Category: Theatre and live events
Children’s Theatre: Tiddler and Other Terrific Tales
Last week we headed to the Theatre Royal in Winchester to see the latest production from Scamp Theatre; Tiddler and Other Terrific Tales. We took Milla (4), Monty (3), Betsy and her buddy (13 & 15 months) and went with a big group of local friends. It was a perfect afternoon out. Any apprehension [...]
Children’s Ballet This Spring
Ballet is a pretty magical experience. There is the sheer beauty of how the dancers’ bodies move and losing yourself in the story they are telling – captivating. I noticed that there are a couple of ballets aimed at children performing this Easter. Firstly there is My First Sleeping Beauty from English National Ballet this [...]
Christmas at Marwell Wildlife
Last week we were invited to take the children to the opening night of Christmas at Marwell Wildlife. Santa having skydived into the park earlier in the day he was in residence at the house and ready for visitors. We visited after the park had closed and at five o’clock it was already dark. Fairy [...]
Children’s Theatre Review: The Magician’s Daughter
I’m on a one-woman campaign to encourage my family to love Shakespeare. Last month my husband and I went on a rare child-free day out to the Old Vic to see the wonderful Kevin Spacey as Richard III. He (my husband that is) dismissed it as ‘boring’ and ‘wordy’. I might divorce him soon. Luckily [...]
Cool Event: South Ken Kids Festival
South Ken Kids Festival is a literary extravaganza for children at Institut français in London. Held over four days there are a plethora of events and workshops featuring the biggest names in children’s literature. There will be drawing duels, workshops, talks, film, theatre and the opportunity to meet the authors and illustrators at book signings. [...]
Cool Spot: Alex James Presents Harvest 2011
Following two successful Harvest festivals at Jimmy’s this year saw the first Alex James Presents Harvest. A mix of musical, foodie and family entertainment it offers something a little bit different from your average summer festival. Held over three days on 9 – 11th September 2011 the festival featured performances from The Kooks, Athlete and [...]
Cool Spot: Wilderness Festival
Catherine is the author of Bristol Parenting Cafe and today is sharing her experiences and pictures of Wilderness Festival. Hooray – I’m finally back in the world of festivals after a five year absence! I heard about The Wilderness Festival back in June and in a rare moment of decisiveness booked tickets a few weeks [...]
Cool Spot: Just So Festival 2011
Last weekend saw the second annual Just So Festival held at Barneswood near Leek, Staffordshire. I took my family along to check it out on Sunday and Eve was there on Saturday. Just So Festival is all about the children with extras to keep their parents happy while they have fun. Held over three days [...]
Children’s Theatre Review: Bob, the Man on the Moon
A friend recently asked whether her two year old was too young to be taken his first trip to the theatre. My reply? No, of course! I love the theatre! One of my strongest memories is of being taken to Manchester’s Contact or Library theatres as a child and seeing all sorts of magical [...]
Cool Theatre: The Tiger Who Came to Tea
High on the list of my daughters favourite stories, The Tiger Who Came to Tea by Judith Kerr has been capturing the imagination of kids around the world since 1968. We visited the exhibition at the V&A Museum of Childhood in Bethnal Green a few weeks back (must visit alert!) which meant we definitely had [...]
Matilda Musical
The latest children’s book to be turned into a musical is Roald Dahl’s Matilda. The book is possibly one of his most loved and sees a down-trodden Matilda best her horrible family and positively beastly headmistress. The story is packed full of Dahl’s dark humour but ultimately it is about a seemingly weak child using [...]
Cool Spot: Camp Bestival 2011
Now I’ve washed the last load after the weekend in children’s paradise that is Camp Bestival, I can tell you about it. In case you don’t know (where have you been?) it’s an annual four-day festival organised by Rob and Josie da Bank, the husband-and-wife creative team behind Bestival, held in the stunning surroundings of [...]
Children’s Theatre Review: Scottish Opera’s BabyO
There are a couple of traditionally ‘adult’ things that my children seem to like. Eating olives for one, staying up late for two but opera? I wasn’t so sure, until we went to see Scottish Opera’s fantastic offering for babies, the aptly named BabyO. Nineteen month old Cora and I joined around 20 other parents and [...]
Children’s Theatre Review: Oliver Jeffers’ The Way Back Home
There are some stories I dread coming out of the bottom of the bookcase at bedtime, not so anything by Oliver Jeffers. Best known for his ‘Once there was a boy …’ series, the tales are gentle, accompanied by beautiful illustrations and perfect for getting Torin and Cora ready for bed. We recently went to [...]
Children’s Theatre Review: Oliver Jeffers’ Lost and Found
Having just seen Way Back Home in an intimate theatre seated on the floor we then saw Travelling Light’s version of Lost and Found inside a theatre with traditional tiered seating. I was worried the children might have been a bit detached from the action but I needn’t have been. The boy (who unlike the [...]
