Charlie Mackesy at the Royal Albert Hall: Drawing, Stories and Music
Few books of the past decade have found their way into as many homes as The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse. Next month its author, Charlie Mackesy, brings his touring show to the Royal Albert Hall on Friday 22 May, for an evening of live drawing, storytelling and music. For families around Knightsbridge looking for something gentler than a concert, it is one of the most appealing dates in the Hall's late spring calendar.
The book and the film
The book was first published in October 2019 and went on to win Waterstones Book of the Year and Barnes and Noble Book of the Year that year, the first title to take both. Mackesy then co-wrote and co-directed the animated short film adaptation, which won the Academy Award for Best Animated Short Film in 2023 alongside a BAFTA and Annie Awards. A continuation, Always Remember: The Boy, the Mole, the Fox, the Horse and the Storm, was published in October 2025. Wikipedia has a good overview of his career, which began with cartoons for The Spectator.
What happens on the night
- Live drawing. Mackesy draws on stage, so you see the characters appear in real time.
- Stories. He talks about where the characters came from, the ideas behind his art and how a series of drawings became a global phenomenon.
- Music. A pianist and a live string quartet perform the original music composed for the film adaptation.
The tour's format is set out on the De La Warr Pavilion's listing for the Bexhill date the night before London. There, the evening runs in two acts with an interval, starting at 7.30pm, and it is designed to suit all ages.
Bring a pencil
One lovely detail: audiences are encouraged to bring their own drawing materials and sketch along. Only dry materials are allowed, so pencils and crayons are fine, but no ink or paint. At the Bexhill date, under-14s must be accompanied by an adult, so check the Hall's own age guidance when booking. It is worth packing a small sketchbook for each child, as the urge to draw along tends to be contagious.
Making an evening of it
A 7.30pm start makes this an easy evening with older children, and a Friday date means no school the next morning. An early supper in Knightsbridge or South Kensington, then a walk up Exhibition Road to the Hall, leaves plenty of time. Afterwards, the walk back through Hyde Park on a late May evening is half the pleasure, at least while the light lasts.
Demand for family events at the Hall is always strong, so book through the Royal Albert Hall box office rather than waiting for the week itself, and look carefully at seat views if you are bringing small children.
Getting there
The Royal Albert Hall is on Kensington Gore, SW7, about ten minutes' walk from South Kensington station and twenty minutes on foot from Knightsbridge. Read our guide to the Royal Albert Hall for seating tips and places to eat nearby.
Lead image: Jim Linwood via Flickr, CC BY 2.0.
