London Mums Magazine was excited to go along to Operation Ouch! Quest for the Jurassic Fart! at the Royal Festival Hall (Tue 30 Dec 2025 – Fri 2 Jan 2026) – although admittedly and probably in hindsight mistakably we had never seen the tv show Operation Ouch! on CBBC.
The stage show sees TV’s favourite doctor twins, Dr Chris and Dr Xand van Tulleken, take audiences on a dino-stomping, science-packed, fart-filled adventure exploring the body, digestion and prehistoric gas.
From the moment it begins, the show offers genuinely interesting scientific information about the human body and digestion, delivered in a way that’s both engaging and educational. The chemistry between the twin doctors – both Oxford-trained and practising medics who are best known for their BAFTA-winning CBBC series Operation Ouch! – really carries the production.
The storyline – about the brothers discovering a relative’s historic ‘fart collection’ and needing to capture one last dinosaur fart – is imaginative and funny. It cleverly spins science into a playful narrative, complete with experiments and audience involvement that had plenty of laughs (and yes, lots of fart jokes).
That said, there was one section that caught me completely off guard. A video segment showing open wounds and an amputated limb crawling with maggots was much more graphic than expected – especially for a show marketed for children. I was genuinely thrown by this and struggled to even write about it. For the adults and children we were with, this part felt unnecessary and confusing, sitting far outside the kind of content you’d usually see in a daytime family show. It’s the sort of detail you’d expect perhaps after the watershed, not as part of a science-comedy aimed at younger audiences.
Because of this, I’d personally suggest a much clearer content warning on tickets and promotions. While the official age recommendation from the venue is 5+, in my view this show feels more suited to older primary school children (7/8+) who are less squeamish and more familiar with gross-out humour. There were also a number of jokes pitched at adults that went over the heads of the younger ones we were with, so attention did dip at points.
That said, if your child loves silly science, gross facts, and interactive fun – and you’re prepared for some unexpected graphic moments – there’s a lot here to enjoy. The show is clever, energetic, and genuinely funny, with a clear love for science that’s infectious. And yes – fart jokes and silliness galore! Just be ready for content that sometimes pushes boundaries beyond typical kids’ theatre.
The verdict
A creative and entertaining production that’s mostly brilliant, but with a shocking moment that may not sit well with all younger viewers. A solid experience with the caveat that age suitability might be higher than advertised.
I am a mother of two teenagers and a London Mums magazine’s contributor. I review attractions, movies, restaurants, toys. In my profile picture, I am together with my partner in crime and London Mums’ editor Monica Costa.
