Peppa Pig splashes down in Spokane

Peppa is a little pig. She lives with her mother and father, has a younger brother named George, and hangs out with an assortment of animal friends.

Her adventures, told in a series of 5-minute cartoons, are a big hit with the preschool set. The show airs, in 22-minute blocks, multiple times a day on Nick Jr.

For several years, there have been live Peppa shows touring the U.K., where the show originated in 2004. This past November, a U.S. version started making the rounds, and “Peppa Pig’s Big Splash” will visit the Martin Woldson Theater at the Fox on Wednesday.

Jonathan Shank, one of the producers who brought Peppa to the stage, said in a few months “Peppa Pig’s Big Splash” has become one of the most popular family shows in the marketplace, with nearly 200,000 tickets sold.

“It’s been incredible,” he said, adding that the success of the TV show contributes to the live show’s popularity. “The show, over the past year, has become one of the top preschool shows in America, and I think it’s a unique production that families are excited to be part of.”

“Big Splash” is adapted from a show that previously toured in the United Kingdom. Shank hopes to debut a new production in the U.S. in 2017. “There’s a lot happening right now with Peppa,” he said.

The show reflects many of the same themes that permeate the cartoon series, including family, togetherness and friendship, Shank said.

The live show, told in two 30-minute acts separated by a short intermission, includes a human character, Daisy, and larger costumed characters, including Peppa’s parents and Mr. Potato. Peppa are her friends are custom-built puppets on wheels, with the puppeteers manipulating the creations from behind.

“They’re really state-of-the art puppets,” Shank said.

While there are many key moments sprinkled throughout the show, Shank said, the kids particularly love it when Mommy and Daddy Pig come on stage for the first time, and introduce the family. Then there’s the “muddy puddle jumping competition.”

“Just need your boots,” Shank said with a laugh.

Ultimately the show is intended a good first theater experience for young children, he said. “It’s similar to a true theater show or a Broadway experience for kids.” It’s an interactive experience as well, featuring characters children can relate to.

“Peppa lives in a very simple and serene world, and ultimately the success of both the TV show and the live show depends on the likeability of the characters,” he said. “Everybody seems to adore Peppa and her cast of friends.”