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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to take 2yo DC to a theatre performance with min age 3yo

65 replies

drivenfromdistraction · 21/03/2014 12:42

It's the Lion King. I bought tickets for me, DH and the three DC. After I'd completed the whole process, paid and everything, the chap on the phone listed some Ts and Cs (non-refundable, non-exchangeable etc. oh, and children must be 3yo or older). I didn't say anything.

DD will turn 3 six weeks after the performance. She's been to lots of theatre, including Xmas pantomimes (long) and never made any fuss or disturbance.

If she, or the other DC (4 and 6) for that matter made a disturbance then DH would obviously take them out.

I don't think IAB hugely U, but I do have a niggling feeling at some level. What do others think?

OP posts:
DeWe · 21/03/2014 12:51

Depends on your dd really.

I took dd1 to panto a month after she was 2yo. She loved it.

However I did specifically ask if the performance was suitable for a 2yo, and I knew she'd sit quietly through it. I was a bit Hmm when the posters came out with 3+ written on it.

Otoh there was a child of similar age who wailed for the whole first half barring the last 10 minutes. The only reason they weren't wailing then was because they'd been asked to leave.

PseudoBadger · 21/03/2014 12:53

I took DS just turned 3 to a suitable for 3 year olds performance. He was petrified and we had to leave.

MmeMorrible · 21/03/2014 12:56

Don't really see the point of forking out lots of cash for theatre tickets for DC too young to understand what's going on.

polythenespam · 21/03/2014 12:57

YABU I'm afraid, she's far too young. I work in a theatre and the age guideline Disney have set for the Lion King is actually 6yo, not 3 - that's probably the theatre's normal guideline for any show without an age restriction.

Have you seen the stage show? The content is not really suitable for a 3yo, she could find it quite frightening in places - it's not the same as the film at all. During its run with us, there were quite a lot of children who had to be taken out because they were upset.

Unless you can guarantee that she will sit quietly for the duration, I don't think it's fair on other patrons either. It's an expensive show and I wouldn't want a squirming toddler next to me, it's not a panto.

Original poster
drivenfromdistraction · 21/03/2014 13:01

She won't be squirming next to anyone, she'll be in between DH and I.

I wouldn't have bought the tickets if she was the only child, it's more for the benefit of the older two.

I didn't know there was a recommendation of 6yo and over for the stage show, polythene - there wasn't anything in any of the promo posters or material to suggest that! I might have thought twice if I'd known that. Quite a few of the DC's friends have seen it, so I will ask them what they think.

I don't think I can guarantee she - or any of the DC - will sit quietly, who can guarantee anything about DC? I can only say that all of them have always sat quietly through every show they have been to, which is approx 4 or 5 a year.

OP posts:
Parliamo · 21/03/2014 13:04

If you think your child can sit through the whole performance without making any fuss, I would say yanbu. You know your dc best.My almost three year could, but I wouldn't want to take dnephew.

On the other hand, my dd went aged 4 to the lion king (not my idea, I would have saved the money until she could really appreciate it) and she spent most of the time with her hands over her ears because it was too loud. Given how loud she is, not something I would have predicted!

mrsjay · 21/03/2014 13:11

Lion king is amazing I think your 2 yr old will love it it is very colourful and loads going on and not just on stage some scray bits though but not too bad take her and keep shush , she is nearer 3 than 2 anyway

crazykat · 21/03/2014 13:21

If you think she'll be able to sit through it and are willing to take her out if she starts fussing then I'd take her. She's not far off 3 anyway.

I wouldn't take my 3yo but I know she wouldn't sit still past the first 10 minutes.

CSIJanner · 21/03/2014 13:21

Ii've just taken my 5yo to see it - fantastic but somenofnit was quite scary. Plus it's longer than the usual show - with the long interval, it was just over 3hrs in total. My 2yo would have found it too much. If you think your DC are okay with it, then go for it! Mine loved it. There were a lot if children at the performance however there was a scrap at a previous performance where a child was upset, paret refused to leave (£60 tickets and all) and the others who had also paid got a little frustrated with it all...

Nowhere · 21/03/2014 13:24

If you look at the website under age suitability section it quite clearly states that the age suitability is 6 plus and children under 3 will not be admitted into the theatre. YABVU.

www.thelionking.co.uk/plan-your-visit/london/

SJisontheway · 21/03/2014 13:27

6 weeks off 3. YANBU. Put it out of your head and stop worrying

WaitMonkey · 21/03/2014 13:29

The Lion King is too long for a three year old, and it's scary. I think YWNBU to take a 2 year old to a smaller production, but not for this. I'd even question it's suitability for the 4 year old to be honest.

Dancergirl · 21/03/2014 13:33

I agree with wait I know you've already got the tickets now but personally I know how expensive they are and it's just not worth the money when they're so young. It's a great show but more for older children really.

Couldn't you or your dh have just taken your 6 year old?

polythenespam · 21/03/2014 13:42

Squirming in front of me then, or having to let people out in the middle of a performance - you know what I'm saying about potential disruption.

People can say oh she'll love it but honestly, I've just worked through 6 weeks of this and I'm talking about 4/5 year olds leaving upset, let alone a 2yo. I've lost count of the amount of conversations I've had with colleagues wishing that people would pay attention to the age guideline, it's something that theatre staff are all agreed upon.

Ultimately it's up to you, and you won't be the only one with a child that age, but your niggling feeling is correct. If it were me I would be seeking a refund on her ticket based on them not telling you it was 6+.

Pregnantberry · 21/03/2014 13:55

YANBU, as long as you are willing to take her out if she gets disruptive or upset, however as others have said I would not take a 2 or 3 year old to see that show. 4 seems young as well. I would pin the min age for appreciating it as 6-8, depending on the maturity of the child.

Just a suggestion, but do you have any friends or relatives with older children who could go instead, if you could sort out childcare? I am just thinking that it could be a negative experience for your youngest two rather than a positive one.

Dancergirl · 21/03/2014 13:57

I just don't see the rush. These shows will be on for YEARS, why go now?

ilovesooty · 21/03/2014 13:58

If I'd paid a lot of money and my enjoyment was disturbed by a child whose parents had flouted the terms and conditions I'd be pretty fed up to be honest.

jay55 · 21/03/2014 14:08

It's really dull after the first 10minutes (which are terrific), I couldn't sit still don't see why a 2 year old could, though they'd be less noticible if they slept.

morethanpotatoprints · 21/03/2014 14:11

No disrespect but if this is a professional production and the seats are expensive. I have and I would have families with under age dc removed if they weren't silent.
It isn't fair on others, especially as you were told over 3 only.

diddl · 21/03/2014 14:12

I'd have sent my husband with just the oldest...BlushGrin

Nanny0gg · 21/03/2014 14:27

You're going to take her, aren't you?

Dancergirl · 21/03/2014 14:29

Yes of course she's going to take her!

Oh and there's a huge difference between a panto and the Lion King.

101handbags · 21/03/2014 14:34

What ilovesooty said.

shadylane · 21/03/2014 14:35

You w

shadylane · 21/03/2014 14:36

You won't get in with a two uear old. It says everywhere that is six plus and its also really young. Wait till she can actually enjoy it its a truly brilliant show.

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