A guide to what’s on stage in London for kids winter 2017
Babe, The Sheep-Pig at Polka Theatre
Polka Theatre also presents Babe, The Sheep-Pig, which brings the classic children’s novel and Oscar-winning family film alive. The show tells the story of a little pig with big dreams, arriving at a new farm and taken in by a trusty sheep dog. Babe, The Sheep-Pig is recommended for children aged 5 to 11, and it is running until 5 February.
Disney on Ice Celebrates 100 Years of Magic at The SSE Arena, Wembley
In March Disney on Ice Celebrates 100 Years of Magic arrives in London, featuring more than 50 Disney characters. The performance brings 14 Disney stories to life on ice, and during the show the audience can sing a long to 30 Disney songs, including favourites like Let It Go and Hakuna Matata. Disney on Ice is playing at The SSE Arena, Wembley from 29 March to 2 April.
Disney’s Aladdin at Prince Edward Theatre
Disney’s new Broadway musical Aladdin hit West End in May, and it’s one of the West End musicals I would love to take Big Girl to see. The musical, based on the Disney animation about Aladdin and Princess Jasmine, is playing at Prince Edward Theatre.
Disney’s Lion King at Lyceum Theatre
Award-winning Disney’s Lion King based on the Disney animation is in its 17th year at Lyceum Theatre, and continues to wow audiences with a beautiful and entertaining production. I remember being impressed by the spectacular animal costumes!
How to Hide a Lion at Polka Theatre
At children’s theatre Polka Theatre in Wimbledon, How to Hide a Lion, which is recommended for children aged three to six, is playing until 26 February. Based on the book by Helen Stephens, the show tells the funny story of Iris who tries to hide a lion in her house without her parents noticing. Polka Theatre also has a shorter How to Hide a Lion toddler version, and this show will be playing until 14 February.
Lily and the Little Snow Bear at Lyric Hammersmith
For half-term Lily and the Little Snow Bear, a Blunderbus Theatre production, will be playing at Lyric Hammersmith, bringing some winter magic with puppets, music and a snow scene. The show, recommended for children aged 3 and over, tells the story of Lily who lives in a cottage with her grandpa and is waiting for her birthday when it starts to snow. Running time is 50 minutes.
Mr Fox at Lyric Hammersmith
To continue celebrations of Roald Dahl’s 100-year anniversary, the stage adaptation of Roald Dahl’s Fantastic Mr Fox will hit Lyric Hammersmith later this month. The show about the clever fox, featuring music and songs, will be running from 25 January to 19 February and is recommended for children aged 5 and over.
Matilda The Musical at Cambridge Theatre
Based on Roald Dahl’s children’s book, Matilda tells the story about the incredible five-year-old school girl. The musical, which hit West End in 2011, has received more Olivier awards in one year than any other musical and continues to delight audiences at the Cambridge Theatre.
Mavis Sparkle at Lyric Hammersmith and Polka Theatre
M6 Theatre Company is touring with Mavis Sparkle, a show about Mavis who is on a journey north to see nature’s biggest lightshow. The show, recommended for children aged 4 and over, mixes illusion, animation and comedy and will be playing at Lyric Hammersmith on 11 February and at Polka Theatre from 3 to 5 March. Running time is 45 minutes.
Peter Pan at National Theatre
The National Theatre’s family Christmas production this year was an inventive version of JM Barrie’s Peter Pan, and the show is running until 4 February. It tells the story of Peter Pan, the leader of the Lost Boys, who loses his shadow during a visit to London, but with a modern twist and an urban feel. The show is recommended for children aged 7 and over. Running time is 2 hours and 3o minutes, including a 20-minute interval. Read my review HERE and see picture at the top.
Room on the Broom at Rose Theatre Kingston
The Olivier-nominated musical adaptation of Room on the Broom, the classic picture book by Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler, hits Kinston this half-term. The show is produced by the theatre company behind Gruffalo Live, Tall Stories, and tells the story about the witch and the cat who are on a mission to defeat the dragon. Room on the Broom, recommended for children aged 3 and over, will be playing at Rose Theatre in Kingston from 14 to 18 February. Running time is 55 minutes.
The Giant Jam Sandwich at Polka Theatre
New Perspectives Theatre is touring with the stage adaptation of The Giant Jam Sandwich, the picture book by John Vernon and Janet Burroway. It tells the story of the village that was invaded by wasps and the villagers that worked together to make a giant jam sandwich to save the day. The show, recommended for ages 3 to 7, will be playing on the main stage at Polka Theatre from 23 to 26 February. Running time is 50 minutes.
The First Hippo on the Moon at artsdepot
For the first weekend of half-term, the David Walliams children’s book The First Hippo on the Moon will be brought to life at artsdepot. The show, a production by Les Petits theatre company and recommended for children aged 3 and over, tells the story about a funny space adventure and promises music, puppetry and mayhem.
The Iron Man at Unicorn Theatre
For children aged 7 and over, Unicorn Theatre presents The Iron Man, a show about a monster that has eaten every piece of metal in sight. The monster has been destroying farms in the process, and angry farmers try to trap him, but in the end it is a little boy that saves the day. The production features paper-cut silhouettes, puppetry and animation, and it is running at Unicorn from 24 January to 5 March.
The Party at Polka Theatre
For half-term, Polka Theatre in Wimbledon presents an acrobatic circus show with clowning, juggling, cycling and tumbling. The Party, recommended for ages 3 to 7, will be playing on the main stage from 14 to 18 February. Running time is 45 minutes. There are also several circus activity workshops for children at Polka Theatre over half-term.
Wicked at Apollo Victoria
Wicked, which celebrated its 10th birthday celebration performance on West End in September, is based on the Gregory Maguire novel ‘Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West’, which re-imagined the Land of Oz and created a new version of L. Frank Baum’s 1900 classic ‘The Wonderful Wizard of Oz’. When we took Big Girl in August, I found the hit musical was not as scary as I’d expected and we were impressed with the stage setting. The show is playing at Apollo Victoria. Running time is around 2 hours and 45 minutes, including an interval.
Wow! Said the Owl at Lyric Hammersmith, arts depot and Polka Theatre
Based on the picture book by Tim Hopgood, WOW! Said the Owl is a show for children aged 2 to 5 years, blending storytelling, puppetry and music. The stage adaptation is playing at Lyric Hammermith on 4 February, at artsdepot on 19 March and at Polka Theatre 24 to 26 March.
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