Birmingham Hippodrome- until 4th January 2026
Reviewed by Emma Millward
5*****
There’s No Such Thing As Wolves began its festive run at Birmingham Hippodrome’s Patrick Studio this week. This gentle, family-friendly show is the second production in the Hippodrome’s ‘My First Musical’ series, following the success of last year’s five-star hit The Jingleclaw. The initiative aims to create new musicals and offer younger children the chance to experience musical theatre, possibly for the first time. With book, music and lyrics by TV’s Horrible Histories writers Gerard Foster and Richie Webb, the show succeeds in providing a theatrical experience that is both accessible and genuinely entertaining.
The story follows Hettie Hedgehog (Faye Campbell) and her father, Harry (Matthew Rutherford), as they prepare to hibernate for winter. Hettie struggles to sleep because she is worried about wolves being nearby. Her father assures her there’s no such thing as wolves. As they settle down to sleep, the excitable Sydney Squirrel (Beth O’Rorke) appears with plans for a woodland celebration, much to Harry’s frustration. Their preparations are interrupted when two unfamiliar, sharp-toothed creatures appear, claiming they want to join the festivities. The wolves are portrayed as comically villainous rather than scary. Wiffy (Oliver Sidney) and Woofy (Elinor Peregrin) quickly win over the audience. Woofy is a playful wolf who wears a Wolverhampton Wanderers football top (one of many nods to the West Midlands within the show) and just wants to play party games. Wiffy has grand plans to cut down all the trees to sell as flat-pack furniture, although he would also secretly love to be a ballet dancer.
The small but perfectly formed cast bring the forest creatures to life with a mixture of beautiful costumes by Hannah Sibai, character-specific physicality, and playful vocal work that makes each of their characters believable. Oliver Sidney, in particular, is a joy to watch as Wiffy, with his over-the-top mannerisms and posh accent. I would happily see the show again just to hear the way he pronounces the word “forest”! Each performer seems keenly aware that they are playing to a younger audience, but it never feels like they are talking down to them. Gerard Foster’s writing is clever enough to keep the children engaged, but also makes the parents in the crowd laugh too. Meanwhile, Richie Webb’s songs are ridiculously catchy, especially the earworm number ‘More Than Wolves’ that is still firmly stuck in my head. The music is played live by musical director Sarah Morrison, drummer Jonathan Antil, and alternating cast members all wearing eye-catching bird costumes. They are tucked away on a cleverly designed balcony built into the forest set. There are a few lovely little twists built into Hannah Sibai’s intricate woodland set design, including an ‘Alexa’-like cuckoo clock voiced by local legend Sir Lenny Henry. Director Emily Ling Williams ensures the show is tight and never becomes too chaotic. The show runs at just sixty minutes long, but every minute is used wisely.
An enchanting and fun-filled winter story, No Such Thing As Wolves is a must-see this festive season. It perfectly blends humour, a top-notch cast and a catchy soundtrack with toe-tapping tunes that stay with you long after the show ends.