Dog Man: The Musical at a glance

Show
Dog Man: The Musical
Venue
Queen Elizabeth Hall, Southbank Centre
Address
Belvedere Road, London SE1 8XX
Nearest station
Waterloo (5–7 min walk)
Genre
Family musical
Running time
Approximately 1 hour 15 minutes, no interval
Age guidance
5+ (under-16s must be accompanied by an adult)
Dates
29 July – 16 August 2026 (strictly limited)
Price range
From £32.50 (typically £32.50–£70)
Based on
The Dog Man books by Dav Pilkey
Book & music
Kevin Del Aguila and Brad Alexander
Director & choreographer
Jen Wineman

Expert Review: Dog Man: The Musical

4.3
★★★★☆

LTH Expert Rating

Reviewed by the London Theatre Hub editorial team. Last updated: 3 July 2026.

The Verdict

If you have a Dog Man fan in the house, this one books itself. Dav Pilkey's half-comic, half-chapter-book series is one of the biggest children's publishing phenomena of the last decade, and TheatreworksUSA's stage version leans right into what makes the books work: fast, silly, warm-hearted and gleefully daft. It arrives in London for a strictly limited summer run at the Queen Elizabeth Hall, and at a tidy 75 minutes with no interval, it's built for exactly the age group it's chasing.

The framing device from the books survives intact — George and Harold, the young comic-makers, staging their own Dog Man musical — which keeps things loose, self-aware and full of the fourth-wall-breaking gags young readers love. Expect high-energy songs, slapstick, and a rogues' gallery of villains led by Petey the world's most evil cat. It won't reinvent family theatre, but it delivers precisely what it promises: a big, bright, funny morning or afternoon out.

What Makes It Special

  • Straight from a publishing phenomenon. Dav Pilkey's Dog Man books have sold in their tens of millions worldwide — this is a ready-made favourite for a huge audience of young fans.
  • Pitched perfectly for ages 5+. A 75-minute, no-interval running time that respects younger attention spans.
  • A proven US hit. The TheatreworksUSA production has toured widely in the States, praised for its humour and heart, and now makes its London debut.
  • Faithful to the books' spirit. The George-and-Harold framing, the daft villains and the comic-book energy all translate directly to the stage.
  • A great first theatre trip. Short, funny and familiar — an easy, low-pressure introduction to live theatre for children.

You'll love Dog Man if you...

  • Have children who love the Dog Man or Captain Underpants books
  • Want a short, high-energy show for ages 5+
  • Are after an easy school-holiday outing on the Southbank
  • Enjoy slapstick, silly jokes and comic-book chaos
  • Want a gentle first introduction to live theatre for kids

It might not be for you if you...

  • Are looking for a grown-up night at the theatre
  • Prefer a longer, more elaborate large-scale musical
  • Have very young toddlers below the 5+ guidance
  • Want a story-heavy, serious piece rather than broad comedy
  • Aren't keen on audience-facing, high-energy kids' shows

Best for

  • Families
  • Kids 5+
  • School holidays
  • Book fans
  • First theatre trip
  • Reluctant readers

Not aimed at adult audiences or those wanting a longer, large-scale production.

Critical Reception

Dog Man: The Musical makes its London debut this summer, so UK press reviews will follow once the run opens — we'll update this page with verified critic ratings when they land. In the United States, the TheatreworksUSA production has toured widely and been praised for its big heart and kid-friendly humour, with plenty of laughs for accompanying adults. We have not shown critic star ratings here because none yet exist for the London run.

Reviews pending for the London premiere (opens 29 July 2026).

Everything You Need to Know

What happens in Dog Man: The Musical?

Best friends George and Harold have been making comics for years. Now that they're ten, they decide to level up and write a full musical based on their favourite character, Dog Man — the crime-biting sensation who is part dog, part man and ALL HERO. The show we watch is the show they're staging.

Part dog, part policeman, all hero

With the head of a dog and the body of a policeman, Dog Man loves fighting crime almost as much as he loves chewing the furniture. Being a good boy and a great cop at the same time isn't always easy — especially with a city full of trouble to deal with.

The villains

Dog Man has his paws full. He must stop Flippy the cyborg fish and his army of Beasty Buildings, and outsmart Petey, the world's most evil cat, who has cloned himself to get his revenge on the doggy do-gooder. Petey's tiny clone, Li'l Petey, adds a surprising amount of heart to the chaos.

Comic-book chaos on stage

Expect high-energy songs, slapstick, quick-fire jokes and the same cheerful silliness that made the books a phenomenon. The George-and-Harold framing keeps the whole thing playful and self-aware — a musical about making a musical.