101 Dalmatians - a sensational, paw'some adventure🐾🐾

From the very first moment, the performance was a knockout! Packed with catchy, fresh songs that had me humming along, the vibrant set and costumes brought a burst of colour to every scene. And the voices—especially Kym Marsh—were nothing short of spectacular, truly pitch-perfect.

The stage adaptation of 101 Dalmatians stays true to the heart of the original story while introducing some brilliant twists for the theatre. The puppetry was a marvel! Watching the skilled puppeteers bring the dalmatians to life was nothing short of magical.

The story follows a dalmatian who’s abandoned and ends up in a rescue centre, where a kind-hearted worker, Danielle, adopts the dog after an instant bond. While walking her new companion in the park, she meets Tom, a handsome fashion designer waiting for his big break. Tom, of course, has his own dalmatian, and soon enough, Pongo and Perdi, along with their humans, become inseparable. When Perdi has a litter of adorable puppies, everything seems perfect—until Cruella De Vil shows up, hell-bent on getting her hands on those precious pups.

Tom’s career takes an unexpected turn when he gets a tempting offer from Cruella herself, only to realise that she’s up to no good. Kym Marsh absolutely nails the role of Cruella, bringing a perfect mix of humour and menace to the character. Her sinister plan to make a coat out of dalmatian puppies was genuinely chilling—even though we all know the villains never win, right? I whispered to my son that everything would be okay, and he confidently replied, “I know, Mum.”

The plot thickens as Tom and Danielle discover they’ve been duped by Cruella and her bumbling sidekicks, Jasper and Casper, and the puppies have been kidnapped and locked away. As they race to save their beloved pups, the villains throw every obstacle in their path. I won’t spoil the details but rest assured—this story has a happy ending, and the puppies come out victorious.

There was a moment when I glanced at my son, a bit worried he might get upset, as one scene teetered on the edge of puppy peril. I held my breath, hoping the story wouldn't bring tears to either of us. Without giving too much away, for any parents who might feel the same, rest easy—everything turns out just fine!

A special mention must go to Kym Marsh’s stellar performance as Cruella. She truly embodied the character with a mix of wickedness and wit, and her powerhouse vocals gave me goosebumps! I couldn’t help but tell my son that Kym used to be in a band called Hear ‘say—her talent is timeless. I saw her last year in Take That’s Greatest Days and she delivered the same stunning vocal performance here.

The hilarious duo of Jasper and Casper, played by Charles Brunton and Danny Hendrix, were brilliant. Their slapstick humour reminded me of The Chuckle Brothers, bringing a surprising warmth to their villainous roles. Without giving too much away, let’s just say they start to question their loyalty to Cruella after meeting Linda—and their journey is a joy to watch.

I also must applaud the incredible puppeteers. I was curious how they would manage to have so many puppets on stage at once without it becoming distracting, but they pulled it off flawlessly. Each animal moved, spoke, and even sang with such realism, and the handlers were so skilled that you almost forgot they were there. They deserve huge credit and praise for bringing the animals’ personalities to life.

Jimmy Grimes, the brilliant puppetry designer and director of 101 Dalmatians, brings an extraordinary level of creativity and expertise to this production. Known for his innovative approach to puppetry, Grimes masterfully transforms the stage with lifelike animals that captivate the audience. His meticulous attention to detail and ability to convey emotion through puppets have earned him widespread recognition, particularly for his work on large-scale productions like War Horse. In 101 Dalmatians, Grimes' direction allows the puppeteers to seamlessly integrate with the cast, creating a mesmerising blend of movement and character. His vision breathes life into the beloved dalmatians, making the show a true visual and emotional delight.

One of the standout moments for me is when elements of the production are brought into the audience, creating a sense of immersion and allowing you to see the actors up close, which adds an extra dimension to this fantastic show.

As a typical 10-year-old, I’m pretty sure William’s favourite moments were the hilarious bits about sniffing bottoms and when Cruella transformed into a dog, mimicking all the funny things dogs do!

Overall, 101 Dalmatians is a heartwarming, laugh-filled, and visually stunning production. With catchy tunes and plenty of moments to keep the kids engaged, it’s must-see.

For my son, who struggles to stay seated for long periods of time this is true credit to the production, he saw the whole show and left loving it!I interviewed my son just as we exited the theatre and I’m pleased to say he said all the right things, completely unprompted! This is high praise indeed!

‘I loved it a lot and a lot and a lot, and I would definitely come back again.” – William, aged 10.

Insider Tip: The show kicks off at 7pm sharp, so don’t get caught out—most productions here start at 7:30pm, and there were a few latecomers. The first half is a brisk 60 minutes, followed by a second half of 55 minutes, wrapping up around 9:15pm, including the interval.

Note: for anyone with children that are sensitive to sound, the production is quite loud in places and ear defenders would be an idea if your child is happy wearing them.

Don’t miss it at the Milton Keynes Theatre, running until this Saturday, October 5th. Book your tickets now as there are not many left!