Darren Seed stars as Dog in new family stage show Oi Frog & Friends!. The musical production will make its West End premiere at the Lyric Theatre, Shaftesbury Avenue for a strictly limited season from 29 November 2019 to 5 January 2020, as part of a national UK Tour. Full tour details here.
Oi Frog & Friends! will bring together Kes Gray and Jim Field’s bestselling and award-winning picture books Oi Frog!, Oi Dog!, Oi Cat! and Oi Duck-billed Platypus!, published by Hachette Children’s Group.
Book Oi Frog & Friends! Tickets
You’re playing Dog in Oi Frog & Friends! What can you tell us about it?
I’ve never played a dog before but he’s a very fun character to play. It’s a real challenge working with such a large puppet. He’s a very loyal character, always doing as he’s told and will fetch anything you throw!
Why do you think Kes Gray and Jim Field’s best selling books are ideal for a stage adaptation?
The books are so popular and perfect for a stage adaptation because of the vivid imagery and fantastic rhymes. The characters are so well illustrated in the books and we’ve had a lot of fun bringing them to life! Both Kes and Jim are both hugely supportive of the stage show and have been working with us throughout the creative process to keep the show loyal to the original books.
What do you enjoy most about performing for young audiences?
Performing for a younger audience is really magical as it’s quite often a child’s first introduction into theatre. You feel like you’re playing an important part in that. Children see and feel all the magic and wonder, and they are a very honest audience. They don’t lie if they don’t like something, so they’re an actor’s toughest critic.
What’s been the biggest challenge for you with this production?
The biggest challenge for me has been the physical aspect of the performance. Because of the accuracy of the puppetry and the required physicality of the performer, Dog requires a lot of stamina to play. It’s a lot of fun though, and certainly saves me money on gym membership!
It’s touring prior to a West End run, what are you looking forward to most about being out in the road?
I love being out on the road discovering new places that you wouldn’t normally go to, and every audience is different so that keeps us on our toes. It’s very interesting how areas respond to different things and find different things funny.
What would you say to anyone thinking of coming to see Oi Frog & Friends!
Do it. You’ll have a great time no matter what age you are. It’s a really fun fast-paced show with lots of laughs and audience interaction. And if you’ve ever read the books with your children, you will love it! Guaranteed fun for all of the family.
