The Dinosaur That Pooped a Rock Show. Grimsby Auditorium 25 August 2026

McFly's Tom Fletcher is a busy man. Not only does he comprise a part of the chart-topping band, but he is also a children's author and a composer of musical theatre aimed at young audiences. The Dinosaur That Pooped a Rock Show is based on a series of books co-written by Fletcher and his McFly band mate Dougie Poynter, illustrated by Garry Parsons. So, as a fan of Fletcher's work and previous musicals including The Creakers, The Christmasaurus, There's a Monster In Your Show and of course, the award-winning blockbuster musical version of Paddington, I was really looking forward to how they were going to bring this series of characters to the stage.

The Grimsby Auditorium provided a joyful venue, packed with families and young children all buzzing with excitement and eager to experience live theatre - some for their very first show. The Dinosaur how did not disappoint. Its not a show that you can over-analyse, after all, it's about a ten-foot-tall cartoon dinosaur that enjoys pooping - it's not designed for adults, it is designed to appeal to it's young punters and I am happy to report that they LOVED the show and I was delighted to hear a child singing one of the songs to himself as he popped to the loo after the show and I witnessed another young girl begging her dad to allow her to see the second showing of the day (he had to decline). But the mini-monsters can be the harshest critics if a show doesn't deliver, so thank goodness it gave them exactly what they were after!

The colourful show is not designed to be high art, but it is a wonderful introduction to theatre in much the same way as a really good pantomime stretches credulity in it's plotting and appeal to silliness in it's audience. Mark Thompson Productions Limited present this show as directed by Miranda Larson, and stage managed by Marc Featherstone. Sound design is by Daniel Curto and the overall designer is Anthony Lamble. It is a fresh, slick, high energy production aimed directly at the children(and the adults who refuse to grow up) in the audience. Not once did I hear an older audience member complain about the toilet humour because it was pitched so appropriately.

The story deals with best friends Danny and Dino who clearly have enjoyed numerous adventures prior to this one (though I confess I have not read the books) but here, Danny discovers that the"best band in the World" McFlushed are on the verge of breaking up and have announced one final gig before they wave goodbye to fame. Both Danny and Dino claim to be the band's biggest fan and begin a quest to get tickets for the sold out show. They achieve their goal with the aid of Dick Van Rascal, the dastardly manager of McFlushed who is on the lookout for the next big thing. When Van Rascal meets Dino, he knows what he wants and cons Dino into signing a contract with him, splitting asunder the dynamic duo of Danny and Dino. However, in this world of fiction, the story was only ever going to go one way, Van Rascal is defeated, Danny and Dino are reunited and the pair get to perform live with McFlushed at the gig. All's well that ends well.

Performed by a cast of four, the performers really earn their crust. Danny is played with energy and enthusiasm by Josh David who seems to channel his inner Tom Fletcher in the final numbers of the show - he is the cheerleader so often whipping the audience up into a frenzy and provides a really likeable and identifiable hero. Joe Jones has the thankless task of performing under the weight of Dino's enormous costume and gives a stellar performance nevertheless, he is constantly moving and giving life to the character and notably sustains the character right into wings as he exits from view. The voice given to Dino, sounds remarkably similar to the Audrey 2 in Little Shop of Horrors, and I thought I noticed a few nods in that direction, though Dino is a much softer version, more like a cheeky, less homicidal, younger brother of the killer plant!

Then we have "The Poopremes", acting as the Greek chorus much like the girls on the stoop in Little Shop, they are two tireless performers who play every other role in the show. Poopreme 1 is played by Kiarna Glendenning and Poopreme 2 is played by Adam Richards. These two steal so many scenes it is unreal. Richards as Van Rascal is a dream baddie that the children absolutely loved to hate and (rightly) got booed by everyone. Glendenning played many roles but I particularly enjoyed her curmudgeonly Box Office ticket seller for whom everything is too much effort and had the children giggling with her lift routine into and out of the box office.

The show features nine songs in total, many of which are new and one or two that are reworkings of McFly favourites. I loved the song Tickets and the song You're Naughty, both conveyed the story well and got the kids in the right mood for each. And of course the title song, The Dinosaur That Pooped is so darned catchy. I had a ball watching this wholesome, bouncy, colourful show and only wish that more children could have seen the magical sight of a giant red dinosaur strutting his funky stuff on stage at the Auditorium. Yes, there were giant plot holes, yes the story is predictable and yes, the dinosaur's inevitable tsunami of poop seems to emerge at a curious, anatomically incorrect angle - but if that is what concerns you during this show, you are at the wrong show. This show is a glorious celebration of silliness and fun. I thoroughly recommend that you see it if it ever comes back around this way.

Andy Evans 25 August 2026

All photography supplied by Mark Thompson Productions Ltd and copyright Pamela Raith.

https://youtu.be/lfA-3U-8XwE?si=XYjAKOIpS7RidVb8