A Review of Madagascar the Musical at WMC

* We were kindly provided tickets in exchange for an honest review 

If you have kids you will probably have watched or at least heard of the smash-hit Dreamworks family film that is Madagascar (if your anything like us you have watched it a few times too) and what's not to love about it? It has adventure, friendship, love, trials and tribulations and plenty of cool and quirky characters so needless to say both and boys and I were very excited to be invited to watch the stage adaptation at the Welsh Millenium Centre this week.

Madagascar the Musical follows the eclectic friends, a lion, zebra, hippo and giraffe, escape from New York Zoo and their journey to the island of Madagascar and first experience of "the wild". Just like the film firm favourites such as the Penguins, Lemurs and King Julien are all featured in the stage show as well as the ever-popular "I like to Move It Move It song (do expect dancing participation).

Madagascar the Musical is currently on tour this summer across the UK and is in Cardiff until Sunday 11th August so if you're looking to take the kids somewhere extra special this weekend then I would highly recommend this show, especially with the rain ruining everyone's outdoor fun and here are 3 reasons why.

1. It's perfect for younger children - I took along my 4 and 8yr old sons who were both enthralled from start to finish as this bright, vibrant and face-paced musical kept them easily entertained. I had worried my youngest would get bored halfway through but it was literally only in the last 5 minutes he seemed restless as he was really captivated by the whole show throughout.

2. Offers fun and humour for the whole family - while there are plenty of laughs and excitement for the kids there is also a good dose of adult humour too which made the production not only captivating the children but also for the grownups.

3. Excellent performances - the cast which includes X-factor 2016 winner Matt Terry as Alex the Lion, alongside Hannah Victoria (Gloria the Hippo), Connor Dyer (Melman the Giraffe) and Posi Morakinyo (Marty the Zebra) are all fantastic vocal performers and it's great to watch a cast that is clearly passionate, talented and enjoying what they are doing.

Overall the Musical is colourful, fun and highly entertaining with catchy songs and impressive vocal performances while also being easy for little ones to follow. The set despite not being very big is utilised well with lots of movable parts that glide smoothly from one end to another to easily change the animal's location, as well as some creative use of lighting to help set the scene.

Madagascar is without a doubt a feel-good family show that won't disappoint and the Welsh Millenium Centre is the perfect place for it as there is also plenty of other free family activities going on in and around the centre such as the Gaia, the 23ft in diameter earth hanging up in Glanfa foyer, as well as free family craft days every Saturday at the centre.

Cardiff Bay beach with its free sandy beach and paddling pool is also only a few meters away as well as Bricklive Fantasy Kingdom which is an amazing collection of fantasy full-size lego creatures such as a huge dragon and human-sized Wizard.