Avenue Q's naughty puppets return to Sheffield

Theatre-goers and fans of the show, old and new, can meet Princeton, a bright-eyed graduate who comes to New York City with very big dreams for his future, but only a tiny bank account.

Brian the out-of-work comedian is another of the gang, with his therapist fiancée Christmas Eve; then there is Nicky the good-hearted slacker and his closet gay Republican room-mate Rod.

There are more to meet in the forms of an internet ‘sexpert’ called Trekkie Monster, Lucy the Slut (the name says it all) and a very cute kindergarten teacher who goes by the name of Kate Monster.

Featuring very funny songs including The Internet is for Porn, and Everyone’s a Little Bit Racist, Avenue Q is a musical designed to make you laugh, with a warm, and very fuzzy, heart.

Avenue Q has stood, and is still standing the test of time.

The show won Best Musical, Book, and Score at the 2004 Tony Awards, beating Wicked, and has been much praised for its approach on topics such as racism.

It first opened in 2003 at the Vineyard Theatre then that same year moved to Broadway.

The show ranks at 24 on the list of longest running shows in Broadway history, and because of the show's celebrated success there, many international tours followed as matter of course, taking in England, Germany, and Hong Kong among many other countries.

Written by Jeff Marx and Robert Lopez, this hilarious musical creation ran for five years in London’s West End from 2006, and has toured the UK numerous times. It’s political incorrectness, bad behaviour and mischief are legendary.

The cast for the 2019 Avenue Q UK tour includes Megan Armstrong, Jasmine Beel, Ellis Dackombe, Chloe Gentles, Nicholas Mclean, Robbie Noonan, Saori Oda, Cecily Redman, Lawrence Smith, Oliver Stanley and Tom Steedon

This tour is produced by Selladoor Worldwide with Richard Darbourne Limited.

The production is directed and choreographed by Cressida Carré, designed by Richard Evans, with lighting designed by Charlie Morgan Jones and sound by Chris Bogg.

Puppets designs are by Paul Jomain of Q Puppets with puppet coaching by Nigel Plaskitt.

The principal cast includes four puppeteers and three human actors. Puppets are played by unconcealed puppeteers alongside costumed human actors.

They all interact with each other as if human, and you can't fail to notice that the show's format is a parody of PBS's Sesame Street, also inspired by The Muppets.

Both puppet and human characters ignore puppeteers, to give an illusion that the puppets are alive.

Each character is a young adult trying to overcome real-world problems. Humour often has an ironic slant, and the show addresses adult themes.

Tickets can be purchased from Sheffield Theatres’ Box Office in-person, by phone on 0114 249 6000, or online at sheffieldtheatres.co.uk.