To not take my kids to the theatre?

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My kids (preschool and primary age) have seen some shows at Butlins etc and really loved them. But there's only one theatre near us at home, and the costs seem extortionate. Even for short, child friendly shows (less than an hour) it's £20-25 per ticket, making it a £125 outing for an hour's entertainment which just doesn't seem like good value. Or we could get it down to £100 if only one adult went etc.

Comparing this to the cost of say, soft play where we can stay as long as we want for less than £30 for everyone, or a trip to the farm etc it just seems crazy.

So AIBU to let my children miss out on this? Or am I depriving them of a good cultural experience?

I guess I might feel differently in future when they're all older and maybe the shows are longer or I feel they'll get more out of it.

Agree the 50 mins preschool shows are a rip off and usually full of same old crap jokes.

Save your money for when they can sit through proper theatre and musicals which are amazing in my opinion!

YANBU. There are other things they will enjoy much more for the money tbh.

Don't feel quilty at that age they won't remember it. When dd was little we used to go to ameteur shows at community centers. They were more intimate, cheaper and so much fun. Like @turkeymuffin said save it until they are older You can often get cheaper matinee performances and good value seats. Im a grandma now and gift dgd theater tickets for her birthday or Christmas rather than buying stuff, perhaps when they are older that might be an idea. And just to add dgd never visited a theater until she was 7.

Agree! I would try local free museums and art galleries etc. not sure where you live in the world but in Leeds we have an amazing city museum that is totally free and very tactile and child friendly.

The art gallery is also free and they love seeing little ones in there, my DS is always made a fuss of when we visit.

We also have cheep council owned country parks etc, it’s really worth looking at the cultural / entertainment section of your councils website as there is often some hidden gems.

I am currently on holiday in an EU touristy area and have found a little science museum and history museum for €3 - both were fab, and both found on their local websites.

The theatre is really out of our reach, we almost went to the Yorkshire playhouse a couple of weeks ago, but it would of cost us £210 for THREE people

When older take them to kids free week in London and you do only need one adult to go

school and scouts etc do cheap panto trips so maybe they will get chances anyway

My kids love the theatre. We always do a panto at Christmas and then another couple of shows in the year. Maybe wait until there is something particularly good on and go as a rare treat.

I don’t think it’s necessarily worth taking kids to things like live versions of Peppa Pig etc.

I do think it’s lovely to take them to a kid-appropriate play or musical or a panto at Christmas but it absolutely is a very expensive treat, so I can completely see why you wouldn’t want to spend that much, especially when your kids are so little. It’s a crazy amount for money for one evening/afternoon.

Might be worth looking to see if they are any amateur shows being put on near you, as they are usually cheaper but still fun, especially for kids, and the standard can be remarkably high sometimes.

Shakespeare North Playhouse do pay what you can tickets for every performance.
They have some really great funny shows in the garden that are very child friendly.
Click on the link under the FAQs

shakespearenorthplayhouse.co.uk/whats-on/how-to-book/

My GC were 5 & 7 when I took them to their first panto. We are lucky that we get shows in our local leisure center and community centers. So they are cheap enough to see how it goes. They absolutely don't have to go yet.

Look for local am dram productions. Those are usually pretty cheap and it's likely that young children will enjoy them just as much.

Entirely up to you whether you want to spend money on the theatre or prefer to spend it on other things. I personally think soft play is a rip off so wouldn't spend money on that, but clearly you feel differently.

We only have one theatre locally. However, they do offer '2 for Tuesday' tickets which are good value.

They also have some seats which are 'restricted viewing' for about £10-15 each. We booked these for the tour of 'Six' (mainly b/c children LOVE it and myself and OH weren't that fussed). 4 of us should have been £180 and we saw it for £80. We could see fine.

Most theatres will also sell reduced tickets on the day.

We've also seem some cracking productions by the amateur groups- tickets not usually more than £12-15 p/p.

Absolutely this.
And the Christmas show at Shakespeare North is Alice in Wonderland, also at good prices.
You need to do your homework, OP, and research what is on near you. But when you see the faces of children at live theatre, you just can't beat it. And maybe it will give them a lifelong love of theatre, which is very precious.

Have a look for youth theatres, production can be really good and super cheap