Features

Top Ten Children\’s Shows: Half Term & Beyond

| London's West End |

28 May 2010

As half-term looms, we look at some of the biggest and best children’s shows on offer in the coming months…

Pre-School

In the Night Garden Live – Created in an inflatable, purpose-built touring theatre made up of two ‘state-of-the-art show domes’, this spectacular show faithfully recreates the magical world of the hugely popular CBeebies television show.

The all-weather domes will take up temporary residence in public parks across the UK this summer in a four-city tour which also includes London and Glasgow. The show domes will have all the facilities of a regular theatre (in the smaller dome) – including box office, toilets and catering points – but these will be uniquely family-friendly with buggy parks, baby-changing areas and microwaves to heat up baby food.

Touring from July

Boogie Pete Live! – Are you ready to Boogie with Pete from CBeebies Boogie Beebies? Join Pete as he shows you some moves, some magic and some silliness in this fun packed show, touring throughout the summer.
Trinity Theatre, Tunbridge Wells (4 June) & Salford Lowry (6 June)

Charlie and Lola – Best Bestest Play! – This play focuses on the sibling relationship between Charlie and Lola, and follows them as they encounter everyday issues such as tidying their rooms and getting ready for bed. Charlie and Lola always manage to make the most mundane and boring tasks into a magical adventure!

Birmingham Rep (touring), 3 to 5 June 2010

Elmer The Elephant – Elmer the elephant was different. Elmer was a patchwork elephant and every colour under the rainbow. But all he had ever wanted was to be like the other elephants in the jungle. This magical adventure story is adapted from the best-selling series of books by David McKee. With songs, live music, colourful puppets and lashings of audience participation.

Touring from 26 June

Guess How Much I Love You – Much loved characters Little Nutbrown Hare and Big Nutbrown Hare leap off the page and onto the stage! Hop along to the theatre and join in the fun as this endearing pair take you on a magical journey through Spring, Summer, Autumn and Winter. Anita Jeram’s classic Guess tales are brought to life by David Wood OBE, the UK’s leading writer and director of children’s theatre.

Regent Theatre, Stoke on Trent (28-30 May), Greenwich Theatre (3-5 June) & touring

Peppa Pig’s Party – Due to arrive in the West End for Christmas, this stage adaptation of the hit children’s TV series centres on Peppa, a playful little piggy who lives with her younger brother George, Mummy Pig and Daddy Pig. Through everyday adventures she plays games, makes new friends and enjoys her absolute favourite activity – jumping up and down in muddy puddles!

Civic Theatre, Darlington (2-3 June), Lyceum Theatre, Sheffield (5-6 June) & tour

The Gruffalo
– Tall Stories’ stage adaptation of Julia Donaldson’s bestselling book
is still going strong on tour. Follow Mouse into the deep dark wood on
a hunt for hazelnuts. Armed with just a nut map and a very vivid
imagination, Mouse runs into the smirking, wheeler-dealer Fox; an
eccentric, retired Woodland Air Force officer Owl; and the
maraca-shaking, part animal Snake. Rather than becoming the main course
of their next meal, Mouse scares them away with stories of an imaginary
monster friend, but what happens when he comes face to face with the
very creature he imagined?

Touring

Older children

George’s Marvellous Medicine – First published in 1981 George’s Marvellous Medicine is one of Roald Dahl’s funniest and most exciting stories all about a young boy who makes a marvellous new medicine to cure his grandmother of her terrifying temper. But when his grandmother drinks his special new potion the results are explosive and the most incredible things begin to happen – it’s the start of George’s amazing adventures…

Churchill Theatre, Bromley (touring), 1-5 June

Horrible Science – The stunning science of everything. What are millions of animals doing in your kettle? Why don’t penguins get spots? Why do rabbits eat the same food twice? Why doesn’t the moon wander off? Could a 10 million volt battery float over your head? And how long would it take foryour heart to pump enough blood to fill the theatre? Using actors and 3D Bogglevision, Horrible Science has the awful answers and this astounding show will thrill you and your children. Fron the team that brought you “Horrible Histories”.

Derngate Theatre, Northampton (touring), 1-5 June

The Tempest – Miranda has grown up with only her father Prospero and the strange islander Caliban for company. But her sheltered world is changed forever as a mighty storm brings ashore her father’s greatest enemy, a handsome stranger and two drunken rascals with plans of their own. A powerful, physical production, performed by the Unicorn’s acting ensemble, brings classic characters to life. Music and sound combine with Shakespeare’s words to create a world of enchantment and adventure at one of London’s leading children’s theatres.

Unicorn Theatre, until 19 June