much-loved picture book.

Longing to see the world, a tiny sea snail hitches a lift on the tail of a great big, grey-blue humpback whale. Together they go on an amazing journey, brought vividly to life through live music, storytelling and lots of laughs – but when the whale gets beached, how will the snail save him?

A heart-warming adventure for everyone aged four and up, from Tall Stories, the Olivier Award-nominated company that brought you The Gruffalo and Room on the Broom live on stage.

★★★★★

There’s real charm in this production.

The Scotsman

★★★★★

Fautless family fare.

WhatsonStage.com

★★★★★

Captivating, inventive storytelling along with beautiful live music and songs – it’s highly recommended that you climb aboard and set sail!

Edinburgh Festival for Kids

It’s ingenious, nattily staged, and like the little snail at the heart of the story has big ambitions and wide horizons. Very nice.

The Guardian

Map Venue MarkerNorthcott Theatre
Family, Theatre
Running time: 55 minutes, no interval
Exeter Northcott Theatre
Age Guidance 4+

You may also like:

Nativity! The Musical promotional artwork - Small white text at the top of the image reads 'An Exeter Little Theatre Company production'. Red sparkly text reading 'Nativity!' with small gold sparkly text underneath reading 'The Musical'. A golden moon and golden stars hang from golden strings from the top of the image. The background is a dark blue starry sky with little golden dots. White text at the bottom of the image reads 'Book & lyrics by Debbie Isitt; Music by Debbie Isitt and Nicky Ager; Orchestrations by George Dyer'.Further text reads: ' 1 - 9 December2023; Barnfield Theatre, Barnfield Road, Exeter, Devon, EX1 1SN, Box Office 01392 726363, Online www.exeternorthcott; This amateur production is presented by arrangement with Music Theatre International. All authorised performance materials are also supplied by MTI www.mtishows.co.uk'.
Nativity! The Musical
Sat 09 Dec 2023
Exeter Northcott Theatre
Barnfield Theatre
Take a look Book tickets
Exeter Northcott Theatre and Le Navet Bete's Dick Whittington artwork. Background: a foggy panorama photo of the city of London, with iconic buildings such as Big Ben, the Houses of Parliament, and St Paul's Cathedral. The cityscape is washed over with a burgundy haze. Foreground: A black and white cat (black body, white neck collar, white paws) looks towards the cityscape and we see them in near silhouette. They are stood on a yellow-brick path, with green grassy hills either side of them. On the hills, grey rats with large red eyes. On the left hand side of the cat, a rat holds a stereotypical hobo sack on a stick. At the top of the artwork, gold text reads: 'Exeter Northcott Theatre and Le Navet Bete present Dick Whittington.' Another group of rats with large red eyes are playing around the letters in 'Dick Whittington'. A cat paw icon replaces the dot on top of the letter 'I' in 'Dick', and a block of cheese replaces the dot on top of the second letter 'I' in 'Whittington.
Dick Whittington
Sun 10 Dec 2023 - Sun 07 Jan 2024
Exeter Northcott Theatre Exeter Northcott Theatre Exeter Northcott Theatre
Northcott Theatre
Take a look Book tickets
Stan Hacking Concert Band Christmas Spectacular promotional artwork - Blue background. On the left: an illustration of a Christmas tree made from golden musical notes, with a star on top. On the right: illustration of red and green baubles hanging from golden thread. In the centre: Stan Hacking Concert Band logo - a blue circle with a white rim with text in the middle and a large musical note on the inside left of the circle. White text underneath reads: 'Christmas Spectacular' 'Raising funds for the Coronary Care Unit, RD&E Hospital'.
The Stan Hacking Band Christmas Spectacular
Sun 10 Dec 2023
Barnfield Theatre
Take a look Book tickets
What's On | The Snail and the Whale

The Snail and the Whale

  • Show Information

Join a tiny snail on her trip round the world in Tall Stories’ (creators of the The Gruffalo and Room on the Broom stage shows) magical, musical adaptation of the fantastic picture book by Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler.

Longing to see the world, a tiny snail hitches a lift on the tail of a humpback whale. Together they go on an amazing adventure – but when the whale gets beached, how will the snail save him? Follow the tiny snail’s exciting journey, as seen through the eyes of an adventurous young girl and her seafaring father…

Storytelling, live music and lots of laughs, in a show for everyone aged 4 and up.

Duration 55 mins
For ages 4+

Map Venue MarkerExeter Northcott Theatre
Family
Running time: 55 minutes, no interval

You may also like:

Nativity! The Musical promotional artwork - Small white text at the top of the image reads 'An Exeter Little Theatre Company production'. Red sparkly text reading 'Nativity!' with small gold sparkly text underneath reading 'The Musical'. A golden moon and golden stars hang from golden strings from the top of the image. The background is a dark blue starry sky with little golden dots. White text at the bottom of the image reads 'Book & lyrics by Debbie Isitt; Music by Debbie Isitt and Nicky Ager; Orchestrations by George Dyer'.Further text reads: ' 1 - 9 December2023; Barnfield Theatre, Barnfield Road, Exeter, Devon, EX1 1SN, Box Office 01392 726363, Online www.exeternorthcott; This amateur production is presented by arrangement with Music Theatre International. All authorised performance materials are also supplied by MTI www.mtishows.co.uk'.
Nativity! The Musical
Sat 09 Dec 2023
Exeter Northcott Theatre
Barnfield Theatre
Take a look Book tickets
Exeter Northcott Theatre and Le Navet Bete's Dick Whittington artwork. Background: a foggy panorama photo of the city of London, with iconic buildings such as Big Ben, the Houses of Parliament, and St Paul's Cathedral. The cityscape is washed over with a burgundy haze. Foreground: A black and white cat (black body, white neck collar, white paws) looks towards the cityscape and we see them in near silhouette. They are stood on a yellow-brick path, with green grassy hills either side of them. On the hills, grey rats with large red eyes. On the left hand side of the cat, a rat holds a stereotypical hobo sack on a stick. At the top of the artwork, gold text reads: 'Exeter Northcott Theatre and Le Navet Bete present Dick Whittington.' Another group of rats with large red eyes are playing around the letters in 'Dick Whittington'. A cat paw icon replaces the dot on top of the letter 'I' in 'Dick', and a block of cheese replaces the dot on top of the second letter 'I' in 'Whittington.
Dick Whittington
Sun 10 Dec 2023 - Sun 07 Jan 2024
Exeter Northcott Theatre Exeter Northcott Theatre Exeter Northcott Theatre
Northcott Theatre
Take a look Book tickets
Stan Hacking Concert Band Christmas Spectacular promotional artwork - Blue background. On the left: an illustration of a Christmas tree made from golden musical notes, with a star on top. On the right: illustration of red and green baubles hanging from golden thread. In the centre: Stan Hacking Concert Band logo - a blue circle with a white rim with text in the middle and a large musical note on the inside left of the circle. White text underneath reads: 'Christmas Spectacular' 'Raising funds for the Coronary Care Unit, RD&E Hospital'.
The Stan Hacking Band Christmas Spectacular
Sun 10 Dec 2023
Barnfield Theatre
Take a look Book tickets

Adopt
a seat

Adopt your very own seat at the Exeter Northcott and help secure a bright future for the theatre.

Find out more