Gangsta Granny
Award-winning stage adaptation of David Walliams' bestseller — a grandmother-grandson heist to steal the Crown Jewels
Award-winning stage adaptation of David Walliams' bestseller — a grandmother-grandson heist to steal the Crown Jewels
Ben dreads Friday nights at his cabbage-obsessed Granny's house until he discovers she was once an international jewel thief. Together they hatch a plan to steal the Crown Jewels from the Tower of London. Gangsta Granny, adapted and directed by Neal Foster for Birmingham Stage Company, brings David Walliams' bestselling children's book to life with a clever spinning set, original music and enough cabbage-based comedy to keep the whole family laughing.
The production premiered on a UK tour in 2015, transferred to the Garrick Theatre in the West End and earned an Olivier Award nomination for Best Entertainment and Family. It has since toured the country extensively and returns to London regularly at the Bloomsbury Theatre, UCL's 500-seat venue in the heart of Bloomsbury. The show is recommended for ages five and above with a running time of two hours and ten minutes including an interval.
Gangsta Granny is a stage adaptation of David Walliams' 2011 bestselling children's book, brought to life by Birmingham Stage Company. Adapted and directed by Neal Foster, the production tells the story of eleven-year-old Ben who dreads his Friday night stays at Granny's house. She feeds him cabbage soup, makes him play Scrabble and seems thoroughly boring. Then one evening he discovers a tin of biscuits stuffed with diamonds and learns the truth: his Granny was once an international jewel thief. Together they hatch an audacious plan to steal the Crown Jewels from the Tower of London.
The book has sold over five million copies worldwide. The stage adaptation premiered on a UK national tour in 2015 before transferring to the Garrick Theatre in London's West End that same year. It earned an Olivier Award nomination for Best Entertainment and Family and has toured the UK extensively ever since, returning to London regularly at the Bloomsbury Theatre.
The show runs for two hours and ten minutes including an interval and is recommended for audiences aged five and above. Jacqueline Trousdale's clever revolving set spins between locations — Granny's living room, Ben's school, a hospital, a Strictly-style dance hall and the Tower of London itself. The cast double up on roles and dance between scenes, physically transforming the stage as they go.
Composer Jak Poore provides an original score performed live, while choreographers Paul Chantry and Rae Piper of Chantry Dance keep the energy high with comedy-infused dance routines. The Crown Jewels heist at the climax brings torchlit corridors, laser security beams and a genuinely tense sequence that has young audiences gripping their seats.
Beneath the fart jokes and cabbage gags is a story with real heart. The relationship between Ben and his grandmother explores loneliness in older people, the importance of listening to family and the idea that it is never too late for an adventure. Adults will find themselves moved by the ending.
The production tours nationally throughout the year with regular London seasons at the Bloomsbury Theatre, UCL's 500-seat venue on Gordon Street. Check the Birmingham Stage Company website for current tour dates and venues. Tickets are typically priced from around £18 for children and £23 for adults, with family bundles and school group rates available.
The Bloomsbury Theatre sits directly opposite Euston station, making it exceptionally easy to reach by public transport. The British Museum is a ten-minute walk south through the University of London campus. Russell Square and its surrounding cafes are five minutes away, and the restaurants of Marchmont Street and Leigh Street offer excellent pre-show dining. For families, Coram's Fields playground is a fifteen-minute walk east.
Prices vary by venue and season — check the Birmingham Stage Company website for current tour dates and booking links
Young children get the most from the front stalls where the set transformations and physical comedy land hardest. The Bloomsbury Theatre is intimate enough that every seat has a decent view.
London runs sell out quickly as the show has a strong following. Sign up to the Birmingham Stage Company mailing list for advance booking windows before general release.
Children who have read the book or listened to the audiobook get more from the show. Arrive twenty minutes early to settle in as the theatre fills up fast.
The British Museum is a ten-minute walk south and free to enter. See the real Crown Jewels exhibit references and make a full day of it with a morning museum visit and afternoon matinee.
Weekday performances are quieter and often cheaper than weekends. The same full production runs at every performance regardless of the day.
London Travel Writer · 12+ years covering UK attractions and tourism
Last reviewed: March 10, 2026
