Kids Week In The West End

This is one of those brilliant things that organised people always seem to be doing and I always miss. Last year, though, I managed to snag a couple of press invites for dd (8) and I to a Mamma Mia workshop and performance at the Prince of Wales Theatre, and it was FAB.

The children spent the afternoon learning one of the numbers from the show - on the actual Mamma Mia stage! - with the help of some of the cast and the choreography team. DD's expression lurched from serious concentration - it's a proper, quite challenging routine - to ecstasy at the thrillingness of it all.

The workshop team were superb with the kids - and got a huge amount out of them. They were encouraging and cheerful, but expected - and got - everyone to do their best. In an hour and a half the kids had learnt it off pat and gave a proper performance for the grown-ups (most of whom had nipped out for a bit of shopping) with real lights, props etc. I almost succumbed to stage-mother-itis, it was all so damn thrilling. Dd was properly proud of herself.

Later that night we watched the show, with the real cast going through the same routine - again, dd ecstatic, doing the hand motions in her seat.

There are lots of different shows available with different levels of discount and/or workshops/extras. Definitely not all for girls either. It's a really brilliant initiative which aims to open the West End up to a new audience - granted, it's still not the cheapest day out you could have in London, but it compares well with other tourist-y things and ime was infinitely more magical than the usual London Town rat-run.

This year I'm aiming to take DS (10) to something more grown-up (he's not seen a play before, is a bit of an Ac-tor), so am watching anxiously for announcements.