7 theatre shows for kids in half term

The Addams Family

Southend Cliffs Pavilion, 30 May to 3 June

Why not combine a trip to the sunny seaside resort of Southend-on-Sea with a night in the company of everyone's favourite weirdo family? The show has a cracking cast including Cameron Blakely as Gomez, Samantha Womack as Morticia, Carrie Hope Fletcher as Wednesday and Les Dennis as Feste.

Read our review of The Addams Family

Babe – The Sheep Pig

Nuffield Southampton Theatres, 30 May to 4 June

Olivier Award-winner David Wood has adapted Dick King-Smith's much-loved novel for the stage. Introduce your little 'un to the wonders of talking animals with this story about a piglet trying to make it in a dog's world. Directed by Michael Fentiman it features an original score, a 'baa-ber sheep' quartet, and puppetry from the people behind War Horse.

Read our review of Babe – The Sheep Pig

Our Ladies of Perpetual Succour

Duke of York's Theatre, until 2 September

Probably one of the best shows set in Scotland since Macbeth… This raucous play with songs from ELO sees of a group of girls go to Edinburgh for a choir competition but end up getting into all sorts of mischief. Perfect half term theatre trip for your rebellious teenager. Ages 16-plus.

Read our five star review of Our Ladies of Perpetual Succour

The Man Who Knows It All

Unicorn Theatre, 31 May to 4 June

Apparently this show, at the wonderful kids' theatre on Tooley Street, is about a 'hapless man' who 'fails spectacularly again and again in front of a mercilessly curious audience'. Sound familiar? Two performers and a musician go on a quest in search of everything it is possible to know.

Read Scamp Theatre's blog for WhatsOnStage

Annie

Piccadilly Theatre

What better way to ensure your children behave during half term than to show them how squalid life could be if they were an orphan living under the care of Miss Hannigan. The drunken orphanage manager is played here by comedienne Miranda Hart who makes her West End debut.

Check out our gallery of Annie rehearsal pics

School of Rock

New London Theatre

If your kid thinks they're the next Jimi Hendrix or Suzi Quatro then you'll earn major parent points by taking them to jam with the cool kids down at the New London Theatre. Based on the film starring Jack Black, this is a fun, highly energetic show that will have your precious little ones head banging and air-guitaring all the way home.

Read our review of School of Rock

The Scarecrow's Wedding

West Yorkshire Playhouse, 30 May to 3 June

The brilliant children's theatre company Scamp Theatre (Stick Man), present this heart-warming adaptation of Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler's bestselling book about two scarecrows who fall in love and plan to get married, until the farmer brings in a handsome new scarecrow.

Read Scamp Theatre's blog for WhatsOnStage