One Tiny Penguin at Birmingham Hippodrome is a brand-new family musical for ages 3+ follows Lumi, a penguin mistaken for a polar bear, on a heart-warming journey of bravery, friendship and finding where you belong.
Right, this one arrived in my satchel with a bit of a chill on it — and I don’t mean the weather.
Birmingham Hippodrome have just announced their next My First Musical, and honestly… I think I’ve found the smallest leading star we’ve had in the village so far.
One Tiny Penguin.
Now before you picture something simple and sweet (which it is), let me tell you — there’s a little bit more going on beneath the feathers.
We’re off to the North Pole, where every year a polar bear is chosen to light up the Northern Lights. A big job, that. The sort you’d expect to go to someone tall, proud, and very… polar bear-y.
Instead? It lands on Lumi.
Only problem is… Lumi isn’t a polar bear at all.
He’s just one tiny penguin.
And from that moment on, you can almost feel the adventure packing its suitcase. Lumi sets off on a journey from the North Pole all the way down to the South Pole, picking up new friends along the way and, I suspect, a bit of courage too. It’s all about bravery, belonging, and that slightly wobbly feeling of not quite fitting where you think you should — which, if you ask me, is a story that’s not just for the little ones.
This is the third show in Birmingham Hippodrome’s My First Musical series (following No Such Thing as Wolves and The Jingleclaw — both rather well-loved), and they’ve pulled together quite the team for it.
Music and lyrics come from Jordan Li-Smith, whose previous work includes The Boy Who Sailed the Ocean in an Armchair, while the book and lyrics are by Julie Tsang, known for Sam Wu Is Not Afraid of Ghosts. Direction comes from Laura Ryder, who clearly knows her way around children’s theatre — always reassuring when you’re trusting someone with your smallest audience members.
And here’s the bit I tucked carefully into the corner of my satchel — the creators describe the show as a “love letter to those who feel their identity is from more than one place.” Which is rather lovely, isn’t it? Wrapped up in a winter adventure, but with something a bit deeper quietly glowing underneath.
It’s aimed at ages three and up, which means first theatre trips, fidgety feet, wide eyes, and probably the odd question shouted at the stage (you know the ones). But if they get the balance right — and this team sounds like they might — it could be one of those shows that stays with families long after the scarves and mittens come off.
One Tiny Penguin waddles into Birmingham Hippodrome’s Patrick Studio from 5 December 2026 to 3 January 2027.
And I’ll be honest… I’ve got a soft spot for this one already.
There’s just something about a penguin being asked to light up the sky that feels like it might turn out rather special.
I’m quietly hoping Birmingham Hippodrome give in and make a plushie Lumi… because I’ve already decided he’d be coming with me on my postal rounds.
One Tiny Penguin – Birmingham Hippodrome
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