The Little Match Girl at a glance

Show
The Little Match Girl (Ballo Arthur Pita)
Venue
Wilton's Music Hall, east London
Address
1 Graces Alley, London E1 8JB
Nearest station
Tower Hill; Aldgate East and Shadwell also close
Genre
Dance theatre with song and live music
Running time
About 1 hour 20 minutes, including an interval
Age guidance
5+
Dates
3 December 2026 – 2 January 2027
Price range
From £19.50 (typically £19.50–£42)
Created and directed by
Arthur Pita
Music
Frank Moon
Design
Yann Seabra

Expert Review: The Little Match Girl at Wilton's Music Hall

4.3
★★★★☆

LTH Expert Rating

Reviewed by the London Theatre Hub editorial team. Last updated: 23 September 2026. Rating based on previous London seasons.

The Verdict

Andersen's original is one of the bleakest stories ever told to children, and Arthur Pita doesn't pretend otherwise. What he adds is warmth, silliness and a sense of wonder: a bustling Italian street full of comic characters, songs and live music, and a fantastical journey that lifts the story far beyond a cold pavement. The result is a Christmas show that makes children laugh and adults reach for a tissue, often in the same scene.

The production has a long track record. First made for DanceEast in 2013, it became a Christmas regular at Sadler's Wells and has toured widely since. Past London seasons drew warm reviews; Bachtrack gave four stars and called it vivid and imaginative, while British Theatre Guide found it both funny and sad. The one recurring reservation was that some of its wilder flights of fancy sit a little oddly with the story. Moving to Wilton's, a candlelit Victorian music hall, should suit it perfectly.

What Makes It Special

  • A Christmas story with heart. It keeps the emotional core of Andersen's tale but surrounds it with comedy and imagination.
  • Live music. Frank Moon's score is played live, drawing on a mix of instruments and styles.
  • A perfect venue. Wilton's Music Hall, one of the oldest surviving grand music halls in the world, is atmospheric in a way modern theatres can't match.
  • Right-sized for little ones. About 80 minutes, with an interval, and suitable from age 5.
  • An award-winner. The production received the Hans Christian Andersen Award in Odense, Andersen's birthplace, in 2025.

You'll love The Little Match Girl if you...

  • Want a gentler, more affordable alternative to a big pantomime
  • Are introducing young children to dance or theatre
  • Love atmospheric, historic venues
  • Enjoy stories that mix comedy with genuine feeling
  • Prefer live music to a recorded soundtrack

It might not be for you if you...

  • Want a loud, glitzy West End spectacle
  • Are looking for a traditional panto with audience shout-backs
  • Have a child who finds sad endings upsetting
  • Prefer a straightforward retelling without fantasy detours

Best for

  • Families
  • Christmas outings
  • Kids 5+
  • Dance lovers
  • Budget-friendly
  • Historic venues

Less suited to families wanting a traditional pantomime or big-budget musical.

Critical Reception

Arthur Pita's The Little Match Girl has played several Christmas seasons in London since its 2013 premiere, most often at Sadler's Wells, and critics have generally been warm about it. The 2026 season at Wilton's Music Hall is a new staging venue for the production, and we will add any new reviews once it opens.

  • Bachtrack (2016) ★★★★
  • British Theatre Guide Positive
  • 2026 season Reviews to follow

Source: published reviews of previous London seasons at Sadler's Wells.

Everything You Need to Know

What happens in The Little Match Girl?

It is Christmas Eve in an imaginary Italian town. The streets are busy with shoppers, families and local characters, and nobody has time for the small girl trying to sell matches in the cold.

A town that looks away

The girl moves through the town meeting people who are comfortable, busy or simply indifferent, and a few who are kind. The production uses these encounters for comedy and song as much as for sadness.

One match at a time

To keep warm, she lights her matches one by one, and each small flame opens up a vision of something she longs for. Pita turns these visions into playful, surprising set pieces, including a journey far beyond the town itself.

The ending

Andersen's story is famous for its ending, and this version stays true to its spirit while framing it with hope and imagination. It is handled gently, but parents of very sensitive children may want to know the original tale before they go.