Young children at the theatre

[offtoseethewizard]

Hi, has anyone taken a two year old to the theatre? and if so, what did you see? did they enjoy it? sit still..not want to walk about etc? and is it a good idea generally or do you think it's too young?

We took ds1, dd and ds2 to see Fireman Sam on Stage. Ds1 was 5, dd 2.10, ds2 3 months - they all loved it! Sat transfixed. We bought a DVD of the show about a year later, and they all STILL watch it (ds1 is 7 now!)

I took dd to the theatre when she was 2 to see children's schow like Noddy and Hi-5. I took her to the panto when she was 4.

SHe is now 6 and I took her to see Lion King earlier in the year.

Children do get very restless so unless it is a soecial children's show then I wouldn't take a very6 small child in case they disturb others.

Think it's a bit too young for anything other than a panto where it doesn't matter if they make too much noise.

I took dd2 to watch a panto at this age, but wouldn't have liked to take her to watch anything else.

Took her at age 4 to watch CATS and she loved it!!

Dd1 was too scared to go watch anything in a theatre at that age, bless her.

DD went to age appropriate shows at that age, and enjoyed them.

DD is 6 now and loves going to the theatre to see shows. As well as the standard children's shows she has also been to see The Nutcraker ballet and Beauty and the Beast. We are off to see Joseph in November.

Childrens's shows have included CBeebies Live, The Gruffalo, High School Musical on Ice, Disney on Ice, Fun Song Factory, Wheels on the Bus, Dora, The Wiggles, Barney, etc.

I took DS when he was 18 months to something called "Egg and Spoon" especially designed for young children. It was fab, and if you ever see it on anywhere grab the chance.

DS and his friend were the youngest kids there by some margin I would say though.

I took my son at the age of 12 months to see Tweenies Live. He loved it and behaved beautifully.

When my son was three years old I took him to see "Joseph and the Techicolor Dreamcoat" on tour at St Albans Arena. He loved it although he found sitting still for two hours a challenge, especially in the second half. However he wanted to go again.

If you do take small children to anything other than a panto I suggest you bring plenty of quiet toys, food and drink.

My dd 3 loves anything with music and dancing, we've been to a few - but generally we have known someone who was performing (cousins etc) and she loved to spot them.

Please do take your children to the theatre!! I am a drama teacher and often come across children who have never been. I think it's a shame for them not to have experienced it at all.

I would encourage you to look out for children's theatre companies that put on theatre pieces rather than the big puppet style shows which tend to be a bit like watching the TV.

Polka theatre are touring a show for ages 0-3. I can't seem to find their tour schedule but I know they are going to London and end up with a run in Stirling at the Macroberts. Don't know what it will be like mind you but it sounds nice.

Took my two boys (4 & 2) to see chitty chitty bang bang. They loved it, but it was a really late night for them, so they did get a bit restless towards the end.

We took dd1 to the circus at that age, she was terrified!

Recently took both dd1 (now 4) and dd2 (18 mo) to see Cbeebies stage show, they both loved it, dd2 was transfixed the whole way through. Some other lo's of a similar age seemed frightened and screamed when the lights went down.

I think it's worth trying with a kiddy show and see how you get on.

i agree totally. there are lots of kiddy shows eg boogie pete or milkshake and they are totally age appropriate. a good introduction to the theatre. we saw both this summer and even our 14 month old enjoyed them both (the 3 yr old LOVED them!). not worth a more serious production though til maybe 4?

The only thing I have found is that even shows geared towards children tend to by too long, ime. Our local theatre often has things like Tv characters shows and they are generally 2 hours long with an interval. Maybe because the tickets are expensive they feel the need to drag it out!

Another theatre does little shows on a Saturday afternoon which are around 45-60 mins long and are a good easy introduction for little ones. Maybe see if there is something like that nearby first?

BTW my dd used to be scared when the lights went down and everyone started clapping and cheering at the start. I remember once taking a day off work to take her to something and having to leave after a few minutes

YOu would have to pay me to take my kids to any of those TV based character stuff.

Intorduce them to real decent theatre early on

Village halls often have some great stuff - puppets etc.

And please don't feed them during the show..it is not done

One of the best shows I took my son to was Gruffalo Live

www.gruffalolive.com/

"And please don't feed them during the show..it is not done "

Get a life, provided its not noisy and doesn't make a mess what is the problem. Families need to encouraged into threatre.

I am not going to stop taking my six year old to theatre when I have new baby. If the new baby needs a breastfeed in the middle of the show I will sit with my son and breastfeed the new baby. I won't let the baby cry and ruin the performance for everyone.

oNE OF THE BEST PLACES OT GO Is the Edinburgh frindge in August.

There are loads oaf fabulous shows aimed at kids.

I took mine ot 7 in one day once - some theyloved some the didn;t but we had a fabulous timing talking about it and walking out of some too.

Hamlet the Mus8ical was a dream - 10 year old loved (and no he is not a swat)

Fairy tales form around the world
The Gruffalo
etc etc.

a real joy

Mine have gone to the local theatre for pantomines and childrens shows since they were tiny. However DD was petrified of the curtains , but thankfully ok once the shows started. Our local theatre always provided a creche for under 3's I wouldn't dream of taking a baby into a theatre, even the children's shows.

We went to see High School Musical and there were far too many little ones who couldn't sit still and as soon as there was any talking or slow songs they got fidgity and noisy, which was just about bearable. Also at the time they were selling light sabres outside and a lot of the little ones were more interested in playing with them and I spent the last 2 songs with this light sabre being waved in my face. The tickets were £45 which is lot of money for it to be ruined by others.

My ds did see Beauty and the Beast and Doctor Doolittle when he was about 3, but he was always very good at sitting still.

Personally I thought The Gruffallo was too long ( but it is one of our favourite stories at home so I suppose I slightly resented what they did to it to make it into a show!)

ds loved the gruffalo show when he was 3
so much so we bought the dvd and he watched it every night for ages

Polka Theatre in Wimbledon in brilliant.

Hammersmith Lyric do Saturday shows from touring companies specialising in children.

Have taken my 3 year old to many shows at Polka, she has loved them all. They do tour some shows too, as mentioned above.

Took my (then) 2 yr old DS to see Peter Pan last year under extreme duress (a friend's kids were starring in it). He was a bit of a nightmare, to be honest, and we left in the interval. That said, he loved CBeebies Live and the Wiggles. I think lively, interactive stuff suits him (and most toddlers!) better, rather than something you have to sit and watch quietly.

Seconding the vote for the Polka Theatre. Excellent children's shows, the under 2's are usually just 30 minutes long. When they have shows for the older children (Charlie and Lola was 5+) They do special 'watch with baby' shows so that the whole family can go. Note to self do NOT go to those shows unless you have a young child other wise the background noise will make you want to gnaw your own limbs off. If you have your own wee one you won't even notice

I'd also like to recommend Travelling Light chldren's shows (they tour the country). They are children focussed and not normally more than an hour long. I took DD to a show at six months and she was transfixed, often there isn't any talking just magical things with lights and movement. I adored it as well! Def more fun than panto for me.

Took ds to Postman Pat. Took dd to an opera at 3. We've also done English National ballet, the Proms and a couple West End shows. However unless it is a children's show or panto I really think 5 is a minimum age to expect them to concentrate that long without sweets, toilet breaks, talking inappropriately etc. They can be a distraction for others who after all have often paid good money to see a show as much as a pain for you.