What age is right to take them to theatre?

[Lam23]

How young is too young to go and see a full length musical at the theatre? I was considering taking dd who is just turning to see fiddler on the roof with me- she absolutely loves music and has enjoyed kids musicals at the theatre before. I remember getting into a lot of musicals around the age of 4 (Joseph, Jesus Christ superstar, Oliver, sound of music) which I still love as an adult - presumably because my parents showed me the movies or took me to see them. Fiddler has really strong musical numbers and thought dd might enjoy, she’s also half Jewish and is getting interested in that side of things.
Any ideas?

Sorry that should say she’s just turning 4!

You missed out her age I took Dd to see Joseph when she was 6 she loved it and has been hooked on musicals ever since.

Can you show her the film first she might get a bit fidgety in the theatre

I took my 2 year old to see a full length production of the snow queen. She sat through it brilliantly aided with lots of chocolate buttons. She has been to lots of children's theatre where there is less expectations around their behaviour and she was still pretty good, bar trying to get other children's snacks. I would think a four year old could easily behave through a musical as they are so engaging.

I took DD to kids shows at the local theatre from 2 years onwards. She went to her first West end show at 4 almost 5. I think the most important thing you can do is make sure she can sit down for the length of a full show without fidgeting, its a very big ask of a young child. Also, as I learnt ensure they wear leggings as the seats are scratchy on bare legs if they are wearing a nice dress.

At local theatre shows the tickets are cheap and people wont mind too much if they dont behave perfectly especially for child specific shows but when people have paid £££ for a ticket they wont be so forgiving.

In August Kids go free to lots of West End shows so this would be a good time to go, lots of other children in the audience and they put on other kids shows in the area as well.

Mine have been going to the cinema and pantomimes (showing my class 😂) from 3. Taking DS1 (8) to the theatre twice this year largely because there's not been a show before this year that I thought he'd particularly want to see. Otherwise I'd happily have taken him at 4.

Yeah we went to local childrens productions (and panto) from 2

DM recently took DD 5 to see the Nutcracker and she was fine - she's been to the theatre loads before though for shorter performances so was used to the set up.