A colourful, clever, and heartwarming celebration of storytelling that proves theatre for children can be truly magical.
If you want proof that storytelling magic still lives and breathes in 2025, go see Anansi the Spider at the Unicorn Theatre. It’s a joyful tumble of folklore, movement, music, and cheeky wisdom that’ll leave you — and the little ones — absolutely spellbound.
Based on West African and Caribbean tales of the famous trickster spider, Anansi is clever, funny, and a little bit naughty — just like the best stories we grew up with. It’s aimed at ages 4 to 8, but honestly, I was as glued as the kids were. The audience around me was full of giggles and wide-eyed wonder. You can’t fake that.
The staging is gorgeous — think bamboo trees, golden light, drumming that vibrates through your chest, and fabrics rich with African patterns. It’s earthy, colourful, and alive. The kind of design that makes you forget you’re sitting in a London theatre on an autumn day.
The actors are pure energy. They tumble, sing, and shift between characters with the fluidity of bedtime-story voices. The show dances between laughter and life lessons — about greed, cleverness, and fairness — without ever turning preachy.
I loved the message of how hard work pays. This is a show which will make children think and question as well as laugh. You will have plenty to talk about on the way home. It’s culture, history, and entertainment rolled into one glowing hour.
Anansi the Spider is the kind of theatre that is worth taking your children, your nieces/nephews/neighbour’s kids and your inner child to. You’ll walk out smiling, wiser, and maybe humming a tune about a very clever spider.
Anansi the Spider | The Unicorn Theatre
