Walking With Dinosaurs premieres in Sydney

An angry Tyrannosaurus Rex bellows out an almighty roar as it takes centre stage for the arena spectacular, Walking With Dinosaurs: The Live Experience.

The star diva may have the largest dressing room of the $12 million production, but she's far from smiling.

Fiercely protective of her young, the life-like and sized dinosaur wants her baby back.

The scene that unfolds is dramatic, complete with frenzied music, a haze of smoke and a panicked mother, until finally mother and child reunite.


Suddenly the Tyrannosaurus Rex's roar turns to a soothing purr.

This is just one scene to be played out when the 80-minute show, featuring 15 mechanically-driven dinosaurs, holds its world premiere in Sydney on Wednesday night.

Already 160,000 tickets have been sold nationally for the production inspired by the BBC TV program, which attracted 700 million viewers in more than 100 countries.

Walking With Dinosaurs transports audiences back some 160 million years, to experience these huge beasts in action.

And while it's educational, that isn't the key focus.

"It evokes the sense of this being real and that's an education in itself," said dinosaur designer and engineer Sonny Tilders.

"We try not to get bogged down in the scientific facts because it's entertainment and about evoking that sense that these things once roamed the world.

"The dinosaurs aren't fictitious, they aren't dragons, they were actually living creatures and we show that."

Tilders warns the vicious jaws and roars of some of the production's stars may disturb some viewers.

"We have seen four-year-olds jump up with glee when they see the T-Rex and others hide under the seat," Tilders admits.

"I wouldn't discourage any young children coming, but just be warned it might be a little bit scary."

Walking With Dinosaurs premieres in Sydney on Wednesday night and runs until Australia Day, before heading to Brisbane, Perth, Adelaide and Melbourne.

A tour of North America will begin in July 2007 before tackling Asia and Europe