Pinocchio (play) facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Pinocchio
Written by	Dennis Kelly (play) Leigh Harline, Ned Washington & Paul J Smith (songs and score) Martin Lowe (additional music)
Date of premiere	1 December 2017
Place of premiere	Royal National Theatre, London
Original language	English

Pinocchio is a play based on the classic children's story by Carlo Collodi. Dennis Kelly wrote the play. It also includes songs from the 1940 Walt Disney animated movie. These songs were created by Leigh Harline, Ned Washington, and Paul J. Smith. Martin Lowe adapted the music for the play.

What Happens in the Play

Act One

In an Italian forest, the Fox tries to cut down a special glowing tree. The Blue Fairy, who looks like a blue star, stops him. She takes the tree stump.

Meanwhile, Geppetto is making a puppet in his workshop. The Blue Fairy, now looking like a human, asks him to make a boy puppet from the special tree stump. Geppetto carves a puppet quickly. He is surprised when the puppet comes to life and starts walking! Geppetto names him Pinocchio and treats him like a son. Pinocchio eats all the food and falls asleep.

The next morning, Pinocchio sees children playing. He leaves Geppetto to join them, taking an apple. The children think Pinocchio is strange and take his apple. The Fox appears with the apple. He tells Pinocchio he is different because he is made of wood. Pinocchio then has a bad dream about the children calling him names.

When he wakes up, Pinocchio wishes he was a real boy. The Blue Fairy appears. She tells him he must find what all humans share to become real. She also gives him a helper: Jiminy Cricket. Jiminy is a cricket who worries a lot. She becomes Pinocchio's conscience, helping him know right from wrong. Pinocchio is a bit rude to Jiminy at first.

The next day, on the way to school, Jiminy realizes Pinocchio forgot his coat. She goes back to get it. The Fox then tells Pinocchio that becoming famous in the theatre is the way to become a real boy. Pinocchio agrees to go with him to meet Stromboli. Stromboli owns a famous travelling puppet theatre.

Jiminy finds Pinocchio is gone and tells the Blue Fairy she will find him. At Stromboli's theatre, Pinocchio learns a song and dance. He performs with other puppets and becomes very popular. Pinocchio enjoys performing, but decides he doesn't want to be an actor forever. When he tries to leave, Stromboli locks him in a bird cage. He threatens to turn Pinocchio into firewood. Meanwhile, Geppetto searches everywhere for Pinocchio.

Act Two

Pinocchio is still locked up. Jiminy finds him and tries to unlock the cage, but she can't. When Jiminy asks how he got into this trouble, Pinocchio lies, and his nose grows long. The blue star appears and makes the lock glow. Jiminy can then unlock it, and they escape the theatre.

Geppetto is still looking for Pinocchio. The Blue Fairy offers to make him forget Pinocchio, but Geppetto refuses. He wants to keep searching.

On their way back, Jiminy tells Pinocchio she is always nearby if he whistles. The Fox attacks Jiminy, then tells Pinocchio that Jiminy ran ahead. The Fox tells Pinocchio that the best way to become a real boy is through fun and pleasure. He suggests a trip to Pleasure Island. The Fox introduces Pinocchio to The Coachman. The Coachman takes naughty children to Pleasure Island. Pinocchio meets Lampy, a lively girl, and they become friends. Jiminy is still looking for Pinocchio.

At Pleasure Island, the Coachman encourages the children to misbehave. The children see warning signs, but the only educated child, Waxy, reads them wrong. Later, Pinocchio decides he doesn't like Pleasure Island and wants to go home. The Coachman tells Pinocchio and Lampy they will pay for their actions. Lampy starts turning into a donkey, growing hooves, ears, and a tail. Pinocchio also grows a tail. He whistles, and Jiminy arrives just in time to help Pinocchio escape Pleasure Island.

Back home, Pinocchio finds Geppetto is gone from the village. The Blue Fairy appears. She tells Pinocchio that Geppetto went to the ocean to find him. A giant whale named Monstro swallowed Geppetto. Pinocchio and Jiminy set off for the sea.

Again, the Fox stops them. He explains why he wants to get rid of Pinocchio. Pinocchio was made from the magical tree the Fox wanted to destroy. So, the Fox sent Pinocchio into dangerous situations. Jiminy jumps on the Fox, and Pinocchio cuts off the Fox's tail, which is the source of his power. Pinocchio and Jiminy jump into the sea.

Under the water, they find Monstro and are swallowed by him. Inside the whale's stomach, they find Geppetto! Pinocchio plans to tickle Monstro's throat so the whale will sneeze them out. Jiminy and Geppetto ask Pinocchio questions. He lies to make his nose grow longer. His nose reaches Monstro's throat, and the whale sneezes. The three of them are washed out onto the beach.

Jiminy and Geppetto are fine, but Pinocchio seems to have died. At Geppetto's home, the Blue Fairy wakes Pinocchio. She tells him that the one thing he needed to find was pain. Pinocchio felt that pain when he thought Geppetto had died. Because of this, Pinocchio has become a real human boy. Jiminy Cricket returns to her insect form. Pinocchio and Geppetto hug each other.

Play Productions

London (2017-18)

The play Pinocchio first opened in the Lyttleton Theatre at the Royal National Theatre in London. It ran from December 1, 2017, to April 10, 2018.

John Tiffany directed this production. Bob Crowley designed the sets and puppets. Martin Lowe handled the music. Steven Hoggett was in charge of movement. Toby Olié also helped with puppet design and direction. Disney Theatrical Productions helped present the show.

Main Characters