Little Lark of London

“Kindness conquers all”

Zog and the Flying Doctors, co-directed by Katie Beard and Bobby Delaney, based on the bestselling sequel by Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler has landed at Cadogan Hall. We, the audience members, are invited by the King (James Stirling) to learn about how he discovered the importance of sharing. We are introduced to Zog as a puppet (directed by Edie Edmundson), with the performers giving a recap of the adventures Zog has been on before the beginning of the sequel book. 

Now that Zog (Ethan Jay Scott) has befriended Princess Pearl (Emily Attridge-Cox) and former knight, Sir Gadabout (Edward Conroy), they have joined together to become a trio of flying doctors, with Zog striving to be the best flying ambulance that he can be so Pearl can give people medicine and Gadabout can perform surgeries. There’s only one problem – Zog is still having a bit of trouble with his landings, leading to some crash landings in different places!

We are introduced to several magical creatures with medical issues including a mermaid getting sunburned (Darcy Manning), a unicorn with an extra horn (James Stirling) and a lion with the flu (played again by Manning). Each of the sick creatures performs a song about whatever is ailing them, all having the same melody with similar responses to the Flying Doctors. The highlight of the show is its songs, with music and lyrics by Joe Stilgoe. During the second half of the show, when the King has trapped his niece, Pearl, in a tower to keep to the status quo and ensure that princesses cannot become doctors, there are some standout songs including one sung by Pearl about being trapped. 

The entire cast is incredibly talented singers and dancers, bringing the performance as a whole to another level. The choreography by Katie Beard is simple yet effective, allowing the performers to remain on time with the music while still moving around the trees and castle making up the set (designed by Lucy Bradridge, who also designed the costumes) of the show. There are also some lovely puppets including squirrels and birds that are operated by the cast members. 

After seeing Zog and the Flying Doctors, I headed over to The Chesterfield Mayfair for the “Sweet Shop Afternoon Tea.” In celebration of Afternoon Tea Week 2024 and SOLT Kids Week, audience members are able to book tea with a 20% discount, even receiving a few Zog-related special surprises. The experience was lovely, as I was immediately greeted with a Zog-themed smoking pink lemonade! All of the staff members were kind and happy to answer any questions I had about the different food and drinks being served. Some highlights for me included a ham and cheese sandwich on tomato bread, a blue raspberry and bubblegum Battenberg and a chocolate chip scone!

Guests can choose from over a dozen teas, including some sweet-themed drinks like Bespoke Liquorice Tea, Bespoke Fruit Salad Candy Tea and Chesterfield Chocolate Tea. I had the Fruit Salad tea and was amazed by how similar it was to the candy! There is also an opportunity at the end of the show for children and adults alike to choose from a selection of sweets. Fans of Zog will also have the opportunity to meet him at The Chesterfield’s Original Sweet Shop Afternoon Tea on 14 August and, on 21 August, visitors can meet Baby Zog, Princess Pearl and Sir Gadabout!

Ultimately, Zog and the Flying Doctors is a delightful show for the whole family and, when combined with The Chesterfield’s Original Sweet Shop Afternoon Tea, makes for a wonderful time. The show has an important message about the importance of science and doctors, a message that rings true in our time and is important for children to learn. Mix that message with fun songs and a delightful afternoon tea and you have a lovely day!

Zog and the Flying Doctors runs from 1 to 31 August at Cadogan Hall. Tickets for the show can be purchased here. Ticket holders from Cadogan Hall can get 20% off of The Chesterfield’s Original Sweet Shop Afternoon Tea, which is served from 12:30 to 17:30 daily. Bookings for the afternoon tea can be made here.