Maddie Moate's Very Curious Christmas | Garrick Theatre

Maddie Moate's Very Curious Christmas brings together festive cheer, magic and science in an explosive and brilliant kids show. Written and performed by well known British presenter Maddie Moate herself, the show has her signature infectious enthusiasm that matches and excites her audience. This show is the perfect show to bring your little ones to, for it not only thinks outside of the box; but encourages the audience to as well! 

Maddie is on work placement at Santa's workshop, working alongside the elves Tinker (Kira MacCarter) and Goggles (Zain Abrahams) to ensure that everything is handled smoothly before Christmas. The audience are invited into this workshop as part of a 'tour group', headed by Maddie herself. However, a last minute reminder about the forgotten annual Claus Christmas Ball from Mrs. Claus (Jenny Dale) has the three friends stressed to complete all the pre-party tasks. As things start to go very wrong, Maddie and her friends must quickly find solutions and save the party! 

The show's runtime of 60 minutes feels perfect; keeping the young audience engaged throughout with the perfect balance of audience participation, live science experiments and demonstrations, and musical cheer. Moate's enthusiasm is truly infectious as her peppy demeanour pumps energy into every element of the show. Audiences are greeted to a pre-show on screen quiz that not only has them yelling answers and shrieking with joy; but is a mere taster of the delight they will soon be taking as they learn new things. The quiz, catering to the young audience, places their interests and curiosity in mind. 

Dale, appearing only via pre-recorded video on the screen, is picture perfect as Mrs. Claus. Whilst the character induces fear in the two elves and proves herself to be a strict and specific woman, Dale also brings out her warmth and kind nature as she thaws over the duration of the show. Dale's Mrs. Claus leaves a memorable impression despite the limited role and helps set the story in motion. 

Abrahams and MacCarter are both gloriously cast as the two elves. Abrahams' Goggles is hilarious and upbeat, with his many raps and exaggerated physical performance that has many young audience members in stitches of laughter. MacCarter's Tinker has the charm and cheek that makes her so convincing as an elf. MacCarter's performance is adorable and has the audience siding with her from the very start. 

Moate's signature style makes the show feels as magical as it does, with an effortless enthusiasm for science. Moate never lets her smile slip for a moment, even when things are going wrong, preserving with a good temper and resilience that is quite inspiring. Moate is also great at audience interaction moments, quickly anticipating her young audience's needs and adapting best to suit them. (A very shy young volunteer was spoken to with such fondness and gentleness, during a moment of interaction and the child was visibility comforted by Moate). 

Directed by Nic Doodson and Joanna Adeyinka, the show has been carefully set up with exciting explanations of how simple moments of Christmas traditions are created, presented as plausible problems that the trip must overcome. The show faces the risk of losing its audience by pushing science and education, yet manages to avoid doing so through the help of song, the performances and being met on their own level. 

Maddie Moate's Very Curious Christmas has found residence in the Garrick Theatre this year, where The Producers (a very VERY different show) is currently playing, but does well to feel quite at home there as well. Designed by Verity Sadler, the large wooden work table is surrounded by present boxes that are presumably stuffed with toys. Signs to various departments of the workshop, a colourful mat and a Christmas tree help develop the stage further. A large screen is also used well to show close ups of the demonstrations on the work table, ensuring that no one misses out. Sadler has also designed costumes for the show that allow for the colourful stripes to remain intact for both elves along with their own customised styles for individuality and practicality. 

This review remains a spoiler free one, but the demonstrations on how science is used in Christmas festivities are quite impressive, with the children sat watching with stars in their eyes and adults just as impressed. The show, although advertised as a children's show, is for everyone, reminding adults just how cool science actually is. The demonstrations, without spoilers, involve chemicals that create a loud bang, air pressure to quickly and very very impressively circulate the delicious smells of gingerbread, physics to recreate light, water and even fire! Before each experiment, Moate does warn audiences of the upcoming reactions, offering them the option to opt out of each demonstration. 

Maddie Moate's Very Curious Christmas is a joyful show that will rekindle the joy of curiosity and theatre in audiences of all ages. The sense of wonder and magic filled the theatre and with bright and fun characters and a very catchy science song, this is a show that you're going to want to gift this Christmas! 

Maddie Moate's Very Curious Christmas is currently playing at the Garrick Theatre until 04th January 2026. 

Tickets and More Information

★★★★★ (5*)

Gifted tickets in return for an honest review | Photography by Mark Senior