Walking with Dinosaurs – The Live Experience /Arena Spectacular: A review in brief
As a child I had been very very interested in Dinosaurs. Those days there were not many programs on these gargantuan reptiles. Sometimes some early CGI dino would grace the television thanks to Discovery Channel. Then came Jurassic Park. It was heavenly. The Jurassic Park was the best thing I came across in cinema. Eventually I watched it numerous times. So when I got the opportunity to watch Walking with Dinosaurs it was tryst with childhood. Of course, the awe factor is gone but it still is a great treat.

It starts with Plateosaurus and the Allosaurus followed by the Brachiosauraus and Torosaurus. They are introduced according the timeline in which they existed.
The Pangaea is represented by a raised pyramidal structure in middle of the stage area. It the breakes up and shifts as the timeline proceeds. The other dinos are the Utahraptors (agile and carnivorous), the armored Stegosaurus, the flying Ornithocheirus, the completely armored Ankylosaurus and last of all, what one can easily call the King of Dinos, Tyrannosaurus Rex.

The life sized dinos saunter in, send out loud cries, the big ones bend towards the audience and have some eye to eye moments, nibble at the bright flora around the stage area, even poops. They prey on other dinos, fight amongst themselves, protect their young ones – all included in the scope of the show.
All the while, the host, a paleontologist named Huxley (played by is on stage talking about the reptiles, their home terrain, climate etc. The T-Rex comes in last – like a popular celebrity. The T-Rex is greeted with loud clapping and enthusiasm from the young audience. It has the loudest and most powerful cry of all the presented dinos. The show ends with the annihilation of the dinosaurs by the turbulent climatic changes caused by the earth being hit by comets (good light affects) and volcanic eruptions.

It is also informative. Though the narration is educational, it is not boring as any educative narration would be!
Wish List – They could have done more – for instance when the flying Ornithocheirus comes, it is shown in flight only on stage. It would have been great to have it fly over the audience. And instead of being suspended by wire or whatever, it could have been remote controlled.
It would have been ultimate. It would be totally thrilling to have the dinos free walking ! But again, no complaints. It is worth a visit – especially for children.
U.K. Tour of Walking with Dinosaurs starts in July 2009 –
The dates and Venues are listed below :
1st July – 5th July Glasgow SECC 0870 040 4000
7th July – 12th July Newcastle Metro Radio Arena 0844 493 6666
15th – 19th July Nottingham Trent FM Arena 0870 121 0123
22nd – 26th July Sheffield Arena 0114 256 5656
29th July – 2nd August Manchester Evening News Arena 0844 847 8000
5th August – 9th August London O2 Arena 0844 856 0202
12th August – 16th August Birmingham NIA 0871 945 6000
19th August – 23rd August Liverpool Echo Arena 0844 8000 400
26th August – 31st August London Wembley Arena 0870 060 0870
