THE GRUFFALO LIVE ON STAGE to Be Livestreamed to Children in UK Hospitals

Lowry, Tall Stories and Read for Good have joined forces to expand the Salford venue’s annual livestream of theatre to thousands of children in hospitals across the UK for the first time. 

Salford’s Lowry, leading storytelling theatre company Tall Stories, and reading charity Read for Good are partnering to expand Lowry’s hospital livestream initiative, taking live theatre to children and their families in hospitals across the UK. The Lowry is supported by Arts Council England.

On Friday 3rd and Saturday 4th July, performances of the 25th anniversary national tour of Tall Stories’ acclaimed stage adaptation of The Gruffalo Live On Stage, based on the much-loved picture book by Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler (Macmillan Children’s Books) will be live-streamed from Lowry’s Quays Theatre in Salford to participating locations including; Alder Hey Children’s NHS Foundation Trust in Liverpool; Royal Manchester Children’s Hospital, including sites at Oxford Road, North Manchester General, Trafford General, and Wythenshawe Hospital; The Hub at Edinburgh Royal Hospital for Children & Young People; The Children’s Centre at Gloucestershire Royal part of Gloucestershire Hospitals NHS Foundations Trust; and the state-of-the-art MediCinema at Birmingham Children’s Hospital.

Teams from Lowry and Tall Stories will be based across locations to deliver pre-show activities and interactive moments during the performance itself.  Every effort is made to ensure the magic of live theatre reaches children and their families wherever they are, with each child receiving a golden theatre ticket as a keepsake and other goodies. 

The expansion of the livestream project has been made possible through a partnership between Lowry and Tall Stories, partnering with Read for Good. This is also supported by Macmillan Children's Books with streaming rights and book donations. Read for Good works with hospitals nationwide to ensure children have access to books, stories and creative experiences during treatment and recovery. Its professional Storytellers deliver sessions designed to spark imagination, reduce anxiety and create moments of joy in challenging clinical environments.

Since 2022, Lowry has brought live-streamed theatre to more than 2,000 children and families across the North West. What began as an idea inspired by the lived experience of childhood hospitalisation has grown into an impactful model of arts-in-health support. The project emerged in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic, when the emotional impact of isolation on children in hospitals became impossible to ignore. Recognising this, Lowry used its existing streaming technology to bridge that gap.

The programme has livestreamed much-loved family productions by Tall Stories, Room on the Broom (2022), and The Smeds and The Smoos (2025), and other productions including We’re Going on a Bear Hunt (2023), Stick Man (2024). 

Giving families (parents and grandparents) and carers the opportunity to create memories together, they describe a positive experience as a vital emotional lift; “Seeing my son’s face watching the show has given me a boost to keep my spirits up for his sake.” While hospital staff consistently report improved mood, connection and relief from the stresses of hospital life.

Jenny Riding, Director of Learning and Engagement at Lowry, said: “This initiative shows just how powerful live theatre can be in supporting children’s wellbeing, and its impact shows that even in the most difficult moments, creativity can offer comfort, joy and a sense of normality. “We’re incredibly proud to see it grow from something that started at Lowry to now reaching children in hospitals across the UK, through this partnership with Tall Stories and Read for Good. Together, we’re able to ensure even more children can feel part of the magic, particularly those who wouldn’t otherwise be able to access theatre.”

Toby Mitchell, Artistic Director and Tara Wilkinson, Executive Director at Tall Stories, said: "At Tall Stories, we believe every child deserves the wonder of storytelling theatre, no matter where they are. This summer, as part of our anniversary celebration, we are proud to be live-streaming The Gruffalo Live on Stage into hospitals across the UK, completely free, reaching over 1,900 children whose current circumstances mean they cannot attend in person. 

This is made possible through Lowry's world-class streaming expertise, Read for Good's relationships with hospitals across the UK, and Tall Stories' storytelling theatre and nationwide reach. We are also grateful to Macmillan Children's Books, whose generous support is putting books into the hands of young patients alongside the show. But this is about more than a screen. Skilled staff from each organisation will be on the ground at hospitals, bringing in-person activities that make the experience feel as live and joyful as possible. From ward to stage, we are all committed to finding new ways to open up the magic of theatre for every child who needs it most."

Cherry Land, Acting CEO of Read for Good, said: "We're absolutely delighted to be partnering with Lowry and Tall Stories to help reach even more children in hospitals with incredible stories. We know just how powerful the resulting joy, inclusion, distraction and wonder can be for these children and their families throughout treatment. This fantastic partnership will ensure that they don't miss out on the celebrations and this magical and musical adaptation of such a beloved story."

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