recommendations: west end theatre with 5 years old

[forevermore]

Title says it all really. I want to take my Daughter to a show for her 5th birthday. Last year for her 4th Birthday I took her to see the Lion King and she loved it; still talks about it, and even asked for a 'Lion King Party' for her 5th birthday.

Anyway I want to stick with the formula. Any recommendations for young children appreciated.

Not sure about her fifth but I can recommend The Wizard of Oz for her sixth - although I'd book now because the tickets are selling really quickly!

The only two on at the moment that seem like they might be suitable are Oliver and Wicked, although I haven't seen either - maybe a bit dark for a just five yr old?

Joseph would be ideal - if you go to the Joseph homepage (there really is one ) it lists the tour dates and places.

I don't know whereabouts you are but Joseph is at the Birmingham Hippodrome Aug-Sept; that could be just as special a day out as the West End for her.

Oliver isn't reccomended for children that young, think it is a darker production, there is a domestic violence scene, Nancy is killed and there is a hanging too.

Wicked I would say also wait another year or two.

Joseph would be good I reckon, (only seen the tour not the WE version.

Mamma Mia ? Most 5 year old girls I know love the music (and film...). Don't think there's really anything in it offensive (awaits backlash).

oh and my Mum reckoned my dd would like hairspray and that there was nothing unsuitable in it but I havne't seen it.

the wizard of oz sounds fab, love the songs too (presume its a musical??)

Hairspray isn't on in the West End any more its touring. Nothing too unsuitable (or rather a youngster shouldn't understand the few things there are (song about an STD and some innuendo)

I personally wouldn't let a 5 year old watch Mamma Mia because of the thing with the mum sleeping with 3 men so not knowing who Sophie's father is but maybe I'm a prude. Not sure how much the stage version glosses over it.

When are you going? "Room On The Broom" (from the Julia Donaldson book) is on at the Garrick until 28th Aug (starts towards end of July).

Other than that, there's not much - I agree that Oliver isn't really appropriate - too nasty when Bill Sykes batters Nancy to death.

Does she like dancing? Stomp is good.

Took DD to see We Will Rock You (Queen musical) when she was six, and she loved it. A bit loud, but fun, and there were lots of other kids there, including some younger than her. Is is still on?

Ww Will Rock You is still on at the Dominion (brilliant show) I was just a little dodgy about some of the pseudo sado masochist style dances and references to waxing "pussys". Then again a high school dh works in did it last year so we knew the script very well and were proably looking out for those bits subconsciously. There is also a scene where Gallileo and Scaramouche have just had sex (she calls him Shagalleio) and towards the beginning Scaramouche yells bitch at one of the Ga Ga girls at the top of her voice.

In some ways I find it easier to explain bad language to dd than highly sexual scenes. Dh still won;t let her see Billy Elliot yet though.

Also if it is your dd's 5th birthday take her birth certificate with you. Most WE theatres are not licensed to admit under 5's (it is a problem for us as our kids are perfroming in a variety show at the end of the month and younger siblings can't go)so you mayneed to prove she is 5 depending on whether she is big/small for her age.

I am going to take my dd age 5 to Disney on Ice as they are touring Sept - Nov. I saw a similar show when I was a child and loved it. Slightly different from West End but just as good!

Islandofsodor - I had forgotten about those bits, but I think it all passed completely over the head of my DD - I certainly didn't get any awkward questions afterwards, unlike after the film of Mamma Mia when she was asking me why they didn't know which one was the father...

But I'm not in Scotland, or at least not very often.... might get confusing if she went back home and became exexpatinscotland though.... (and I hadn't seen her around on MN when I did my username)