Review: The Littlest Yak

Mon 22 Dec 2025

Review by Emma Oldham

As the run of our 2025 Christmas show, LAStheatre’s The Littlest Yak, begins at Lakeside Arts, author and theatre reviewer Emma Oldham reviews this children’s theatre production for ages 3–5.

From the moment you are seated, you are swept away to the rugged and magical Himalayas, welcomed into the wonderfully woolly world of the coolest yak pack. Through the joy of live theatre, this snowy adventure casts a warm, heartfelt spell.

This charming production from award-winning company LAStheatre is upbeat, playful and absolutely brimming with woolly heart and heart. Adapted from Lu Fraser’s much-loved picture book, The Littlest Yak places children firmly at the centre of the story, celebrating their feelings, hopes and big questions through the irresistible Gertie – the smallest yak of them all.

Gertie’s journey captures that deeply relatable childhood longing to be bigger and older, resonating with anyone who has ever wished time would hurry along just a little faster. The show cleverly reminds us that being small is not something to rush past, but something to treasure, because small comes with its own kind of magic and its own superpowers.

Production photos

Live music and soaring vocals from a mighty trio run throughout the show, creating a rich, immersive soundscape that carries the story effortlessly across the snowy peaks. The expressive puppetry, complete with blinking eyes and wonderfully subtle movements, glides across the stage and frosty landscape, fully drawing the audience into this enchanting world. Thoughtful lighting design adds an extra layer of magic, shifting seamlessly between moments of adventure, tenderness and celebration.

Expect plenty of giggles, joyful sing-along moments, and a feel-good finale that leaves both children and grown-ups smiling. And the experience doesn’t end when the curtain comes down. The venue itself becomes an extension of the story, with yak-themed activities to explore – hands-on crafts, a clever up-cycled art installation by artist Gemma Caseley-Kirk and students from
Djanogly Strelley Academy, and a woolly-hat treasure hunt that keeps little ones happily engaged long after the final bow.

Warm, imaginative and utterly yak-tastic, The Littlest Yak is a snowy adventure packed with heart, humour and heaps of theatrical magic.

The show runs until Sunday, 4th January, so catch the yaks before they wander off to pastures.

Stay Connected

Don’t miss out on our year-round calendar of events. Click below to join our mailing list, and get our updates straight to your inbox.
Sign up