The Tiger Who Came to Tea has been on stage for 16 years this summer, having been adapted from Judith Kerr’s popular children’s picture book by writer and director David Wood (OBE). With a long career in children’s fiction and family shows, he was the perfect person to bring the story to life, persuading Kerr herself to let him create the adaptation of the book. Here’s a little more about him.

Early career

David Wood was born in Surrey in 1944 and was educated at Chichester High School for Boys before graduating from Worcester College, Oxford. He began writing plays for children early in his career, adapting stories such as Cinderella, The Tinder Box and Larry the Lamb in Toytown. One of his most famous early works was an adaptation of The Gingerbread Man, which toured all over the world. In 1979 he founded the Whirligig Theatre, a touring children’s theatre company, alongside John Gould.

His success continued through the 1980s, with plays such as Aladdin, The Selfish Shellfish and The See-Saw Tree. It was in this decade that he also wrote a number of children’s books, including The Discorats and Chish ‘n’ Fips.

The 1990s and 2000s

In 1991, Wood’s first adaptation of a Roald Dahl book - The BFG -  opened in London and went on to tour the UK. Adaptations of The Witches and The Twits were to follow in 1992 and 1999 respectively, alongside several of Dahl’s other books in the 2000s.

It was in 2001 that Wood received his first award for one of his family theatre shows. His adaptation of Philippa Pearce’s Tom’s Midnight Garden won the Equity Award for Best Show for Children and Young People. It won the same award in 2003, and in 2004 he was awarded an OBE for services to literature and drama in the Queen’s birthday honours.

In 2006 he wrote The Queen’s Handbag, a play written in celebration of Queen Elizabeth II’s 80th birthday and performed at Buckingham Palace.

The Tiger Who Came to Tea

It was at this very same celebration for the Queen’s 80th birthday that David Wood met Judith Kerr and, having got to know her a little over the ensuing weeks, began working on an adaptation of The Tiger Who Came to Tea. The first synopsis he presented to the author was firmly rejected by her, leading to the creation of the play we know today - a direct retelling of the story that is preceded by the other events of Sophie’s day before the tiger comes knocking. Lasting 55 minutes with no interval, it is as popular with children today as it was when it opened in 2008.

See The Tiger Who Came to Tea

The Tiger Who Came to Tea is touring the UK again from October 2024, so why not book family theatre tickets for a venue near you? Packed with sing-along songs, clumsy chaos and even a little bit of magic, it’s great fun for kids aged three and up.