POPULAR children’s programme In The Night Garden, is bringing its live show to Dorset this year.

The BBC show, which is aimed at kids aged between one and six, will be coming to Lighthouse, Poole’s Centre for the Arts from May 4 - 5 May in 2019 as part of a UK-wide tour.

First airing in 2007, In The Night Garden has been a hit for CBeebies ever since.

Seen by over one million people, the critically acclaimed production has established itself as a must-see first theatre experience for young children.

It follows the adventures of fafamily favourites Iggle Piggle, Makka Pakka, Upsy Daisy, the Tombliboos, the Pontipines / the Wottingers, the Haahoos, the Ninky Nonk and of course the Pinky Ponk.

The stage show lasts just under an hour and is described as a completely new production for the very first In the Night Garden Live UK theatre tour.

A spokesman for the show told leisure Live that it was a great way to introduce small children to live theatre for the first time.

“In the Night Garden Live is the perfect musical theatre experience for the entire family, “ she said.

“Take a spectacular journey into the magical world of In the Night Garden and experience the UK’s favourite family show with all the enchanting characters magically brought to life on stage.”

Children’s favourite CBeebies stars - Igglepiggle, Upsy Daisy, Makka Pakka and friends - are all brought beautifully to life in a specially-written new story using full-size costumes and magical puppets with enchanting music and dancing.

Oliver Seadon, executive producer said: “When we made In the Night Garden Live we never imagined it would run for ten years and that over a million visitors would come to see it.

“It’s incredibly exciting now to be making a brand-new show and taking it into theatres all over the country.”

He added: “This will be the first time that audiences get to see In the Night Garden Live in their local theatre.”

In the Night Garden Live is written by Helen Eastman who is also the writer of another smash hit Bing Live) and it is based on the Ragdoll television series created by Andrew Davenport.

Directed by acclaimed Royal Ballet choreographer and director Will Tuckett, the show is produced by Minor Entertainment under licence from DHX Media.

Director Will Tuckett said: “Children know these characters so well, much better than we ever might think.

“They see them as proper friends - when they appear on stage live they are seeing friends liberated from the television or tablet. They are there, waving at them.

“Taking your child to see them live on stage is an extraordinary experience - it’s a genuinely heartwarming and truly magical thing and makes me love my job as much as I do.”

In The Night Garden Live is at Lighthouse, Poole’s Centre for the Arts from Saturday, May 4 to Sunday, May 5.

Performances are on Saturday at 1pm and 4pm, and also Sunday at 10am and 1pm.

Tickets are priced at £19.50 and £17.50.

Discounts are also available for the under-18s.

For tickets and more information, please call on 01202 280000 or visit lighthousepoole.co.uk