What's On Family Theatre
Don’t forget to say you saw these events listed in Families Magazine!
The Alban Arena, St Albans 01727 844488 www.alban-arena.co.uk
Tue 15–Wed 16 Oct
Dear Zoo
Dear Zoo the timeless children’s classic book returns to the stage! See the characters write to the Zoo. Who will be delivered? A cheeky monkey, a jumpy frog and of course a perfect puppy. Help your children learn as the book leaps onto the stage and share a magical experience as the story unfolds with child-engaging puppets, music and lots of audience interaction.
Sat 26 Oct
Cirque: The Greatest Show
An all-star cast performing the big, big numbers from your favourite shows are joined by mesmerising circus stars– making for an enchanting production that is charming and astonishing in equal measure. Enter the extraordinary world of Cirque.
Artsdepot, N12 020 8369 5454 www.artsdepot.co.uk
Sun 15 Sep
Little Red Riding Could
A playful and mischievous retelling of the familiar fairy tale, with original songs and signature Roustabout silliness, that dares you to step off the path and write your own story. Ages 4+
Sun 22 Sep
Roald Dahl and the Imagination Seekers
Especially made for ages five and up, the show develops both creative and literacy skills through performance, games, and creative play, while exploring Roald Dahl’s extraordinary stories, including The BFG and The Twits along the way. Ages 6-11
Sun 29 Sep
Make Some Noise
Award-winning poet Dommy
B shares a surprising story about growing up, finding a brilliant (but naughty) imaginary friend, becoming ‘Junk the Punk’ and joining a great school band (Whizzkid and the Veggie Burgers)! Ages 5+
Fri 4–Sun 6 Oct
The Tiger Who Came to Tea
Join the tea-guzzling tiger in this delightful family show; packed with oodles of magic, sing-a-long songs and clumsy chaos. Ages 3+
Sun 13 Oct
Boxville
Work with the BOXVILLE engineers to craft-a-long with the story and build your own way through the tasks and trials of Boxville, earning everything you need to become a fully fledged cardboard engineer!
Ages 4–8
Sun 13 Oct
Mrs Giggly’s Magic School
A totally wild, utterly bonkers and hilariously nutty circus-opera for children by Chloé Charody. Mayhem, music, madness and more explode from Mrs Giggly’s classroom in this absolute firework of a show!
Ages 4–8
Sun 20 Oct
Windrush Adventures
Dawn is very excited to be going on a big ship with her Auntie Lin to England. Soon she’ll be at a new school, make some new friend and to see her mum again! Sing and dance along in this interactive show. Ages 4+
Sat 26–Thu 31 Oct
The Gruffalo
Join Mouse on a daring adventure through the deep, dark wood in Tall Stories’ magical, musical adaptation of the classic picture book by Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler. Ages 3+
Wed 30 Oct
WiFi Wars
WiFi Wars returns with the live comedy game show where you all play along! Log in with your smartphone or tablet and compete in a range of games, puzzles and quizzes to win the show and prizes! 3pm ages 6+. 7pm ages 11+.
The Beck Theatre 020 8561 8371 www.becktheatre.org.uk
Mon 28 Oct
Bring Your Own Baby Comedy
Join in some hilarious comedy, where you can relax and have a good laugh at the best comedians in the UK, without needing childcare! There is a 15-month age limit for the little laughers, as comedians will be performing their usual grown-up jokes!
Cadogan Hall, SW1X 020 7730 4500 www.cadoganhall.com
Sun 13 Oct
ABBA for Kids
Following the success of last year’s show – designed with children and families in mind – ABBA for Kids is back! This is the perfect way to introduce your kids to live pop music, with the added luxury of a symphony orchestra. Ages 6+
Chickenshed, N14 020 8292 9222 www.chickenshed.org.uk
Fri 6 Sep–Fri 18 Oct
Planet Play: Autumn Season
Welcome to Planet Play, a magical world of sensory learning, wonder and exploration, for babies and toddlers aged 0-3 years. Created by the Tales from the Shed team, Planet Play has been specifically devised to encourage play and early communication development in young children. Ages 0-3
Sat 7 Sep-Sat 19 Oct
Tales from the Shed: Autumn Season
Tales from the Shed are vibrant, inclusive theatre shows that are perfect for young children. Every carefully planned show incorporates educational songs, movement and language games, which help promote brain development and early learning in young children.
Ages 0-6
Compass Theatre, UB10 01895 673 0200 www.hillingdontheatres.uk
Sat 26 Oct
A Dragon’s Tale
Foolishly John Lambton throws the strange googly eyed fish back into the river. What has he done! The Fish grew and grew and grew until… Well why not find out by coming to watch Paul Batten of Theatrix Arts perform this magical story based on the legend of the Lambton Worm through puppets, changing scenery, music and sound effects. Then meet the puppets and create you very own Dragon Puppet. Ages 4+
Harrow Arts Centre, HA5 0208 416 8989 www.harrowarts.com
Tue 29 Oct
Captain Calamity at the Monster Mansion
Expect lots of spooky thrills and spills with Captain Calamity’s all new monstrous show! This horribly horrific adventure begins when Captain Calamity and Crew receive an invitation to attend Baron Ghoulstein’s Halloween Ball at The Monster Mansion. All the Crew are invited to ‘costume up’ in their most Spooktacular outfits and travel by Ghost Train to this mysterious destination on the far side of the Phantom Forrest. Ages 4-12
Fri 1 Nov
Minny Stynker
What would you do if you moved to a strange new city? All your friends are far away, your new house smells weird, and it rains all the time?! Join Soap Soup Theatre on their most riotous, colourful adventure of all - where a bedroom becomes a forest, a school turns into a solar system and the drawings in your bag have a life of their own! A story about the magic of creativity. Ages 3+
Sat 2 Nov
Fireman Sam Live! The Great Camping Adventure
Norman wants to go on an adventure to impress his friends, so when two famous animal explorers arrive in Pontypandy, he decides to follow them into the mountains. But when Norman discovers a rare red squirrel, one of the explorers decides to take the glory for themselves, leaving Norman stranded in a cave. Now it’s up to Fireman Sam to save the day and ensure everyone is safe on their camping adventure! Ages 2+
Don’t forget to say you saw these in Families Magazine!
Headstone Manor & Museum Harrow, HA2 6PX www.headstonemanor.org
Thu 31 Oct
Dracula: The Undead Diva
This laugh-out-loud Halloween pantomime combines the spooks of All Hallow’s Eve with a healthy dose of panto mayhem. Expect plenty of opportunities for audience participation, a dollop of slapstick, and a special vampiric sing-a-long! Ages 3+
Little Angel Theatre, N1 020 7226 1787 www.littleangeltheatre.com
Fri 13 Sep–Sat 16 Nov
Dogs Don’t Do Ballet
The sublime and the ridiculous combine in this hilarious story of a small dog with a big personality and even bigger dreams, brought to life using beautiful puppets, well-loved ballet music and dazzling theatrical comedy. Ages 3-8
Sat 21 Sep–Sun 17 Nov
The Mystery of Little Angel Theatre
Join super sleuth Danyah Miller to unravel ‘The Mystery of Little Angel Theatre’. Combining live board game elements with a thrilling evidence hunt, you’ll become a detective faced with intriguing suspects, curious objects and a detailed theatre map. Ages 6+
Puppet Theatre Barge, W9 020 7249 6876 www.puppetbarge.com
Until Sun 22 Sep
The Selfish Giant (Richmond)
Oscar Wilde’s The Selfish Giant is brought to life in this beautiful and heartwarming adaptation by James Boswell. Ages 4+
Sat 7–Sun 8 Sep
My Shadow and Me (Richmond)
My Shadow and Me is like a cartoon created live out of nothing but darkness and light. One person (and his shadow) meet and go on an incredible, imaginative, shadowy journey where creatures emerge, engage and transform. Ages 4+
Sat 19 Oct–Sun 3 Nov
The Town Mouse and the Country Mouse (Little Venice)
These two famous cousins visit each other and both experience exciting new sights and sounds. The Town Mouse must face the wild countryside, while the Country Mouse watches for the house cat and learns to navigate the noisy city traffic. Ages 3+
The Radlett Centre, WD7 01923 859291 www.radlettcentre.co.uk
Sun 22 Sep
Science Museum: Live on Stage
Join London’s world-renowned Science Museum as they bring you this brand-new stage production aimed at igniting your curiosity, fuelling your imagination and inspiring you in new and exciting ways. Ages 5+
Tue 8–Wed 9 Oct
The Smartest Giant in Town
A heart-warming tale about friendship and helping those in need is brought to life in a musical, puppet-filled adventure. Ages 3+
Thu 24–Sat 26 Oct
The Very Hungry Caterpillar
The critically acclaimed production of The Very Hungry Caterpillar Show created by Jonathan Rockefeller features a menagerie of 75 lovable puppets. Ages 2+
Tue 29 Oct
Magic of Science
Hang on to your seats as the venue is transformed into a real life science laboratory. Experience the non-stop action packed interactive magical science experiments that will capture the imagination.
Sadler’s Wells Theatre London, EC1R 4TN www.sadlerswells.com
Fri 25 Oct
The Let’s All Dance Ballet
Company: The Ugly Duckling
With the crystal-clear storytelling, larger than life characters and gorgeous costumes, The Ugly Duckling tackles themes of social acceptance and liking yourself in a child-friendly, humorous manner. Ages 2-12
Unicorn Theatre, SE1 020 7645 0560 www.unicorntheatre.com
Sun 6 Oct–Sun 3 Nov
Toto Kerblammo!
Tim Crouch’s immersive new play is a tender and powerful story about listening, friendship and finding hope in the darkest of places. Wearing
headphones, the audience will experience Effy’s world through 3D binaural audio technology. Ages 9+
Wed 9–Sun 13 Oct
Anna Hibiscus’ Song
Presented by Utopia Theatre and Sheffield Theatres, Atinuke’s much loved children’s book is brought to life in this uplifting show through music, dance, puppetry and traditional African storytelling. Ages 3-7
Sat 26–Sun 27 Oct
Eyecatchers
Experience the magic of de Stilte, renowned dance company from the Netherlands, who bring their thrilling new show for young children to the UK for the very first time. Watch two captivating dancers and a musician embark on a wondrous journey, exploring the world through touch, sound, and movement. Ages 1+
Watersmeet, WD3 01923 711 063 www.watersmeet.co.uk
Fri 25 Oct
Ministry of Science Live: Science Saved The World
Join the presenters as they dive deep into the world of science and look at how science shapes the modern world we live in with a few loud bangs along the way!
Tue 29 Oct
The Amazing Bubble Man
Louis Pearl has been thrilling audiences around the world for over 30 years with the art, magic, science and fun of bubbles. He is a favourite at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, and explores the breath-taking dynamics of bubbles, combining comedy and
29 Oct
artistry with audience participation and enough spellbinding bubble tricks to keep everyone mesmerised.
Wed 30 Oct
Milkshake Live!
Join your favourite Milkshake! friends on Holiday with Dora, Pip and Posey, Blue from Blues Clues and You! Milo, Milkshake! Monkey plus two of your Milkshake! presenters for an all-new adventure.
Thu 31 Oct
Total Pop Party: The Ultimate Pop Concert Experience!
Total Pop Party is the ultimate concert pop experience, full of sing along moments and lots of audience interaction- parents included.
Watford Palace Theatre, WD17 01923 225 671 www.watfordpalacetheatre.co.uk
Wed 4 Sep
Bring Your Own Baby Comedy
Bring Your Own Baby Comedy is the award-winning lunchtime comedy show for parents… and you can bring your baby! These shows feature the funniest comedians from TV and the circuit telling their grown up jokes in a totally baby-friendly environment. The comics will be performing their usual ‘grown-up’ comedy, so there is a 15-month age limit for the little laughers.
Sat 7 Sep
Comedy Club 4 Kids
Cracking entertainment for everyone over six years old and under 400 years old (no vampires). See the best comedians from the UK and world circuit doing what they do best… but without the rude bits! Ages 6+
Fri 27–Sat 28 Sep
The Very Hungry Caterpillar
The critically acclaimed production of The Very Hungry Caterpillar Show created by Jonathan Rockefeller features a menagerie of 75 lovable puppets. The Very Hungry Caterpillar has delighted generations of readers since it was first published in 1969 selling more than 48 million copies worldwide. The perfect introduction to live theatre. Ages 1-6
Sun 29 Sep
WiFi Wars 3
WiFi Wars returns with the live comedy game show where you all play along! Log in with your smartphone or tablet and compete in a range of games, puzzles and quizzes to win the show, and prizes! 3pm family show 6+; 7pm evening show 12+
Winston Churchill Theatre, HA4 01895 250615
www.hillingdontheatres.uk
Wed 30 Oct–Sat 2 Nov
The Wind In The Willows
Based on Kenneth Grahame’s best-selling book, The Wind in the Willows follows Mole, Rat, Badger, and the impulsive Mr. Toad, whose insatiable need for speed lands him in serious trouble. Full of wit, a gorgeous, soaring score from Stiles and Drewe, and heartwarming lessons of friendship, this riotous musical comedy is perfect for families.
