How old was your DC when you first took him/her to a panto?

[fadingfast]

DS is 5 and I was thinking of taking him to the panto this year (Robin Hood). He's been to a puppet theatre before but never to a 'proper' theatre, and it's years since I've been to a panto. Obviously productions will vary, but do you think he will be old enough? Is it likely to be too scary?

(apologies to all the cultural-highbrows out there )

I was planning taking DS this year and he'll be 2.7!

we've booked this year for dd1 aged 5 (also has ASD) and dd2 aged 2.8.

we went to disney on ice with them last week, and they were ok then, and I figured panto would be less of an issue really, as no-one would mind an extra bit of excitement.

and we are off to see Justin Fletcher (was the reason I booked) so I know they'll sit still and watch him - they both adore him!

We didn't do it until DS was 5, and I think we were right to wait. He was old enough to be able to sit in his seat the whole time, join in at the right places,and understand that the scary bits were just on the stage.

I remember him saying to me, half way thru the second half "mummy, I'm enjoying this soooo much, I Never want it to end".

Granny came with us, bought him the light up toy wand thing, and enough sweets to make him sick in her spare bed later !!

I think if we had done it earlier, we would have had to put up with him squirming on our lapt thru half of it, scared at the scary bits, struggling at the loud bits (theatres and cinemas seem very loud to me), and I don't think any of us would have enjoyed it so much.

Where do you have to live to get Justin Fletcher in panto? We've got Jane from Rainbow.

I take DS to the cinema quite often so I know he is capable of sitting still for 90 minutes and isn't too perturbed by the loud noise.

DS was 2.4, DH took him with my mum, DD was a little baby then. He really enjoyed it and from I was told as good as gold. DH then tried him at the cinema a few months later but that was a completely different story

Justin is in panto in Horsham - not exactly the epicentre of anyhitng cultural or theatrical (apologies to any Horsham dwellers out there!)

I found out by chance, and as we live about 45 mins away thought it was an opportunity too good to miss.

the dds saw Justin at Legoland Live earlier this year, and were transfixed, so the poor man is going to have to put up with two excited little girls squeaking at him from the front row!

When my sister booked for us last year she asked if you paid for under 3s, and was told that under 3s weren't allowed. We took ds2 anyway (2.5). He was a bit scared by King Rat, and chatted throughout about what he was watching, but he sat on my mum's lap and I don't think he disturbed anybody around us.

took my DD to her first one at 3yrs old and she loved it. She even got a mention from the guy playing Buttons as we'd been chatting to him in Pizz Hut before the show. She was so excited

that's Pizza hut by the way

Just remembered following year (aged 4) we took her and there was an actress from Balamory playing the evil queen - that really freaked her out, she couldn't understand why Edie McCready had turned nasty.

Well the deed is done and have booked tickets now. Have played it safe by booking seats at the end of the row, and not right at the front (hopefully not too far back!).

Hopefully he'll be ok as he has a couple of little chums coming along too. Just a bit wary as I took him to some (family) fireworks last week, which he HATED!

Happy panto season to all!

We're taking our 4 yr old to panto for the 1st time. It's Cinderella with Justin Fletcher in Horsham, she loves cinderella, think she still loves Justin, god hope so .