In what promises to be one of the most heartwarming theatre stories of the summer, thousands of children in hospitals across the UK will have the chance to watch The Gruffalo Live On Stage completely free of charge this July. The beloved stage adaptation will be livestreamed directly to hospital wards, playrooms and cinema spaces, bringing the magic of live performance to young patients and their families during some of their most challenging moments.
The initiative is the result of a powerful collaboration between Salford's Lowry theatre, leading storytelling theatre company Tall Stories, and the reading charity Read for Good. Together, they are expanding what began as a regional project into a truly national programme for the first time.
How the Livestream Will Work
On Friday 3rd and Saturday 4th July 2026, performances of The Gruffalo Live On Stage will be broadcast live from Lowry's Quays Theatre in Salford to hospitals and clinical settings across England and Scotland. This marks the 25th anniversary national tour of Tall Stories' acclaimed stage adaptation, based on the much-loved picture book by Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler, published by Macmillan Children's Books.
The participating hospitals include an impressive roster of leading children's healthcare facilities: 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 Foundation Trust), and the state-of-the-art MediCinema at Birmingham Children's Hospital.
This is far more than a simple broadcast, however. Teams from both Lowry and Tall Stories will be stationed at each location to deliver pre-show activities and facilitate interactive moments during the performance itself. Every child will receive a golden theatre ticket as a keepsake, along with other goodies, ensuring the experience feels as special and memorable as attending a live show in person.
From a Regional Idea to a National Initiative
The hospital livestream programme has been running since 2022, and its origins are rooted in lived experience. Lowry's initiative was born in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic, when the emotional toll of isolation on hospitalised children became impossible to overlook. Recognising the gap, the Salford venue harnessed its existing streaming technology to bring live theatre directly to young patients who could not visit a theatre themselves.
Since those early days, the programme has reached more than 2,000 children and families across the North West of England. Productions livestreamed in previous years have included Tall Stories' Room on the Broom in 2022, We're Going on a Bear Hunt in 2023, Stick Man in 2024, and The Smeds and The Smoos in 2025. Each year, the programme has grown in scale and ambition, and the 2026 edition represents the biggest leap yet: from a regional effort to a nationwide one.
The expansion has been made possible through the new partnership with Read for Good, which works with hospitals across the country to ensure children have access to books, stories and creative experiences during treatment and recovery. The charity's professional Storytellers deliver sessions specifically designed to spark imagination, reduce anxiety and create moments of joy within challenging clinical environments. Macmillan Children's Books is also supporting the project through streaming rights and book donations.
Why Arts in Healthcare Matters
There is a growing body of evidence supporting the role of creative and cultural experiences in healthcare settings. For children spending extended periods in hospital, whether for planned treatment or emergency care, the emotional and psychological impact of isolation, boredom and anxiety can be profound. Programmes like this one help to address those challenges by providing shared, joyful experiences that children and their families can enjoy together.
Parents, grandparents and carers who have participated in previous years have spoken about the positive impact. Families have described the livestreams as providing a vital emotional lift during difficult times, with one parent noting the transformative effect of simply seeing their child smile during a performance. These are moments of normality and wonder in environments where both can feel in short supply.
The model that Lowry has developed is increasingly being recognised as an impactful example of arts-in-health support. By using existing streaming infrastructure and partnering with established theatre companies and charities, the programme demonstrates how cultural organisations can make a meaningful difference beyond the walls of their buildings. The support of Arts Council England for Lowry has been instrumental in making this work possible.
The Gruffalo: A Timeless Story Turns 25 On Stage
The choice of The Gruffalo for this year's livestream is particularly fitting. Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler's picture book, first published in 1999, is one of the most beloved children's stories ever written in the UK. The tale of a clever mouse who invents a fearsome creature to scare away predators in the deep dark wood, only to discover that the Gruffalo is very real indeed, has captivated generations of young readers.
Tall Stories' stage adaptation has been equally successful. First performed in 2001, it has toured extensively both nationally and internationally for a quarter of a century, delighting audiences with its inventive staging, engaging performances and faithful retelling of the original story. The 25th anniversary tour this summer makes it an ideal production to bring to the widest possible audience of young theatregoers, including those who might never otherwise have the chance to experience live performance.
For many of the children watching from hospital wards this July, it may well be their first encounter with live theatre. The organisers hope that by making the experience as immersive and special as possible, complete with golden tickets, activities and direct interaction, it will inspire a lifelong love of storytelling and the performing arts.
The Power of Partnership
What makes this project particularly noteworthy is the depth of collaboration involved. Lowry provides the venue, the streaming technology and the operational expertise. Tall Stories contributes the production and its creative team. Read for Good brings its network of hospital partnerships and its experience of delivering creative programmes in clinical settings. And Macmillan Children's Books supports through rights and resources.
It is a model that other arts organisations could learn from. In an era where cultural institutions are increasingly being asked to demonstrate their social impact and reach audiences beyond traditional theatre spaces, this partnership offers a compelling template. It shows what becomes possible when organisations with complementary strengths and shared values come together around a clear purpose: bringing joy and creativity to children who need it most.
What This Means for Families
If your child is being treated at one of the participating hospitals during the first weekend of July, they may have the opportunity to watch The Gruffalo Live On Stage as part of this programme. Individual hospitals will manage access and arrangements locally, so it is worth speaking to ward staff or play teams for more information about how to get involved.
For families who are not in hospital but want to experience The Gruffalo Live On Stage in person, the 25th anniversary national tour will be visiting venues across the UK throughout the summer of 2026. Check local listings and venue websites for dates and ticket availability.
This initiative is a beautiful reminder that theatre has the power to reach people wherever they are, and that no child should miss out on the magic of live storytelling simply because of their circumstances. We will be following this story as it develops and celebrating the impact it has on families across the country.
Looking for more family shows to enjoy this summer? Browse our full listings of what's on in London and across the UK, and discover the best theatre experiences for audiences of all ages.
Susan Novak has a lifelong passion for theatre. With a degree in English, she brings a deep appreciation for storytelling and drama to her writing. She also loves reading and poetry. When not attending shows, Susan enjoys exploring new work and sharing her enthusiasm for the performing arts, aiming to inspire others to experience the magic of theatre.
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