Co-producers Mayflower Southampton, Little Angel Theatre and Mercury Theatre Colchester announce the world premiere stage adaptation of Dermot O’Leary’s much loved children’s book, Toto the Ninja Cat and the Great Snake Escape,.
The new production will visit Mayflower Studios from Thursday 23 to Saturday 25 July 2026, before heading out on tour to Bristol, Birmingham, Weymouth, Guildford, London, and more.
Meet Toto. She might look like an ordinary cat, but she’s no ordinary feline. Almost completely blind, Toto has incredible ninja skills, a big heart, and a nose for adventure. By day, she naps like any other pet… but by night, she’s out on daring missions with her cheeky brother, Silver.
In their very first adventure, a deadly King Cobra has escaped onto the streets of London, and it’s up to Toto to use every ounce of her courage and cunning to save the day.
The bestselling Toto the Ninja Cat series is based on Dermot’s real-life pets and has sold more than half a million copies globally and has been translated into 17 languages to date. The book was illustrated by Nick East.
“I’m over the moon to see my book brought to life through puppetry,” explains Dermot. “Toto is currently fast asleep, blissfully unaware of all the attention, but speaking on her behalf, she’ll be thrilled to bits that her adventures are about to come to life, in theatres to audiences all around the country.”
”Working with Dermot on the Toto the Ninja Cat series has been an utter delight,” adds Nick. “And I’m thrilled that the amazing Little Angel team are now giving our fearless feline a whole new adventure in puppet form – it’s sure to be the cat’s whiskers!”
The world of Toto and her friends will be lovingly adapted from page to stage by award-winning duo, Little Angel Artistic Director Samantha Lane and acclaimed musician Barb Jungr (Olivier nominated for Best Family Show in 2023 for their previous collaboration on The Smartest Giant in Town). Set, costume and puppets will be created by celebrated puppetry designer and Little Angel Associate Director Oliver Hyman (whose work has also been presented at Tate Modern, Royal Albert Hall and the National Gallery and who recently won a special Fringe Theatre Award for exceptional services to puppetry) and lighting will be by award-winning designer Sherry Coenen whose credits for Little Angel include The Smartest Giant in Town, Wow Said The Owl and The Singing Mermaid. Toto the Ninja Cat and the Great Snake Escape will be a highlight of Little Angel’s 65th anniversary season next year.
“We are absolutely thrilled to be co-adapting ‘Toto the Ninja Cat and the Great Snake Escape’,” continues co-adaptors, Samantha Lane and Barb Jungr. “It’s such a joyful, funny, and heart-warming story, and we can’t wait to bring Toto’s world, full of courage, friendship, and adventure, to life on stage.
“Led by a stellar creative team, the production promises brilliant songs, imaginative puppetry, and an abundance of surprises for audiences of all ages.”
Tickets for Toto The Ninja Cat and the Great Snake Escape (23 – 25 July 2026) are on sale at mayflower.org.uk or 02380 711811.
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