What’s on stage for kids in London summer 2017

Tiddler and Other Terrific Tales at Leicester Square Theatre
Some of the best loved Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler titles will be brought to life this summer in the Tiddler and Other Terrific Tales live show, which will hit West End’s Leicester Square Theatre on 8 July. The show weaves together the stories from Tiddler, Monkey Puzzle, The Smartest Giant in Town and A Squash and a Squeeze, featuring live music, puppetry and colourful characters. Tiddler and Other Terrific Tales will be playing until 3 September. (Picture from Tiddler and Other Terrific Tales Courtesy of Steve Ullathorne).

What the Ladybird Heard at Lyric Theatre
The stage adaptation of the popular children’s book What the Ladybird Heard by Julia Donaldson and Lydia Monks will hit West End on 5 July. The show, which features live music, puppetry and audience interaction, tells the story of two robbers who try to steal a farmer’s fine prize cow, but a little ladybird has a plan on her own. The show is playing at Lyric Theatre on Shaftesbury Avenue from 5 July for a limited summer run until 10 September.

We’re Going on a Bear Hunt at Cadogan Hall
Michael Rosen’s award-winning children’s classic We’re Going on a Bear Hunt is being brought alive on stage this spring and summer, visiting 30 theatres on a UK tour. The show tells the story of the family and their musical dog who go on a quest to find a bear, and theatre-goers can expect catchy songs, a varied performance and interactive scenes. From 3 August to 3 September the show will be on at Cadogan Hall in Chelsea.

The Scarecrows’ Wedding
The classic Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler children’s book The Scarecrows’ Wedding has been brought to life by Scamp Theatre in a fun and charming production, which is currently on tour in the UK. The show will hit South West London in June, playing at Rose Theatre in Kingston from 23 to 25 June. (Picture courtesy of Helen Maybanks)

Flip FabriQue
Flip FabriQue, the new faces of Canadian circus, has arrived in London with Catch Me at Southbank’s Underbelly Festival. The show, which is recommended for all ages, opened on 17 May and is running until 9 July. Audiences can expect high flying acrobats, dramatic turns on a trampoline and inventive parkour in the 75-minute performance.

The Wind in the Willows at London Palladium
The new musical based on the children’s classic by Kenneth Grahame, The Wind in the Willows, hits London Palladium on 16 June, and is set out to be a family hit. It tells a story of friendship and courage, with Mole setting out on an adventure and meeting new friends Ratty, Badger and Toad. The musical by Oscar-winning screenwriter and Downton Abbey Creator Julian Fellowes features music from Olivier Award-winning composer and lyricist George Stiles and Anthony Drewe, and it’s recommended for children aged 6 years and over.

Gangsta Granny
The stage show based on David Walliams’ popular book Gangsta Granny will debut on West End this summer, playing at Garrick Theatre from 26 July to 3 September. The show, recently nominated for a UK Theatre Award for Best Show for Children and Young People, tells the story of Ben, who is expecting a boring Friday night when staying with his Granny, embarks on the adventure of a lifetime with his very own Gangsta Granny.

Ben and Holly Live
The Ben & Holly’s Little Kingdom stage show, which is on tour again this year, is playing at New Wimbledon Theatre from 3 to 4 June. In the show, Ben, an elf, and Holly, a fairy princess, help Gaston the Ladybird clean up his cave before they all go with tooth fairy Nanny Plum to collect a tooth from Lucy in the big world. Audiences can expect action songs with easy-to-follow moves and a big ladybird on wheels. The producers behind the stage adaptation of the magical animation Ben & Holly are the same as the ones behind Peppa Pig Live and Octonauts Live.

My First Ballet: Cinderella
My First Ballet: Cinderella, which was playing at The Peacock over Easter, returns for a second run from 18-23 July. The My First Ballet series by English National Ballet and English National Ballet School is designed for children aged 3 years and over, and the shows allow families to experience a ballet production in a relaxed and child-friendly environment with a narrator and two acts of around 30 minutes each. This year’s fairy tale ballet tells the story of Cinderella who wasn’t allowed to go to the ball and was treated badly by her stepsisters. As a mum to a princess-loving girl, I was glad this performance largely stayed true to the story when we went to review in April, and it lived up to Big Girl’s expectations! (Photo by Arnaud Stephenson)

The Very Hungry Caterpillar Show at Rose Theatre
The stage show based on Eric Carle children’s classics The Very Hungry Caterpillar Show, which was playing in the West End for a limited season in December, will be on at Rose Theatre in Kingston from 31 May to 4 June. The show brings four Eric Carle stories to life–The Artist Who Painted a Blue Horse, Mister Seahorse, The Very Lonely Firefly and The Very Hungry Caterpillar–in a 60-minute performance with 75 puppets.

Tales from the Shed at Barclaycard presents British Summer Time in Hyde Park
Renowned theatre company Chickenshed will be returning to Barclaycard presents British Summer Time in Hyde Park in July with performances of its children’ s show Tales from the Shed, which is recommended for under 6s. The 50-60 minute show, which will be running from Monday 3 July to Wednesday 5 July, will be free to attend, but school tickets must be reserved in advance.

Night Pirates at Rose Theatre
The stage adaptation of best-selling children’s book by Peter Harris and Deborah Allwright The Night Pirates arrives at Rose Theatre in Kingston from 6 to 16 September. The show tells the story of girl pirates and a young boy called Tom, who is eager to join their pirate adventure. Audiences can expect original songs and fun for any budding young pirate.

Tags: Ben and Holly Live, British Summer Time, Chickenshed, Children's theatre, Cinderella, Flip FabriQue, Gangsta Granny, Hyde Park, London Palladium, Lyric Theatre, My First Ballet, New Wimbledon Theatre, Night Pirates, Rose Theatre, Southbank, Summer, Tales from the Shed, The Scarecrows’ Wedding, The Very Hungry Caterpillar Show, The Wind in the Willows, Tiddler, Underbelly Festival, We're Going on a Bear Hunt, What the Ladybird Heard