Pantos!

[Journey2]

What age for those who have, were your children when they went to their first pantomime? Am unmming and arraghing at the mo!

5yo

We do a lot of kids' theatre but have never done a panto yet mainly because they tend to go on so long - 7.30 to 10pm is not unusualy here so even a matinee is 2.50 - 5pm.
Mine are 7, 5, 3 btw. Been going to kids theatre (like The Gruffalo, 1hr long) since DS1 was about 3 so DS2 has been going since birth lol.

I took my DD at 2.0. It was the to local church, and she did fall asleep near the end. But loved it..

Still talkes about it now (and the fact that she went on the stage and got a GREEN lolly)....

Helped that Postman Pat and Jess, made an appearance in the panto.....

We are definately going again this year....

i'm taking my ds(5) this year to his first panto. no idea which one yet though!

4 and 5 - the Aladdin at the Old Vic with Ian McKellen - wild success, even though it was an evening show which you'd think was too much for them. There was a slapstick bit that dd (then 4) loved so hilariously that 3 rows in front all turned to gawp at her.

Should note that all the under-5s were on their mum's knee by the end, so clearly quite close to their limit. So 5 probably good rough guide.

IME the ones by the am dram groups in the church hall are just as effective as the big professional ones when you start taking them - it's just as much fun (for the children - you might be cringing!) and obviously much cheaper

agree, our church panto is excellent.. and as you haven't forked out a fortune, if the worst comes to it, you can always take them home..

Also, I think people are far more tolerent of 'fiesty' children...

We're taking DD (3.5) this year for the first time after seeing the enthralled success of Dora (it was embarrassing having to explain to her, loudly, that the interval was "like adverts" - I tried "they are having a break" and she looked baffled... mention adverts and its "ooooooooooooooh!" )

know what you mean about adverts.. DD has only just started to watch Nick J etc and has started to say "I wish I had that" at every advert..

Today I didn't flick over from CBeebies, wonder if I can keep this up until after Christmas....

I've worked on pantos big and small for the last 18 years! agree that 5 ish is about as young as can deal with a big panto. then noise, the bangs, the scary bits,the length of the show etc. smaller community shows may be more suited for younger ones.

My favs are probadly family shows at christmas, about 70 mins or less straight through. so no interval and normally aimed at a specific age group and their families and school groups. look out for them at arts centres or in smaller venues.

Agree with you there unisarah, we are going to see the Little Mermaid at our local uni theatre. £5 a ticket as well so a lot cheaper than the £15 panto in town.

Took DD and her best friend when they were 4. Cinderella. DD was quite distraught by the fact that the Prince Charming was a woman in thigh length boots and the ugly sisters were fellas. Kept shouting in a whingy voice 'but I want a real prince'!

3.5 she was a bit bored but we enjoyed it.