Demon Dentist has a reputation for being one of David Walliam’s more ‘scary’ books. The adaptors of the stage play are aware that the story could be unsettling for some children and have therefore toned down the more frightening elements, while highlighting the humorous parts of the story.
Demon Dentist is a spooky, funny adventure, with an emphasis on the comedy, a la Scooby Doo. There are a handful of deliberate ‘jump’ moments in the show, which are always followed by a big laugh. Of course, every child is different, and some are more sensitive than others, so parental discretion is advised.
If possible, we would suggest families with young children sit slightly further back in the auditorium, where they can see people in front and around them, and not right in front of the stage, where they feel more exposed.
It should be noted that some parts of the plot could be upsetting for children who have recently suffered a bereavement. In both the book and the stage adaptation, the protagonist Alfie’s father dies at the end of the story to save his son and the whole town. It is sensitively handled and not dwelled upon, and is quickly followed by a happy wedding scene, but a grieving child may find this plot development to be distressing.
