Igglepiggle is touring UK and Ireland theatres this year, in his spectacular show called Igglepiggle’s Busy Day!In the Night Garden Live is the first and only place where your child can play, sing and dance along with all their favourite characters from the TV show in real life!
Can your little one clap, wave, wiggle and jump like Igglepiggle? Do they know the words to Upsy Daisy’s song?
Now you can teach them!
Watch these video clips of all the best musical bits from the show – with easy-to-read captions to help you sing-a-long too!
Dance with Igglepiggle
Sing Upsy Daisy’s Song
Clap For Makka Pakka
Wave At The Tombliboos
Count With The Pontipines
After you’ve watched the videos, why not join in with Igglepiggle and friends in real life at In the Night Garden Live when they visit a venue near you? Look below for the full list.
Seven years since its first flight, the Amazing Flying Pinky Ponk continues to be the most breathtaking moment of our show—here is the story of how we brought this spectacular, soaring magic to life for our very first audiences.
Bringing In the Night Garden Liveinto theatres for the first time, we knew we had to do something magical… Something that really brought the Night Garden into auditoriums across the UK…
And what better way of doing that than flying the world’s first and only Amazing Flying Pinky Ponk during the show!
Parents tell us it’s one of the most “breath-taking” moments of the experience!
I’m really excited for you to see how incredible the effect looks – and hear the wonderful audience reaction to it.
In the video, you’ll see spectacular footage of the Amazing Flying Pinky Ponk – specially made for Igglepiggle’s brand new adventure – gliding gracefully over the heads of astonished audiences.
Little ones and their parents gaze, gasp, wow, clap and reach out their arms as if to catch it – fans, young and old, are completely spellbound by the experience!
In 10 years of bringing this magnificent live show to life for families across the UK, I’ve never seen a response to an effect in the show as delightfully captivated as this one …
… That’s because this is the very first time an effect like this has been used in theatres anywhere in the UK!
Stretching 2.5 metres long, this cleverly-built flying air orb uses cutting edge patented aerodynamic technology pioneered by the specialist German company, Airstage. Airstage have designed and built similar effects all over the world – including for the opening ceremony of the 2012 London Olympics.
Now they’re helping us transport you and your little one into the magical world of In the Night Garden with a truly unforgettable attraction for our UK theatre tour. Watch the video of the Amazing Flying Pinky Ponk in flight with your child – I guarantee they’ll be completely mesmerised seeing it!
…But, if the response from live audiences is anything to go by, even that reaction won’t compare to the face your little one will make seeing the Pinky Ponk take off in real life:
We loved it!★★★★★ I actually got a tad emotional seeing my son’s wee face light up when the show began. He was engrossed the whole way through and gasped in amazement when the Pinky Ponk made an appearance! – Alana from Hamilton
Lovely show★★★★★ Best bit was the flying Pinky Ponk at the end! – Helen from Edinburgh
Igglepiggle, iggle-onk, where will YOU catch the Pinky Ponk?
Whilst we make every endeavour for the Pinky Ponk to fly in every performance, the appearance of the flying Pinky Ponk cannot be guaranteed. This does not affect the performance.
To show you why In the Night Garden Live is such a hit with young families, we decided to film audience reactions from our young fans. We’ve included some of our favourites in the video above – it’s lovely to see how much they enjoyed it!
It’s a special moment to watch your child’s face as their heroes are brought to life in front of them. And every year hundreds of parents write to us to say they’ll never forget seeing this at In the Night Garden Live.
Parents describe it as a really moving experience. Julie Spriggs remembered, “It bought a tear to my eye to see their faces light up when the characters came on.”
Louise Berry saw In the Night Garden Live at The O2 and said, “I will always remember the look on his little face when the show started.”
It makes for a magical atmosphere, as Natascha Janischewski put it, “I have never seen my little boy so happy. Worth every penny!.”
You’ll find hundreds more comments like this in the parents’ reviews section on our website.
Thanks to all the In the Night Garden Live fans who took part in the making of this video and please let us know what you think by leaving a comment below or book your tickets now if you still haven’t!
Tahra Zafar is the animatronics, puppet and costume maestro whose career spans blockbusters Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone and Star Wars VII, theatre including Phantom of the Opera, Lady Gaga’s Monster Tour – and even a spell working with the Queen on her first and only acting role. Tahra was head of costume for the Olympic and Paralympic Opening and Closing Ceremonies at London 2012 – where Elizabeth II was one of 17,000 people that she had to dress.
But ask the creative whiz what character she’s most proud of working on in her three decade-plus career, and the answer isn’t Hermione, Gaga or R2D2 – it’s Upsy Daisy, the ever-happy doll with rainbow-coloured hair, who Tahra designed for the original TV show of In the Night Garden.
“She’s just smashing,” Tahra beams. “Upsy Daisy is a girl character who avoids the usual stereotypes – she isn’t overly bossy, or stuffed with props. And she’s a star of one of the most popular pre-school shows ever; I’m very passionate about young kids’ entertainment – it’s such an exciting thing to be the first one to show something creative to children.”
BAFTA award-winning In the Night Garden remains one of the most popular children’s television series ever made: one of its 100 episodes are still screened nightly and are regularly on iPlayer most-watched lists – despite no new episodes having been made on the 12-year-old show since 2010.
Lucky then for In the Night Garden’s characters – who include blue cuddly Igglepiggle, cave-dwelling Makka Pakka, the Tombliboos and their awkward trousers, and the family of Pontipines, as well as Upsy Daisy – that there’s still one way for pre-school children and their parents to discover new adventures taking place in the picture book-like Garden: at the brand new, live UK theatre tour of more than 47 venues which ends on 27 Oct 2019.
The show tells the tale of Igglepiggle’s Busy Day, as he hunts for his friends by following their funny sounds until he finds them all – and fans will recognise all of their favourites. Tahra has spent months working on the design and costumes of the puppet characters for the new live show: “because, to the children in our audience, In the Night Garden’s characters are like friends that they know really well: they have to look exactly as they do on their home screens. The puppets have to be perfect.
The characters’ design is in safe hands, though: Tahra first designed Upsy Daisy more than a decade ago. “Working on her was my first job after I returned from maternity leave with my now 14-year-old,” she laughs. “I used to bring my then-toddler into the workshop, and the crew would all watch how she responded to our characters – luckily, she laughed at all the right times!”
Tahra, who is now 53, worked with Andrew Davenport, creator of In the Night Garden who was also responsible for The Teletubbies, on the original billing of the show: “Andy had drawn beautiful pictures of Upsy Daisy, the Pontipines, we built them and tweaked them, from the petals on her foot, to working with child psychologists on how children responded to and played with the characters.”
To the average grown-up, In the Night Garden might seem to have a strange plot and cuddly toys talking a lot of gobbledegook to the soporific backdrop of a lullaby-like soundtrack. “But whilst the noises might sound odd to adults, the characters’ names, words, and actions are all things that pre-schoolers can say,” explains Tahra.
The world of Pontipines appears to be a long way from the glamour of Star Wars or the celebrity of the Jim Henson Creature Shop, where Tahra worked for a long spell, including on the Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy. But the costumier says every previous role she has worked on has fed into In the Night Garden.
“In fact, I feel a lot of similarities with the atmosphere when I was working at Jim Henson – because the love we had for all those Muppet characters is what we feel for In the Night Garden, and we’ve already got generations of people loving them.”
At the Olympic and Paralympic Opening and Closing Ceremonies, Tahra’s role as head of costume, hair and make-up meant overseeing 23,000 outfits that had to be visible both in jewel-like detail, under the close-up camera lens, and in big, sweeping vistas for the in-stadium audience. “That’s also been really important in our designs for In the Night Garden Live,” she adds. “Scale is really important – the puppets need to be proportionate to work with people, the characters have to look as they do on screen, but expressive enough to be seen from anywhere in the theatre. There’s a lot of mathematics behind the scenes.”
When Tahra was Upsy Daisy’s age, her dream job was “to be a fairy godmother,” she remembers. That career aspiration didn’t seem achievable (although some transformed by Tahra’s costumes might say she’s got pretty close), so she decided to study a BA in theatre design at Central St Martins. Tahra’s first job was working on costumes at the English Shakespeare Company; her next was on Phantom of the Opera, and then came the step onto screen, working in the offices of Kermit and Miss Piggy at the Jim Henson Creature Shop
Her career escalated from there – leading Tahra to feel passionate about encouraging other future backstage whizzes. “Kids who don’t fit into the box that makes them successful ‘traditional’ school students feel like a failure – which is awful. They might have incredible other skills, like loving making things, or brilliant technical nouse – there are so many avenues to go into, career-wise, that people just don’t know about. I go into a lot of schools to talk to kids about what I do.”
The designer is also passionate about the importance of children’s theatre under the shadow of cuts to the arts in schools. “Straitened budgets and a 1950s-style emphasis only on reading, writing and arithmetic means that creativity is being sucked out of schools,” she believes. “That’s why it’s more important for us on In the Night Garden Live, and in children’s arts in general, to make sure we do our jobs really well. We have a responsibility to get everything right to fill that gap.”
Tahra adds:
Children’s theatre is all about being together, taking in a shared experience, escaping everyday worries, being taken somewhere different. The previous tour of In the Night Garden Live was in a huge showdome, so there were restrictions about where it could pitch up. This time, touring more than 40 regional theatres, we can go to new areas; Igglepiggle and Makka Pakka can meet more of the next generation.
I love sitting in the audience and seeing all these very active toddlers watching the show, entranced – they’re completely still, blown away by it. It’s magical to see. – Tahra Zafar, Costume Designer
Tickets for the In the Night Garden Live 2026 tour of the UK and Ireland are now on sale! If you are looking for a venue in the UK then you can book the best seats through our ticketing partner Family Tickets, where you can choose your performance date and time, view the seating plan and book your tickets online. Or check out our Ireland booking page for venues in Dublin and Cork.
Even after 17 years producing In the Night Garden Live, seeing that moment when little ones see their favourite characters appear live on stage for the first time is still our favourite thing!
You have to see it to experience it. Watch more video clips to see how the audience react at In the Night Garden Live!
Upsy Daisy
Makka Pakka
Tombliboos
Pontipines
How would your little one react?
You can find out when the Ninky Nonk rolls into a venue near you in 2026. There are lots to choose from. Simply click the Book Now button below to find your nearest venue and start planning your family day out.
Do it now while it’s still fresh in your mind, before it’s too late.
Join Igglepiggle on his adventure!
This year, don’t miss Igglepiggle live on stage at a theatre near you with In the Night Garden Live’s Igglepiggle’s Busy Day!
One day in the Night Garden, Igglepiggle looks for his friends by following their funny sounds until he finds them all! And your little one can come along and help.
You’ll see Igglepiggle, Upsy Daisy, Makka Pakka and friends beautifully brought to life with full-size costumes, magical puppets, and enchanting music.
You’ll never forget the look on your little one’s face when all their favourite characters arrive on stage in ‘real life’! But you’ll have to book your tickets to experience it…
Don’t miss your chance to see Igglepiggle and friends like you’ve never seen them before at your local theatre! You can’t see Igglepiggle’s Busy Day on TV. It’s specially written for the first ever In the Night Garden Live tour of UK and Ireland theatres.
There’s still time to book your tickets. But you could miss out on seeing the show in a venue close to where you live if you leave it too late. Book your tickets now for the best choice of dates, times and seats!
The world’s first and only flying Pinky Ponk has just taken to the skies in Dartford’s Orchard Theatre!
It was a breathtaking moment in the show!
I took a video on my mobile phone so you can see it too. It’s not HD quality, but I’m really excited for you to see how incredible it looks – and hear the unbelievable audience reaction.
The audience were truly astonished as the brand new amazing flying Pinky Ponk soared over their heads for the first time on the In the Night Garden Livetour. Little ones and their parents gazed, gasped, wowed, clapped and reached out their arms to it – fans, young and old, were completely spellbound by the experience. In 10 years of bringing this spectacular show to life for families across the UK, I’ve never seen a response to an effect in the show as wonderfully captivating as this one…
…That’s because this is the very first time an effect like this has been used in theatres anywhere in the UK!
Stretching 2.5 metres long, this amazing new flying Pinky Ponk uses cutting edge patented aerodynamic technology pioneered by the specialist German company, Airstage. They’ve designed and built similar effects all over the world – including for the opening ceremony of the London 2012 Olympics. Now Airstage have helped us transport you and your little one into the magical world of In the Night Garden with a truly unforgettable attraction for our first UK theatre tour.
Don’t wait to book your tickets, the spectacular In the Night Garden Live will only be at each venue for a day or two. So the flying Pinky Ponk could be in your part of the UK very soon. Find your nearest venue and book your tickets now before it’s too late!
Whilst we make every endeavour for the Pinky Ponk to fly in every performance, the appearance of the flying Pinky Ponk cannot be guaranteed. This does not affect the performance.
If you’d like to join Igglepiggle, Upsy Daisy, Makka Pakka and friends for their new show this year but haven’t got round to booking your tickets yet, here are 7 reasons why you really should do it now!
It was brilliant! ★★★★
“I’ll bet my last pound that Igglepiggle floating on his boat will bring a sentimental tear to your eye as you clutch your little ones and squeeze them tighter before they grow up.”
– Cat from Manchester
1. Go now before your little one grows up!
So many parents tell us this is an amazing experience for you and your little one that you’ll never forget! Little ones grow up so fast. Don’t miss your chance to see the look on their face when they see their favourite characters brought to life!
Such a great show ★★★★★
“Take them before they outgrow it! Worth every penny… A lovely memory to cherish forever”
– Jodie from Milton Keynes
Definitely take your little ones ★★★★★
“Definitely take your little ones before they grow up – so many memories were made ❤️”
This link will take you to our official ticketing partner Family Tickets where you can choose your performance date and time, view the seating plan, and book your tickets online.
2. If you book early, you can choose the best seats!
There are still seats available for almost every performance. But don’t leave it too late – over 25,000 tickets have already been booked and some performances are very full. It’s worth booking before the tour starts on Thu 2 May to make sure you get the best choice of dates, times and seats.
3. We’re coming to 28 theatres – each for a few days only!
Don’t miss it – we’re coming to 28 theatres across the UK from Thu 8 May to Sun 21 Sep. There are only a few performances on sale at each theatre and we’re visiting most venues for 2 days only. Find your nearest venue here and book now before it’s too late.
4. See Igglepiggle and the amazing flying Pinky Ponk at your local theatre!
Parents tell us when the Pinky Ponk flies over the audience it’s one of the most “breath-taking” moments of watching the show. Watch the wonderful audience reaction in the video above or read more about it here.
The only way to see the amazing flying Pinky Ponk and Igglepiggle in his new show is to book tickets with our official ticketing partner Family Tickets before it’s too late!
Whilst we make every endeavour for the Pinky Ponk to fly in every performance, the appearance of the flying Pinky Ponk cannot be guaranteed. This does not affect the performance.
5. Parents give In the Night Garden Live 5/5 stars ★★★★★
Now in its 16th year, In the Night Garden Live is one of the UK’s favourite family events. Over 1.3 million people have seen it so far and it gets 4.8 out of 5 stars based on 16,438 parents’ reviews.
For total peace of mind, you’ll be able to book with confidence for In the Night Garden Live with our Flexible Exchange Policy. If you need to change the time or date of your show just contact our team at least 72 hours before your booked time to swap your tickets for seats at the same value for any other available performance.
Bookings must be cancelled or exchanged in full. We’re unable to make changes to only some of the tickets in your order.
7. Our friendly support team can help you book the best seats now!
We know you may have lots of questions about the show before you’re ready to book tickets. Don’t worry – our friendly support team is here to help you. We’ve already helped thousands of families like you book tickets early for In the Night Garden Live 2025.
Let us help you complete your booking now, before the show starts on Thu 8 May, to make sure you get the best choice of dates, times and seats.
We’re here to help you plan an amazing and memorable day for your family. So please do get in touch with us now for a chat!
You can email helpdesk@nightgardenlive.com any time or call us on 0330 120 0123. We’re available Mon – Sun 10am – 4pm.
Do it now while it’s still fresh in your mind, before it’s too late. No child is too young to see In the Night Garden Live on stage! Parents tell us that children as young as a few months old engage with the live show, and the looks on their faces are absolutely amazing.
Some of our biggest In the Night Garden Live fans are parents! To find out why, we talked to mums and dads after the show and made this short video.
Parents give several reasons why they enjoy it so much. They often start with how their child was “mesmerised”, or how they’d never seen their child sit still for so long.
Mums particularly love watching the look of delight on their child’s face when their favourite character comes on stage. If Igglepiggle, Upsy Daisy, Makka Pakka and friends are really important to your little one, this can be the moment that brings a tear to your eye!
In the Night Garden Live is cleverly designed for all ages, so young babies enjoy it as well as older children. We often hear from parents who worried their child may be too young for a show, but they absolutely loved coming to In the Night Garden Live.
Parents also mention the memories they make at In the Night Garden Live are something to “cherish forever”.
See why one mum in this video is so “happy” to have seen her child “enjoying himself so much”, and another talks about how much fun it was to see her kids’ “excited” faces.
Children grow up fast and it’s not often that you can do something really special that both parents and very young children enjoy together. So many parents describe this experience as something they will never forget.
I will always remember the look on his little face when the show started 🙂 x x x – Louise Berry, The O2, 5/5
The whole experience was so easy it made it a magical day – Jacqueline Fenn, London, 5/5
It bought a tear to my eye to see their faces light up when the characters came on. Lovely photos to treasure, taken some very happy memories away, a first class family day out for us, thank you so much :)))))) – Julie Spriggs, Cannon Hill Park, 5/5
Very friendly staff with excellent toilet and baby changing facilities – Laura, The Trafford Centre, 4/5
The BAFTA Award-Winning CBeebies Children’s TV Show Returns to the Stage with a New Show and its First Major UK Theatre Tour
In the Night Garden Live At Local Venues around the Country from February 2019
This February 2019, the smash-hit In the Night Garden Live begins a first ever tour of UK theatres with a brand-new show. Take a spectacular journey into the magical world of In the Night Garden and experience the UK’s favourite family show with all the enchanting characters magically brought to life on stage. Tickets go on sale on 17 October with the opportunity to register for the presale from 17 September to 5 October.
In the Night Garden Live is the perfect musical theatre experience for the entire family. Children’s favourite CBeebies stars – Igglepiggle, Upsy Daisy, Makka Pakka and friends – are all brought beautifully to life in a specially-written new story using full-size costumes and magical puppets with enchanting music and dancing.
This delightful classic, which premiered in 2010 before becoming a summer entertainment fixture, is a firm favourite with young pre-schoolers and their parents. Seen by over one million people, the critically acclaimed production has established itself as a must-see first theatre experience for young children.
Oliver Seadon, Executive Producer said “When we made In the Night Garden Live we never imagined it would run for 10 years and that over a million visitors would come to see it. It’s incredibly exciting now to be making a brand-new show and taking it into theatres all over the country. This will be the first time that audiences get to see In the Night Garden Live in their local theatre.”
In the Night Garden Live is written by Helen Eastman (writer of Bing Live) and based on the Ragdoll television series created by Andrew Davenport. Directed by acclaimed Royal Ballet choreographer and director Will Tuckett, the show is produced by Minor Entertainment under licence from DHX Media.
Director Will Tuckett said, “Children know these characters so well, much better than we ever might think. They see them as proper friends- when they appear on stage live they are seeing friends liberated from the television or tablet. They are there, waving at THEM. Taking your child to see them live on stage is an extraordinary experience – it’s a genuinely heartwarming and truly magical thing and makes me love my job as much as I do.”
