Is this a rubbish present to give?

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Df is Turing 70 and I'm at a complete loss as to what to buy him. He is well off, has everything he wants and doesn't have any hobbies but prefers to work. I thought of paying my mum and dad plus me and my children to see a musical. Shrek is touring near us but just wondered if this would be a naff present ? Thoughts please as I'm worried people will think this is a funny present.

Why does you 8yo have to go? That changes what you can pick and makes it less about your DF likes.

Les Mis would be great for an 8 year old if they like musical theatre - my 8 year old is performing in Les Mis this year! Worth watching the film prior though so they can follow the plot/recognise the songs.

Tickets are a great present (as long as you've checked dates clear) or tickets for a day out if a musical not available - or even 'destination' tickets, you say you have hotel points so use them to take DF and family somewhere overnight and go out for lunch/dinner?

Is he a Shrek fan? If not then it is a bit odd for a 70 year old. How about a different sort of day out, like lunch on a steam train or a hot air balloon flight or something?

I was going to suggest theatre vouchers so he can choose.

I recently saw Kinky Boots and it was the best musical I've seen in a long time. Really funny, and incredible dancing. However, it's not suitable for young kids and is in London.

Theatre vouchers may be a compromise. Or have a look around for local theatres, some of my local small theatres put on great musicals. Also try national trust for their entertainment programme.

Yes to the theatre. No to Shrek for a 70 year olds present unless he’s a huge fan

If you can’t afford anything else for all of you, then just get two tickets for him and your mum, or for you and him. But Shrek is more of a gift for your children than your dad!

House of Rock is just brilliant and tickets not too crazily expensive. It's a small theatre, you don't need to buy particularly good seats.

Excellent idea in principle, provided he actually likes the theatre. Not Shrek, though!

If he is anything like my dad he would love anything that involved all the family, kids included, to go to. He wouldn't care that the show was a bit crap as long as everyone was there and having fun. A matinee show with tea somewhere afterwards would be good. I guess you know your DF best and if he would like this.

Lion king might be better. I didn't rate Shrek as a performance.

If you can get to London, "Hamilton" has won just about every award going - I haven't seen it myself but it has had rave reviews.

Regent's park have Peter Pan and As you like it available at the moment.

I've bought vouchers for my mum before so she can choose what she wants to watch. Worked out what the average prices were and gave her enough vouchers for x2 tickets.
It was for a specific theatre. But they run loads of shows and she loved it.

What about afternoon tea for you DF and DM (plus you and family if you can afford) at a really posh hotel?

I'd be chuffed to bits with a family outing to Shrek, and so would my dad (he's 75).

There's a website for this. As an aside, I would quite like tickets for this but I'm neither 70 nor male.

britishtheatre.com/sasha-regans-all-male-iolanthe-uk-tour/

TheFirstMrsOsmond OP has already said she can't afford London ticket prices and Hamilton tickets are hugely expensive.

It just depends on his taste. My DF (same age) would love tickets for Wagner, but really wouldn't enjoy Shrek.

What music does he listen to? What films/books does he love? My DF lives Hitchcock, so I once got tickets for us all to go to the stage version of The 39 Steps. A PG Wodehouse stage adaptation was another hit. Something related to his interests.

What about The Mousetrap. Tickets are often.on offer

Duchessofsussex I assumed OP meant she could not afford London tickets for the whole family but she may be able to if she just gave them to her parents.

I'm not sure making him take an 8yo to the theatre is a very relaxing present!

My fil would be ok with it and dsf who are around that age but I wouldn't do it for them rather them accompany us. I have bought theatre tickets for both as gifts for special birthdays which they loved but it was Cirque de soleil for dsf and We will rock you for fil.

Could you just go to London and treat him to an experience instead? London Eye, posh afternoon tea, boat trip something like that?

I find that kind of person difficult to buy for. Nights away go down well with mine as do posh hampers. The whisk hampers ploughman's one, and anything from Hotel Chocolate or Carluccios.

Srek wouldn't be my idea of a present for a 70 year old...I'd think the buyer was getting more from the gift than the receiver...

Why not Pay for your mum and dad to have a romantic meal out in a restaurant, just the two of them (and a movie too if there's any films on that would appeal to them)

Hmm unless he's a Shrek fan it seems like it's a gift of a babysitter to yourself! What kind of shows/ entertainment does he like?

How about Matilda, Annie, Cats, Gangsta Granny or Madagascar?

Nice thought, but I don't think a 70 year old man will like Shrek, is there any other musical that you could go to. Or just treat your mum and him to a musical in London or mabey one of the local theatres. They often put on shows from the West End.