Facts and fiction Best theater shows for teenagers

^ Ô Best theater shows for teenagers

A Living close to London has so many advantages, but one of the best has to be the array of theatre productions on offer. From the Lion King to The Mousetrap, visitors travel from all over the world to take advantage of the West End shows. With a daughter now verging on the teenage years, I explore the best shows in London for teens and tweens. “Mum, what show will we see in London this year?” asks my younger. Every summer, we plan a special day out, just me and my daughter. As a family, we do so much, and both children are busy with various weekend pursuits, and it can be difficult to get any one-to-one time as a parent with each of our kids. So, she and I plan a day in the summer holidays to visit London. We began when my son was a baby, to get some time together that was all about her, and it’s a tradition which has lasted. We shop - what once was a four-hour stint in Hamley’s is now a full-scale fashion expedition along Regent and Oxford streets; we eat - ice-cream for tea in Haagen Dazs was always a favourite, but now when she’s older it’s more likely to be macarons at the Café Royal. And then there’s the theatre. It started with Oliver! And we’ve since seen Mamma Mia, Wicked, and Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. But she’s older now, and on the cusp of being able to manage some older themes, which opens up even more theatre options. So, I’ve been exploring the reviews to decide what we should add to our list. Here’s my round up of the best London theatre shows for teenagers. B Matilda. We actually saw Matilda when my children were nine and six respectively. All four of us were spellbound for the entire show. The acting is impeccable and energetic, the staging is so clever, and the music is so addictive that it has boosted my daughter’s desire to practice her piano. She is so intent on learning to perform ‘Naughty.’ My own opinion is that it is much, much better than its colleague Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. Tim Minchin’s hilarious lyrics is bringing it to life in a way that even Roald Dahl couldn’t They might mumble about it in advance, but teens will come out as inspired as everyone else. C Wicked. The classic battle between good and evil is always a hit, and Wicked continues to draw visitors, ten years after its opening night in London. It’s the one show we’ve seen that my daughter is keen to see a second time, and it’s always a close call whether to go for something new, or this Wizard of Oz remake she loved so much. What I think works for teenagers is the whole ‘coming of age’ angle to the story, the suggestion that not all bad people Wicked \ *

start out bad, and how a multitude of facets go into creating the person you eventually become.

D War Horse. If your teen isn’t keen on musicals, War Horse might be a good choice. There is music, but in a much less glitzy, showy way than the traditional musical theatre shows, and the real excellence of the production is the puppetry. I saw this with my husband, and initially I wondered if the men manipulating the puppet animals would distract me from enjoying the performance. It’s testimony to the brilliance of both the performers, and the models, that after only a few minutes, I totally forgot that there weren’t real horses on that stage. Any teenager who has enjoyed reading the Morpurgo classic in his younger years will love it. E The Mousetrap. Not closing down any time soon is The Mousetrap, which is in its 64th year in the West End. The Agatha Christie thriller continues to ask audience members at the end of the play not to reveal its ‘twist’ ending, and try as I might, I couldn’t discover it in online reviews. This show is so iconic as to be a must-see, and remembering how much I loved the easy reading style of a Christie novel as a teenager myself, it’s bound to be a hit with teens. F Billy Elliot. Definitely a show for children who have mastered an understanding of when and when not to swear, Billy Elliot is nevertheless gripping even for younger teenagers. I was concerned that the gritty subject matter of the miner’s strike, and the hardship that went with it, might be too dry for my then ten year old, but she absolutely loved it. The show is not without its frivolity to punctuate the serious nature of the topic, and it prompted a long discussion on our way home of the trade unions, and the working class struggle of № MUSICAl the 1980’s which she found fascinating. G The Lion King is a great story to enjoy with kids. A young lion prince is born in Africa, thus making his uncle Scar the second in line to the throne. Scar plots with the hyenas to kill King Mufasa and Prince Simba, thus making himself King. The King is killed and Simba is led to believe by Scar that it was his fault, and so flees the kingdom in shame. After years of exile he is persuaded to return home to overthrow the usurper and claim the kingdom as his own thus completing the “Circle of Life”. I’ve added this one in because really, why not? I’d defy anyone, of any age, not to absolutely adore the staging, the costumes, and the story of this long-running West End show. We’ve seen it three times, and I’d totally go again - it’s the pinnacle of West End greatness for me. Absolutely brilliant!

1 Before you read: Love for the theater a) How often do you go to the theater? Why? Why not?

b) Read the reasons why people go to the theater. Check the reasons you agree with. First and foremost, the theatre brings people together. For many, theatre has become a tradition. Theatre shows allow us to escape for a time being. Theatre performances can even help you deal with difficulties by going through similar situations with you. This can create a special energy that you can actually feel. Going to the theater builds the foundation for the future of theater, for future playwrights, directors, actors, and other creative professionals, so that humanity can continue the beautiful cycle of culture. You learn about other people, other cultures, other lives. It can inform your own life. It transports you into the world of the characters. It is a good experience, entertaining and a good night out. There is usually a good atmosphere.

£ 2 2 The theater posters a) Look at the posters in the text. Can you guess what the play will be about? Example: I think the play will be about a funny, little girl w h o__

b) How can posters describe the play? Can the picture alone convey the main idea? Example: I think yes, for example, a black witch hat means that the play is about something horrible.

3 M atilda: Language to ta lk about im pressions a) Remember how M atilda im pressed the family.

acting setting music lyrics the entire show

b) How did the show im press the girl? c) Have you ever felt the desire to start doing something new after reading a book or watching a movie?

d) Read the texts again and answer the questions in the table on each play.

Sample questions: 1 Wicked

Tick the reasons why the g irl likes the Wicked play? 1. It is scary 2. She likes the message of the play. 3. Acting is superb! 4. She understands it very well.

3 The Mousetrap

Who wrote the Mousetrap? What is the genre o f this story? Have you read any books by this author? What is amazing about this play?

5 The Lion King

Watch the play on YouTube. Discuss the plot with your classmates. Is the play different from the cartoon? How different? 2 War Hoarse

Rephrase the word in italics

1. If your teen isn’t keen on musicals... 2. the puppetry... 3. and initially I wondered... 4. I totally forgot...

4 Billy Elliot

Match the words with their definitions master stress, emphasize grip make people do or say sth concerned manage prompt hold the interest punctuate worried, troubled 6 For my folder: Rnal decision

Choose the play you would like to see and write reasons why?

i £ & 4 Survey a) Read the following questions and choose some you would like to ask your classmates after the school show.

Why did you come to the show? Do you know someone in the play? Was the ticket price.... too low/just right/too high? How many of the shows do you come to every year? Would you come to a show if you didn’t know someone in the cast? What has been your favorite show? What would you like to see?

b) Complete a survey by adding your own questions. Conduct a survey. c) Report your results in class and make conclusions.