If you are seeking to keep small children entertained this Easter, there's no need to sit around gorging on chocolate with so many egg-citing cultural experiences on offer throughout the UK. This week's edition of Listed suggests a range of choices, some in London, some touring, in theatres and beyond. Choose from sing-a-long characters and historical adventures, kooky eco-warriors and Shakespearean puppetry shows.
The Unicorn Theatre
The primary London venue for children's theatre is home to two shows this Easter. At the End of Everything Else combines music, puppetry and animation in the quirky, imaginative tale of a young girl named Icka who embarks on an eco-mission. 8+ For younger ones, The Velveteen Rabbit is a charming adaptation of the classic heart-warming tale by Margery Williams. 4+
The Energy Show, Science Museum.
Culture goes kaboom. If you like your theatre dangerous, take your school-aged kids down to the Science Museum or catch The Energy Show as it embarks on a madcap UK-wide tour. See bubbles exploding into flame and dodge speeding rockets as two futuristic students experiment on pretty much anything they can find. 7+
My First Ballet: Coppélia, Peacock Theatre
A perfect debut to the ballet for little dance lovers, the My First Ballet series by the English National Ballet continues with Coppélia Enter a magical world of dolls come to life, a narrated tale and a condensed musical score – an ideal way to introduce the most tiddly of peeps to the structure of a full-length classical ballet. 3+
Sleeping Beauty in the Wood, Elgar Room, Royal Albert Hall
Little Angel’s mixed-media show is more Grimm than Disney despite its princesses and fairies. Direct from the Norwich Puppet Theatre, it tells the traditional tale of the magic spell cast upon Briar Rose that will enthrall young audiences. 3+
Disney on Ice: Worlds of Fantasy, touring
Just for one day, let your little ones wear the most frou-frou of frocks and the spangliest head gear imaginable, embrace a bit of saccharine mayhem and full on indulge in an ice spectacular, as their favourite Disney characters from Toy Story, The Little Mermaid, Tinker Bell and Cars magically come alive on the ice. 2+
Greenwich Children’s Theatre Festival
Imaginations will be captured by a feast of programming for young minds at this year’s annual children's theatre festival. Perfectly timed for the Easter holidays, the line-up includes a powerful puppet show from the author of The Neverending Story, Momo (7+); have a giggle at Signor Baffo the silly chef (5+); or be swept away by Sell A Door’s adaptation of Robert Louis Stevenson’s Kidnapped (6+).
Hetty Feather, Rose Theatre Kingston
Recently voted as the fans’ favourite Jacqueline Wilson character, Hetty Feather's feisty feats are here told through music and circus skills in Emma Reeves’ play. The show is a terrific romp through the streets of Victorian London as Hetty escapes from hospital, discovers Tanglefields Travelling Circus and searches for her real family.
Adventures with Sam: On the Farm, touring
There are many large-scale touring theatre productions for kids at the moment – Peppa Pig’s Big Splash, The Sooty Show, Not Now Bernard, Pirate Gran and The Lion King to name but a few. But what better for a springtime frolic than a musical farmyard caper with a whole host of animal adventures? Sam will be stopping off at the Old Fire Station, Oxford (12 April), Rhoda McGaw Theatre, Woking (16 April), Arts Depot Theatre, North Finchley (18 April) and the Mill Studio at Yvonne Arnaud Theatre, Guildford (19 April). 3+
Shakespeare: The Puppet Show, V&A
The Victoria & Albert Museum is bringing its extensive puppet collection to life this Easter in a brand new musical play for children, for an in-house Shakespeare Festival. The show will be short and sweet – 30 minutes – and will entrance young minds with the Bard’s most iconic words, characters and stories.
CBeebies Live!, The Big Band Easter tour
Get up close and personal with Mr Tumble, Mr Maker and Mr Bloom in this fun-filled musical extravaganza. The brand-new CBeebies Easter show is touring to Nottingham, Manchester, Cardiff, Liverpool, Birmingham and Sheffield. There’ll be science with Nina and the Neurons and Rastamouse is on hand to make a bad ting good.
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