Bluey's Big Play is a heartwarming delight for young and old
The stage show version of the wildly popular Australian TV series is a rollercoaster of emotions - and Georgie Hanafin loved every moment of it.
When I was asked to review Bluey’s Big Play at Christchurch’s Wolfbrook Arena I was expecting a cacophony of kids and chaos. I wasn’t expecting to walk away wiping tears from my cheeks and pretending to look in my bag for my phone as I attempted to regain composure.
For those who don’t have kids, or who live under a rock, Bluey is an Australian animated children’s series that follows a six-year-old blue heeler dog and her family.
It somehow magically blends childlike wonder with adult introspection, making it a rare crossover hit often praised for its humour, emotional depth and realistic portrayal of parenting.
A scene from the Bluey stage show, Bluey's Big Play: The Stage Show in Christchurch on 15 April 2025.
Kendra Stone
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With over 100 episodes tackling themes like perseverance, grief, and growing up, it’s won an Emmy and produced a soundtrack that topped Australian charts.
Since 2023, the Heeler family have been brought to life on stage through puppetry, music and interactive fun.
When the lights dimmed and a sequence of bird puppets danced across the stage, murmurs of excitement began to grow. But, when the familiar theme song began and Bluey, Bingo, Chilli and Bandit appeared, the murmurs turned into squeals and claps.
What followed was 60 minutes of helping Bluey as she learned the importance of being a good big sister in a storyline that expertly navigated humour, heart and childhood emotions.
The puppetry was sharp and after a few minutes my eyes didn’t register the people behind the pooches.
A scene from the Bluey stage show, Bluey's Big Play: The Stage Show in Christchurch on 15 April 2025.
Kendra Stone
I took my 2-and-a-half-year old Bingo-loving niece, Frankie, and found myself swept up in her joy about seeing her favourite family in the flesh.
We cheered, sang, danced, and laughed as the Heelers, voiced by the original Australian cast, moved across the stage, navigating sibling dynamics while their dad, Bandit, struggled to balance playtime with his phone use and the lawn grubs in his grass.
For maximum emotional impact (or if you just feel like having a decent cry), watch the Onesies episode before you go – it reveals why Chilli’s sister Brandy, who struggles with infertility, keeps her distance from the girls.
The play’s subplot about Chilli and her sister’s estranged relationship added a poignant layer which left me choked up and fighting tears.
With special guest appearances of Bluey and Bingo’s granny alter egos, Janet and Rita, the “disco-ing” chatterbox toy and an audience-wide game of keepy-uppy with giant bouncing balloons, it truly felt like the heart of the show had leapt off the screen and onto the stage.
Bluey’s Big Play is an original storyline rather than a specific episode and the production perfectly captures the heart and humour of the TV series, complete with familiar faces and the show's signature emotional depth.
The sets were stunningly lit and seamlessly moved from the lounge to the kid’s bedroom, to outside and back again. If you’re a fan of Bluey, this stage-show a must-watch. And if you have a sister – call her and tell her you love her – even if it’s been a while.
Bluey's Big Play is on at Christchurch's Wolfbrook Arena 15-16 April; Wellington's TSB Arena 19-20 April and Auckland's Spark Arena 26 and 27 April.
