Moominvalley in November | Upstairs at the Gatehouse

A brisk autumn breeze has arrived in Moominvalley. Six strangers, each searching for something, collide. But something is off, the family is missing without a note to say where they’ve gone…

The current production running at Upstairs at The Gatehouse marks the show's official debut, having previously been shortlisted for the Mercury Musical Developments BEAM showcase earlier this year. The show is based on Tove Jansson’s final Moomins novel of the same name. 

The space itself looks like a page from a picture book. It’s bright and colourful, despite the darkness that the characters feel within the valley (more on this later). Lu Herbert’s designs for the costumes are truly inspired, giving us a sense of nostalgia for these characters, whilst steering away from a more cartoonish style into something more realistic but distinct. The set and costumes work harmoniously together to transport us into this world, creating a sense of unchildish fantastical naturalism that makes these designs memorable. 

We came into this expecting for it to be a show geared more towards a family/children’s audience, especially given our first impressions in regards to the set, but we were surprised to discover that it's definitely more for older teens and adults. 

So what is this show really about? Well a lot of it is to do with how we cope with grief and saying goodbye to the familiar as a natural part of life, which is what makes this show feel particularly relevant for the autumn season as a period of transition for many of us. 

With each character representing a different aspect of this journey, we get to see a range of perspectives: Grandpa Grumble with his hilarious yet poignant battle with adjusting to rapid change from the familiar, Snufkin’s seeking of recognition before returning to face the unknown, Toft’s burying their head in stories to cope with the agony of feeling alone in the world, Hemulen’s need to regain a sense of control over the situation, Mymble’s carefree protective detachment and Fillyjonk’s need for routine and order within chaos.  

These individual storylines intersect beautifully, with each character making an impact on the other’s journey to learn the lessons they need to learn, aided by the music and lyrics. Hans Jacob Hoeglund really is a triple threat in this sense. 

The folksy, almost fireside atmosphere created suits the setting and there’s enough variety to make this musical feel full bodied and purposeful. The show is well paced, meaning that the two hours goes by in the blink of an eye and the tonal shifts are carefully considered, making this show surprisingly emotionally profound.   

The cast is incredibly vocally strong and full of variety, which gives this show a beating heart. Abigail Yeo characterises Mymble as bursting with life with her electric physicality, whilst Martin Callaghan (Grandpa Grumble) provides some much needed comic relief with his comic timing and Matthew Heywood (Snufkin) shows off his musical talents with his enchanting guitar and harmonica playing.  

Moominvalley in November is powerful, immediate and enchanting. Surprisingly profound and deeply moving.

Moominvalley in November plays at Upstairs at the Gatehouse until 16th November 2025.

Tickets and More Information

★★★★★ (5*)

Gifted tickets in return for an honest review | Photography by Simon Jackson