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NEWS
West Midland Safari Park teams up with Aardman to bring Early Man to life
POSTED 31 Jan 2018 . BY Alice Davis
Dug and Hognob, the lead characters in new Aardman film Early Man
West Midland Safari Park has announced a series of events to celebrate the release of the latest film from British studio Aardman.

With Early Man in cinemas across the UK, the attraction, in Bewdley, Worcestershire, has unveiled a special trail themed around the stop-motion animated adventure, a secret cave with exhibits from the film set and a schedule of model-making workshops.

Directed by Nick Park – who also worked with Aardman on Chicken Run and the Shaun the Sheep and Wallace & Gromit films – Early Man tells the story of prehistoric caveman Dug (with the voice of Eddie Redmayne) and his wild boar friend Hognob as they strive to save their Stone Age valley from an incoming Bronze Age enemy.

The safari park’s Find The Tribe Trail is an interactive activity where guests must solve a number of clues in order to track down Dug’s tribe.

Then, inside the Early Man Secret Cave, they will be able to get close to some of the models from the film in a special and exclusive display.

There will also be four model-making workshops held in February, led by an Aardman model maker, where guests will make their own version of an Early Man character.

“We love to share our skills with others and we'll be running workshops at the West Midland Safari Park to give fans of our work the chance to see how we create our wonderful characters," said David Sproxton, co-founder and executive chair of Aardman.

"With our experienced model makers, our fans will learn exactly how much detail and effort goes into making each puppet, and they can have a go themselves.”

Aardman has worked with other attractions to bring its IPs to life, including Japanese FECs, Blackpool Pleasure Beach and Sweden’s Skanes Djurpark.

The studio is currently developing its presence within the attractions sector, with a view to one day even working on an Aardman Land.
Exclusive Model Making Workshops led by an Aardman Animator at the Safari Park will show guests how to make their very own model
The ‘Early Man Secret Cave’ is a unique opportunity to see parts of the set used in the film
'Find The Tribe’ with Early Man at West Midland Safari Park during their exclusive event
Exclusive Model Making Workshops led by an Aardman Animator at the Safari Park will show guests how to make their very own model
RELATED STORIES
  Shaun the Sheep gets foothold in Japan's attractions market


Aardman has opened two Shaun the Sheep Family Farms in Japan, with one in Osaka and one in the east coast city of Sendai, Miyagi Prefecture.
  FEATURE: Visitor Attractions: Flock to it


Norwegian operator Lund Group on how Aardman’s Shaun the Sheep helped reinvigorate the troubled Skånes Djurpark
  Exclusive: Aardman Animations outlines theme park ambitions


Aardman Animations – creator of popular IPs such as Wallace and Gromit and Shaun the Sheep – has grand plans for its attractions and live experiences division, with ambitions to create an entire theme park dedicated to the creations of the British animation studio.
  West Midland Safari Park seeks students for level three training scheme


West Midland Safari Park in Worcestershire is seeking a crop of young students to take part in a new Animal Management training course.
MORE NEWS
Rainer Maelzer joins Therme Group as chief entertainment officer
Rainer Maelzer, an experiential entertainment innovator, has been appointed chief entertainment officer by Therme Group.
Movie Park Germany reveals new Paramount attraction as part of its 30th anniversary celebrations
Movie Park Germany has opened a new Paramount Pictures-themed attraction as part of its 30th anniversary celebrations, using immersive storytelling and adaptive reuse to reinforce the park’s longstanding “Hollywood in Germany” positioning.
Therme Manchester reveals 90:90 strategy – 90 per cent of the UK population within a 90-minute drive of a Therme
Therme Manchester’s 28-acre development, which will include interconnected glass pavilions that measure 65,000sq m, will be the largest bathing and wellbeing attraction in the world once complete, according to prof David Russell, CEO of Therme UK. 
Efteling expands family offer with new Hooghmoed drop tower
Efteling has opened Hooghmoed, a new family drop tower designed to broaden the appeal of its recently launched Sirene Island themed area and introduce younger visitors to thrill attractions.
+ More news   

COMPANY PROFILES
instantprint

We’re a Yorkshire-based online printer, founded in 2009 by Adam Carnell and James Kinsella. [more...]
Alterface

Alterface’s Creative Division team is seasoned in concept and ride development, as well as storyte [more...]
Simworx Ltd

The company was initially established in 1997. Terry Monkton and Andrew Roberts are the key stakeh [more...]
Holovis

Holovis is a privately owned company established in 2004 by CEO Stuart Hetherington. [more...]
+ More profiles  
FEATURED SUPPLIER

Iconic Liverpool attraction opens door to new operators
An opportunity to reimagine one of the UK’s most recognisable towers has been formally opened by Rivington Hark, as St Johns Beacon invites operators and partners to shape its next phase. [more...]
CATALOGUE GALLERY
 

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23-26 Aug 2026

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Jobs    News   Products   Magazine   Subscribe
NEWS
West Midland Safari Park teams up with Aardman to bring Early Man to life
POSTED 31 Jan 2018 . BY Alice Davis
Dug and Hognob, the lead characters in new Aardman film Early Man
West Midland Safari Park has announced a series of events to celebrate the release of the latest film from British studio Aardman.

With Early Man in cinemas across the UK, the attraction, in Bewdley, Worcestershire, has unveiled a special trail themed around the stop-motion animated adventure, a secret cave with exhibits from the film set and a schedule of model-making workshops.

Directed by Nick Park – who also worked with Aardman on Chicken Run and the Shaun the Sheep and Wallace & Gromit films – Early Man tells the story of prehistoric caveman Dug (with the voice of Eddie Redmayne) and his wild boar friend Hognob as they strive to save their Stone Age valley from an incoming Bronze Age enemy.

The safari park’s Find The Tribe Trail is an interactive activity where guests must solve a number of clues in order to track down Dug’s tribe.

Then, inside the Early Man Secret Cave, they will be able to get close to some of the models from the film in a special and exclusive display.

There will also be four model-making workshops held in February, led by an Aardman model maker, where guests will make their own version of an Early Man character.

“We love to share our skills with others and we'll be running workshops at the West Midland Safari Park to give fans of our work the chance to see how we create our wonderful characters," said David Sproxton, co-founder and executive chair of Aardman.

"With our experienced model makers, our fans will learn exactly how much detail and effort goes into making each puppet, and they can have a go themselves.”

Aardman has worked with other attractions to bring its IPs to life, including Japanese FECs, Blackpool Pleasure Beach and Sweden’s Skanes Djurpark.

The studio is currently developing its presence within the attractions sector, with a view to one day even working on an Aardman Land.
Exclusive Model Making Workshops led by an Aardman Animator at the Safari Park will show guests how to make their very own model
The ‘Early Man Secret Cave’ is a unique opportunity to see parts of the set used in the film
'Find The Tribe’ with Early Man at West Midland Safari Park during their exclusive event
Exclusive Model Making Workshops led by an Aardman Animator at the Safari Park will show guests how to make their very own model
RELATED STORIES
Shaun the Sheep gets foothold in Japan's attractions market


Aardman has opened two Shaun the Sheep Family Farms in Japan, with one in Osaka and one in the east coast city of Sendai, Miyagi Prefecture.
FEATURE: Visitor Attractions: Flock to it


Norwegian operator Lund Group on how Aardman’s Shaun the Sheep helped reinvigorate the troubled Skånes Djurpark
Exclusive: Aardman Animations outlines theme park ambitions


Aardman Animations – creator of popular IPs such as Wallace and Gromit and Shaun the Sheep – has grand plans for its attractions and live experiences division, with ambitions to create an entire theme park dedicated to the creations of the British animation studio.
West Midland Safari Park seeks students for level three training scheme


West Midland Safari Park in Worcestershire is seeking a crop of young students to take part in a new Animal Management training course.
MORE NEWS
Rainer Maelzer joins Therme Group as chief entertainment officer
Rainer Maelzer, an experiential entertainment innovator, has been appointed chief entertainment officer by Therme Group.
Movie Park Germany reveals new Paramount attraction as part of its 30th anniversary celebrations
Movie Park Germany has opened a new Paramount Pictures-themed attraction as part of its 30th anniversary celebrations, using immersive storytelling and adaptive reuse to reinforce the park’s longstanding “Hollywood in Germany” positioning.
Therme Manchester reveals 90:90 strategy – 90 per cent of the UK population within a 90-minute drive of a Therme
Therme Manchester’s 28-acre development, which will include interconnected glass pavilions that measure 65,000sq m, will be the largest bathing and wellbeing attraction in the world once complete, according to prof David Russell, CEO of Therme UK. 
Efteling expands family offer with new Hooghmoed drop tower
Efteling has opened Hooghmoed, a new family drop tower designed to broaden the appeal of its recently launched Sirene Island themed area and introduce younger visitors to thrill attractions.
Universal and Puy du Fou projects point to rise of Oxford–Cambridge corridor
A proposed Puy du Fou development near Bicester and Universal Destinations and Experiences’ planned resort in Bedford are emerging as part of a wider transformation of the Oxford– Cambridge Growth Corridor into a major centre for UK leisure and tourism inv
Shedd Aquarium upgrades its visitor experience with new Immersion Theater
Shedd Aquarium has opened the Immersion Theater developed in partnership with SimEx- Iwerks, as part of a wider strategy to enhance the guest experience and create additional revenue opportunities.
+ More news   
 
COMPANY PROFILES
instantprint

We’re a Yorkshire-based online printer, founded in 2009 by Adam Carnell and James Kinsella. [more...]
Alterface

Alterface’s Creative Division team is seasoned in concept and ride development, as well as storyte [more...]
Simworx Ltd

The company was initially established in 1997. Terry Monkton and Andrew Roberts are the key stakeh [more...]
Holovis

Holovis is a privately owned company established in 2004 by CEO Stuart Hetherington. [more...]
+ More profiles  
FEATURED SUPPLIER

Iconic Liverpool attraction opens door to new operators
An opportunity to reimagine one of the UK’s most recognisable towers has been formally opened by Rivington Hark, as St Johns Beacon invites operators and partners to shape its next phase. [more...]
CATALOGUE GALLERY
+ More catalogues  
DIRECTORY
+ More directory  
DIARY

 

09-11 Jun 2026

World Sauna Forum 2026

Savutuvan Apaja, Haapaniemi, Finland
23-26 Aug 2026

Elevate Spa Riviera Maya Edition

The Riviera Maya Edition Kanai, Playa del Carmen, Mexico
+ More diary  
 


ADVERTISE . CONTACT US

Leisure Media
Tel: +44 (0)1462 431385

©Cybertrek 2026

ABOUT LEISURE MEDIA
LEISURE MEDIA MAGAZINES
LEISURE MEDIA HANDBOOKS
LEISURE MEDIA WEBSITES
LEISURE MEDIA PRODUCT SEARCH
ATTRACTIONS MANAGEMENT NEWS
ATTRACTIONS HANDBOOK
PRINT SUBSCRIPTIONS
FREE DIGITAL SUBSCRIPTIONS