Taking 3yo DD to Matilda theatre performance

[RedRobyn2021]

The site recommends 6+ but I don't believe it's enforced, just recommended

My daughter has a fantastic attention span (she will sit and do puzzles aimed at 5yo) and I have taken her to the cinema before where she has been enamoured for 2 hours. So I have absolutely no concerns about her being well behaved and enjoying the show.

I just want to know if it's too scary?

I went to see it in NY years ago myself but I can't really remember it except I thought it was fantastic

There are a couple of bits that might make her jump

It is a fantastic show. But I wouldn't personally waste that much money taking a 3 year old .

I've taken my DD4 to the theatre recently, but at 3 she was actually quite scared of them, and wanted to leave after 3 minutes! At that age She had an amazing concentration span, happily went to cinema etc ...

If you're prepared the leave just as it starts then crack on.

I would have thought there were much more accessible, better and cheaper options for a 3 year old... Stuff for that age group... somewhere it won't actually matter if she wants to stand up, shuffle around and sit in your lap, cry/chatter etc
Try her out on something like Chicken Shed or a kids performance. It will be cheaper and you'll get a feeling for if she actually will it perfectly quietly for 2 hours...

She’s too young. It’s totally unfair on other theatre goers. Just wait until the recommended age.

honestly op? save it until 5 years old

Leave it a few years, she’ll enjoy it so much more. Live theatre is much more intense an experience that cinema.

The age group might be to assist other theatre goers not just the child themselves

I wouldn’t do it, she won’t remember and it’s a hell of a lot of money. Do it when she’s a little older.

Take her to a children's show instead.
You've got years ahead of you for theatre visits. Pace yourselves.

I took DDto the theatre at that age to see a numberjacks show (which May age her) and even though she loved the programme the number taker character live scared her and she still remembers it now.

we went again at 6 and she just managed to sit through

theatre is along time sitting, the seating views can be awful (totally not as good as conema) and the Matilda theatre is one. There are also some scary moments (itsRoald Dahl)

maybe watch the movie version based on the theatre to see

Here are some toddler/preschool shows that is more appropriate for a 3 year old

Handa's Surprise
www.littleangeltheatre.com/whats-on/handas-surprise/

Princess and the Pea
https://www.unicorntheatre.com/events/the-princess-and-the-pea

You could try for The Enormous Crocodile ... But is she's anything like my DD at 2-3, she'll think the crocodile is real and get scared!
We tried Room on The Broom around 3 ... And she thought the dragon would eat everyone and wanted to leave as soon as the music started for the beginning of the show...

The theatre won’t let her in. Recommended age is 6+ and min age will be 4 or 5. Whilst her attention span may be brilliant for her age, most of the show is beyond her understanding because she is too young not because she isn’t bright enough. Understanding comes with age too.

I wouldn’t waste the money right now and definitely would wait until she’s older. We went in school holidays and there were so many under 6 who were fidgeting or resting on parents laps. They didn’t disturb anyone but I would have been gutted to spend that much in that case. My 7 year old was captivated by the entire show. It certainly it fantastic

The fact that you as an adult can’t remember the show might give you a hint about how much it will mean to a three year old. She won’t get any of the school references to start with….

Great that you want her to learn to love theatre, but start her off with something appropriate, if you are in London try the Little Angel Marionette Theatre, or one of the childrens shows they put on at the Unicorn, or look out for some of the Julia Donaldson shows which also go to places outside London.

Save Matilda until she is old enough to understand some of the references, and to realise that Miss T isn’t representative of most teachers ( nor is Ms Honey, but she is closer to the mark.)

Yes the whole plot line of the escapologist uses some spooky effects, loud noises etc as well as being dark in nature. It take up way more of the plot than it does in the filmed musical, there's several returns to it dotted about and all very intense with distorted voice overs etc

The plot of matilda it's self can be quite frightening eg scary parents, scary teachers, locking children in a jail filled with nails, and adults hurting/shouting at kids

The musical definitely is more intense
I love it but would definitely skip it with a 3 year old.

It's more intense than the film

It's one thing for her to have good concentration in the quiet familiarity of her own home doing something she has chosen to do. However being taken to a theatre full of hundreds of people, plunged into darkness then very loud music being played will be totally overwhelming. Start her off with productions aimed at small children to get her used to the theatre experience first.

Also, try out Chicken Shed in Cockfosters. Cheap and full on interactive for small kids.

Ps if a three year old annoys me in the cinema it is bad enough, but I haven’t paid a huge amount for the seat, whereas if I have paid £50 or £60 for a theatre seat and your three year old was disturbing me, I would be letting you and the theatre ushers know about it!

I worked for a major west end theatre company/owner for well over a decade and whilst it's not official, they really didn't want children over 7 (3 year olds are just too little still for the seats - how would she fare with a 6 foot bloke in front of her?)

I went to Cinders, the ballet, at Christmas time, and some mother let her tiny child talk loudly throughout. It ruined it. The child was just too young to be there

That’s not the place to start with theatre. We have been taking DD to shows since 2 but they are short (under 1hr, no interval) productions aimed at preschoolers. They are a huge hit but everyone there including the performers encourages preschooler behaviour. They are relaxed and interactive.

Nobody going to see Matilda wants a 3 year old there.

DD wanted to go to Frozen which is also 6+ but at 4.5 we have said no. I’d probably take her from 5.5 as she’s used to theatre but no younger.

A quick Google shows they will not admit her, except at a Relaxed Performance

@AlltheFs O/T but Frozen is closing this summer, if you are wanting to take her.

Have you read Matilda recently? It’s got some dark stuff in it, I wouldn’t let my 3YO watch the movie at home, because I think it’s only suitable for 5+. I also think following the story which is a more complex than a lot of kids movies, might be harder than you think so I wouldn’t assume she’d sit through it just because she watches other films and/or can do a 5+ jigsaw - so can my 3YO and I know he wouldn’t follow Matilda.

It’s also really expensive especially for good seats, which you’ll want as little ones can struggle to see from miles away, and would be such a waste even if she just tolerates it without disturbing anyone, you want her to be enthralled and to love it!

I doubt it’s going anywhere, save it for a couple of years, I took my eldest for her 6th birthday which was bang on IMO. I’d also recommend Frozen for a first proper musical. It’s much more age appropriate and usually easy to find cheap(er) seats. I’d still wait for DD to be 4 even for that though.

If you are south London then the polka in Wimbledon is an amazing children's theatre.

It's a great show, but it's expensive and she won't remember going at 3. Save it til she's 6 or 7 and spend the money and time on something more age appropriate.

Don't it is jumpy you possibly will end up having to leave. Wait until she is the recommended age.