Funny plays that my teens might like

[ChaChaChaChanges]

Would appreciate some help!

I have a tradition that I take my three DCs to the theatre in London before Christmas to watch something funny. It started with the local panto, then London panto, but they stopped enjoying panto several years ago.

So far we've seen The Play That Went Wrong and The Peter Pan That Went Wrong. But I'm a bit stuck for inspiration this year. Any suggestions?

^Some facts:

• DCs are 17, 14 and 13.
• All boys.
• would prefer London to regional theatre (just easier for us by public transport).
• DC1 doesn't like musicals.

I was wondering about taking them to the big pantomime at The Palladium, as they might like the more adult side of the humour now, but it's a lot of money if it's not a success!

All ideas welcome. Thank you.^

Back to the future?

Thanks for the suggestion. Sadly it's a musical, so DC1 wouldn't go.

I was wondering about A Christmas Carol(ish), and risk the fact that it's a musical because of the theme. Anyone seen it?

I mean the Book of Mormon is bloody hilarious but is almost definitely not appropriate for the younger two. Maybe one for a few years down the line...

You're not wrong about the age issue! But thank you. One for the future.

Teechers is brilliant if it's still playing anywhere. 3 cast members playing all the roles of kids/teachers. It's a John Godber play and well worth seeing.

If they don't like panto much any more I probably wouldn't try The Palladium. It's expensive and it is just a panto, there's some smutty jokes but it's also quite traditional in many ways.

Does it have to be something funny? I'd be tempted to do a good play, Stranger Things is good if they've watched the TV show. Or something like Witness for the Prosecution or The Mousetrap.

Operation Mincemeat?

Is ‘Noises Off’ on anywhere?

Id definitely give a play a chance. My 15 yr old has seen and loved And then there were none. Thinking mousetrap next. If they are not too sensitive there are some decent horror ones around

Operation Mincemeat is brilliant - but it is a musical.

Or what about fawlty towers

The 39 steps

My 15 yr old ds hates musicals but said operation mincemeat was amazing.

School for Scandal

Mind Mangler

The importance of being earnest is on at the National with the current Dr Who as one of the leads. It will be hilarious.

We're going to A Christmas Carol(ish) with our 14yo in November so I can't say what it's like yet - sounds great fun but it's also described as "all singing all dancing".

There's always The Importance of Being Earnest at the National with Ncuti Gatwa - if they're up for some Oscar Wilde - I've always found that play funny!

The MouseTrap might be a good shout - my teens loved it and found it hilarious.

Another vote for Fawlty Towers, my DC recently went to see it with their grandparents and really enjoyed it. They had already watched every episode so knew what to expect.

Thank you all so much!

Second PP who suggested Nises Off if it is on anywhere
The Importnace of Being Earnest at National Theatre - farce with current Dr Who in
Christmas Carol at Old Vic - not a comedy but very good
ditto for Stranger Things not funny but very good and would appeal to a teenager

ETA that I have posted pretty much the same as someone else... sorry

Back to the future is a musical, but it’s not Roger and Hammerstein-ish, and the lightening effects are amazing. I think a no -musical loving teen would love it.

if you're going to go for a musical with a teenager we found Back to the Future only OK - but Book of Mormon had my teens in absolute fits of laughter (I would have taken them at the sam age as your younger ones but many others wouldnt)

Even though it's a musical, Hamilton is great.

@frozendaisy

I was going to suggest this. It's brilliant, but I couldn't see that it is on anywhere at the moment.