PEPPA PIG Announces West End Run For Christmas At Criterion Theatre

Her first stage tour, Peppa Pig's Party, was one of the top-selling children's theatre shows in 2010 and 2011. Now hot on its heels comes a Second Stage production, Peppa Pig's Treasure Hunt that sets out on the road from 13 October this autumn with tour dates through until July 2012. This brand new show will have a West End Christmas season at the Criterion Theatre (1 December 2011 - 1 January 2012), following the sell-out success of last year's seasonal run there.

Peppa Pig's first tour set the bar high for children's theatre shows. With over 650 performances from its opening in Exeter in September 2009 to its final show in Southsea on 3 July2011, Peppa Pig's Party visited 90 venues across the UK and Ireland (a number of theatres twice with the same show), grossed £5.4 million in sales, averaged 80% capacity at the box office and was seen by approximately 400,000 people. The Criterion Christmas run 2010 - 2011 gave the theatre the biggest advance in its box office history.

Off-stage Peppa Pig has just celebrated her most successful year ever racking up £200 million in UK merchandise sales in 2010 alone. The theme park Peppa Pig World opened at Paultons Park, New Forest in March and the international broadcast roll outcontinues apace with Peppa Pig now being shown in over 180 territories including the United States where it launched on Nick Junior as a scheduled weekend show in February this year and in response to viewer demand, has just moved to a weekday slot.

In this new theatre production Peppa Pig and her friends set off on a treasure hunt. Peppa, her brother George and friend Danny Dog get up to fun and games on a day out on Grandad Dog's boat. There are clues aplenty as Pedro Pony, Polly Parrot and Zoe Zebra help them find their treasure as they all enjoy a day of adventure. Peppa Pig's Treasure Hunt features true-to-life puppets, perfect sing-along songs and a new story that will charm and delight all her fans. Full sail! Ahoy!

The creative talents from the first show are reunited for Peppa Pig's Treasure Hunt:
Director Richard Lewis (who has also adapted Peppa Pig for stage) has many acclaimed children's stage shows to his credit, including Fimbles and the two LazyTown Live! tours (2007/08 and 2009).
Nigel Plaskitt is Puppetry Consultant for the show and is, arguably, the UK's most experienced puppet specialist. His many credits include creating several characters and writing for the pre-school children's programme Pipkins (1973 - 1981); for 13 years one of the principal performers on Spitting Image; and puppetry consultant for the recent West End/touring hit show Avenue Q and the current West End hit Betty Blue Eyes.
The music comes from LazyTown's highly talented composer Mani Svavarsson whose songs are well known to children and parents.

Cast are George Blake, Nick Errington, Charlotte King, Hannah Lucas, Kimberley Pena, David Sandham and Charlotte Sullivan.

Peppa Pig's Treasure Hunt is produced by the team (Fiery Angel and Limelight Productions) behind the recent tours of LazyTown Live!, Roald Dahl's The BFG and the first Peppa Pig tour, Peppa Pig's Party.