Life Onstage: Meet Peppa’s Touring Family

The magic of muddy puddles is headed to the High Peak as Peppa Pig’s Big Family Show officially arrives at Buxton Opera House this week! Fresh from delighting audiences across the UK and Ireland, this latest production brings a heartfelt new chapter to our stage - complete with a new arrival!

Behind the puppets, the cast brings a surprising amount of real-world experience to the colourful world of Peppa. For David and Emma, the real-life married couple in the cast, the show’s themes of family expansion hit close to home.

"Having our son, Jamie, who’s nearly two, adds an extra layer to it," David explains. "We live the excitement and the chaos of family life every day." Emma agrees, noting that the script’s nod to sleepless nights and first-time parenting feels "quite nostalgic," even if their own home has slightly fewer muddy puddles than Peppa’s.

A major milestone in this tour is the introduction of pregnant Mummy Pig. Charlie, who brings the expectant character to life, admits she has become deeply attached to the "bump" and the eventual arrival of the baby puppet, Evie. "I’ve got lots of nieces and nephews, so that maternal instinct is definitely there," she says. She credits Emma and David for keeping the performance grounded: "They’d occasionally say in rehearsals, ‘Actually, that’s not quite how babies work!’ It makes the whole thing feel very heartfelt."

While the puppets are the undisputed stars, the human element is what makes this production seamless. Cinem, playing the "funky big sister" character Daisy, acts as the bridge between the audience and the puppet world. Meanwhile, the ensemble shares the puppetry duties, passing characters back and forth like family members.

"At first, you see the kids notice us," David says, "but within twenty seconds, they forget the puppeteers exist. They’re just looking at Peppa."

As for the cast's favourite moments? While Mr. Bull and George Pig get honourable mentions, there is only one way to end the day. When asked for their favourite song, the cast answers in a synchronized, laughing shout: "BUBBLES!"