Plays to take an 11 year old to watch (not musicals)

[SweetSakura]

My daughter really enjoys acting and we have been to watch quite a number of musicals but what she would really like to see are some plays which aren't musicals but I am struggling to find any I think she would enjoy. I would love some recommendations. We are on the south coast but happy to travel a bit

Apologies that was basically one long rambling sentence!

She's the perfect age for The Play That Goes Wrong or Peter Pan Goes Wrong if it's still touring.

Our local theatres often have more youth-oriented stuff around Christmas - I think this year there's a Robin Hood heist which looks good.

Also what about Ballet Shoes at the National?

Are you concerned about adult content, her comprehension or her being bored? I'm asking genuinely because my parents were active in local amateur dramatics and took us to anything and everything once we started high school, you might be surprised by what she can appreciate and enjoy. E.g. I saw Shadowlands, Abigails Party, Talking Heads, The Travelling Salesman at that age, I loved all of them even if I couldn't appreciate them fully through an adult lens. You could look at amateur theatres local to you.

There are a lot of small touring companies that specialise in children's plays. Often they are affordable enough that you can take a chance on them and see several for the same price as you would pay for a larger scale production. Your local library or community centre would be a good way to find out about what's coming to your area.

Other than that, it's panto season soon - most towns have professional and amateur pantomimes that are a lot of fun.

In terms of big hitters, any of the Goes Wrong series are great. Or perhaps one of the old classics like An Inspector Calls or The Mousetrap etc.

I'm not too worried about adult content (she has teenage siblings) and I am quite keen to get her the point of seeing all manner of plays including Shakespeare. But I would like the first one to be one that really engages her if that makes sense? Then we can branch out and be a bit more adventurous.

She's doing lamda exams through drama school and enjoys the variety of scripts she gets

Ooh never mind her ,I would love to see this! Fabulous will look it up!

The play that goes wrong recommendations also sound perfect!

The Mousetrap was very good. The version I saw was certainly suitable for children but worth checking latest reviews in case of reinterpretation
https://uk.the-mousetrap.co.uk
This is properly funny and age appropriate. I'd recommend she sees one of the films first though so she can follow what's going on. It's not serious theatre but inventive.
https://www.londontheatre.co.uk/show/316-the-39-steps?utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaignid=11060757766&utm_adgroupid=159880558501&utm_adid=701025761168&utm_term=the%2039%20steps&utm_matchtype=b&utm_campaign=TTG_LT_g_uk_acq_search_shows&utm_adgroup=Shows_The_39_Steps_All&gad_source=1&gbraid=0AAAAADQb_BnsxeSXMZ4E-7xleem4zgLPH&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIuaTZ56jZiAMVSYBQBh3udBcFEAAYAyAAEgK9r_D_BwE
We took the kids [11 & 13] to the Globe this summer to see Much Ado About Nothing which they thoroughly enjoyed. DD1 had done the play at school [and complained about it all year] but DD2 had not and had no idea. Both found it funny and could follow what was happening.

I'd second the 39 Steps. Thoroughly age appropriate.

It's also quite short which is nice. No more than 1.5 hrs end to end which is dead handy if you want to run for a train or have dinner afterwards.

39 Steps is fantastic!

Cluedo is too, and I think it's still touring.

Also, The Time Machine (some of them were involved in Goes Wrong when it first started).

Agree about The Globe, probably anything there. Ok, maybe not Titus Andronicus!

Depends where you are on the south coast but most things at Chichester Festival Theatre? Stranger things is also basically a play. The old vic has great plays also.

Yes I'm really keen to get her to the Globe or to RSC Stratford but I think I would like to build up to Shakespeare first, but I definitely remember enjoying Shakespeare in my early teens

At that age I loved Agatha Christie plays. So many twists I never saw coming.

Yes, that's a lot of fun, being part of the collective gasp.

I still like it now! (And I am much much older than 11.)

Thank you that's a really good idea too !

Globe should be fine for the comedies. I wouldn’t do any of the tragedies though. I still remember being really on edge at one of the Macbeth productions years ago. Brilliant but really bloody and lots of jumps/scares especially as everyone standing had to put their head through a back cloth so you couldn’t see what was going on by your feet.

not the right reason now but have a look at the programme for the open air theatre in Regent’s Park. There’s often a really accessible programme. I was looking at a Christmas carol at old vic for mine. Also might want to think about Harry Potter and the cursed child. War horse is touring at the moment which also might be a good experience. It’s definitely at Southampton (not sure if that is close or not) but not sure what other southern theatres.

Thank you all 🌟
We took her to Cluedo 2 tonight as it was fairly near, and she absolutely loved it!! She was roaring with laughter and although some jokes went over her head she absolutely appreciated the craft and the staging involved. And , having had to try and figure out how to "die" on stage without hurting herself,.she loved the character who grabbed a cushion to land on as he died

I am going to follow some more of these suggestions now, as and when we can. But I do wanted to make sure the first "non musical " we saw was a good one, and this hit the spot perfectly