Shows to take the little ones to
Hot of the presses, we’ve just received our copy of the new Margate Theatres Guide for Autumn 2015. It’s not online yet but will be soon on this link.
Going to see a show or a big event is always a special treat. The Guide has everything from big name comedians and musicians, The Dreamboys, Wrestling, serious and playful drama, special events like the scary sounding Hellgate which we wrote about recently and the touring Roundabout Festival. But we thought this week we’d dedicate a post to some of the shows on offer for children over the coming months. There’s quite a feast and if you’re holidaying in the area – or if you’re local – you will almost certainly want to take your little ones along to at least one of these fun events. While the beach can still be very jolly in the autumn it’s a good idea to also line up some other activities for the family if you’re down here out of the summer season!
On Sunday 20th September at 1pm it’s the “Milkshake! Live Party Party” at the Winter Gardens Milkshake Monkey and two Milkshake! presenters are joined by a host of Milkshake! favourites including Noddy, Bananas in Pyjamas, Little Princess and many more. It’s all about Milkshake Monkey’s surprise birthday party and there’s lots of audience participation, music and dancing etc. The show lasts an hour and a half and will be great fun for all ages.
Sunday 18th October at 2pm sees Scamp Theatre bring their adaptation of the best selling children’s book by the creators of The Gruffalo , The Scarecrow’s Wedding, to Margate Theatre Royal. it sounds like it will be hilarious, as Betty O’Barley and Harry O’Hay encounter the “smooth but dangerous” Reginald Rake who puts their wedding plans in jeopardy. It’s an epic love story with a difference, suitable for ages 3+ and lasting 50 minutes.
For half term, the following week, on Monday 26th October at 2pm, Blunderbus Theatre Company invite children aged 3+ to join Duck and his friends in a happy adventure with Duck In The Truck, at Theatre Royal Margate. It all sounds a bit Doctor Seuss to us – “this is the tale of a duck in a truck – A truck that was stuck. In some yucky brown muck… a sheep in a jeep and a frog in a bush. Saw the truck stuck and gave it a push…” Brilliant for the little ones, they’ll be giggling, singing and joining in all the way through.
That Wednesday, 28th October, at 2:30pm, it’s Simple Simon’s New Adventure Goldilocks & the Three Bears at the Winter Gardens. Children aged 2-11 can join in the suspense and sing a long and might even be invited on stage, with the chance to win a prize in this panto style show, while Simple Simon and his cat set about rescuing Goldilocks and the Three Bears from a circus where they are being held captive!
On the Friday, 30th October, at 11:30am and/or 2:30pm, take them to Turner Contemporary to see Grass – a wriggly quirky dance show for young children (aged 4+) that will get them to look closely at the world around them, particularly what’s under their feet and living in the ground! At the time of writing this post we can’t find a link for this event but check the Turner site nearer the time. The running time is 35 minutes with 20 minutes additional time allowed to “explore the grassy set” according to the Margate Theatres Guide, which also says that you can pay whatever you decide the experience is worth rather than there being a set ticket price.
The next day, at 2pm, Bear and Butterfly, a charming puppet show all about love loss and friendship, is at Theatre Royal Margate and Winter Gardens are doing their Family Scare Fair – Kids Halloween Party from 12 noon till 3pm.
On the evenings of 11th and 12th November it’s the Shakespeare Schools Festival – a chance to see local school children perform Shakespeare at Theatre Royal Margate.
Then on Saturday 14th November, at 2pm, children aged 4+ can see a show inspired by JM Barrie’s Peter Pan, The Boy Who Never Grew Up.
Winter Gardens’ family pantomime by Margate Operatic Society is in fact Peter Pan so perhaps book to see that too – at the end of November/start of December – and compare and contrast the two shows!
At Theatre Royal Margate the pantomime is Aladdin, by Ballet Theatre UK, from 12th -29th December.
There’s also the New Years Eve Family Fun Fair at Winter Gardens from 7:30pm on 31st December.
Visit the Theatre Royal Margate and Winter Gardens websites to see full listings info.
Check availability of our comfortable family friendly holiday accommodation using the form on our home page, if you haven’t already booked dates to stay with us – how about half term by the sea? This article only gives a tiny flavour of the many, many great things you could be doing with your children here on the Isle of Thanet. Remember we’re just over an hour by train from London.
Tags: childrens theatrehalf termMargate Theatresshows for childrenthings to do with children