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Little Bulb, Four Seasons, Battersea Arts Centre, 2024
Photo: Paul Blakemore

Children's theatre in London - the best shows for kids of all ages

From tiny tots to older kids, we've got your next family theatre trip covered

Andrzej Lukowski
Edited by
Andrzej Lukowski
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It's never to early to introduce kids to the magic of theatre: there are literally shows for babies. But if your kids are a bit older than that, don’t worry: London's bursting with shows that'll delight junior audiences of all sorts. There are gentle puppet shows for toddlers. Bright and shiny, song-stuffed adventures for young kids. Smart dramas that are sure to hold teenagers rapt. And spectacular musicals that are perfect for the whole family (or just adults looking for a great night out)

Our kids’ theatre page normally contains information for all the main children’s shows running in London theatres this month and next month, and is broken down into three categories.

Theatre for all the family is suitable for any age, including adults without children.

Theatre for older children is specifically aimed at school-age children and teenagers.

Theatre for babies, pre-schoolers and younger children does what the title suggests, and also includes shows suitable for younger school-age children.

See also:

101 things to do in London with kids.

The best child-friendly restaurants in London.

The top 9 museums in London for kids.

Theatre for all the family

The Lion King
  • 3 out of 5 stars
  • Theatre
  • Musicals
  • Covent Garden
  • Recommended

Nothing prepares you for the sheer impact of 'The Lion King's opening sequence…

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Matilda the Musical
  • 4 out of 5 stars
  • Theatre
  • Musicals
  • Seven Dials
  • Recommended

Matthew Warchus's RSC production of Dennis Kelly and Tim Minchin’s Roald Dahl adaptation remains a treat.

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  • Theatre
  • Shakespeare
  • South Bank

As is now traditional at Shakespeare’s Globe, its outdoor programming gets underway with a truncated pre-season Shakespeare play aimed at schoolkids. This year it’s ‘Romeo and Juliet’ that gets the 90-minute treatment.

Six the Musical
  • 3 out of 5 stars
  • Theatre
  • Musicals
  • Strand
  • Recommended

This short musical romp through the (after)lives of Henry VIII’s six wives is perfect for adults and secondary school kids alike.

Theatre for primary school children and older

  • Theatre
  • Children's
  • Regent’s Park

Proving that it’s never too late to try something new, the Open Air Theatre kicks off its ninety-second season with something it’s never done before: staging a show in March. ‘Bear Snores On’ is, to be clear, a short play for children aged four-plus that will only run during the daytime and should therefore allay any serious thread of hypothermia.

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  • Theatre
  • Children's
  • Battersea

Fresh from their Christmas show ‘Wolf Witch Giant Fairy’ at the Royal Opera House, charming musician-based company Little Bulb change of gear for a more intimate show for kids aged three to seven, that follows a team of ‘magic gardeners’ celebrating the wonder of nature.

  • Theatre
  • Children's
  • Canonbury

This intriguing mini-musical is aimed at an older-than-usual Little Angel audience (ages ten-plus) and relocates various figures from Greek mythology to an American high school-style setting. Combining knitted puppets and punk rock tunes, ‘Medusa’s First Kiss’ is by Holly Mallett and P Burton-Morgan, it’s billed as ‘Percy Jackson meets Heartstopper’.

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  • Theatre
  • Children's
  • Tower Bridge

Similar to the National Theatre’s recent version, this tweenage-directed take on Homer’s immortal epic poem moves the focus away from Odysseus and on to his son Telemachus, who has waited 20 years to meet his dad Odysseus and decides to trace his footsteps to the strains of a ’60s-inspired score. 

  • Theatre
  • Shakespeare
  • Wimbledon

Shakespeare’s romantic tragedy is having a busy spring, with one kids’ version at the Globe, the full-blown Tom Holland version in the West End, and this, a children’s version from Beats & Elements – aka Conrad Murray and Lakeisha Lynch-Stevens of the BAC Beatbox Academy – who’ll retell the story of the starcross’d lovers in a short version based on ‘rap, rhymes and beautiful harmonies’. For ages nine to 12-plus. 

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  • Theatre
  • Children's
  • Wimbledon

Polka’s big new start-of-year show is a co-production with Theatre Iolo, whose artistic director Lee Lyford directs and adapts Emily Gravett’s droll picture book about a badger who becomes so obsessed with tidying up that he ends up bulldozing and concreting over his woodland home. It’s designed by Rachael Canning, with music and lyrics by Lucy Rivers. Ages three-to-seven.

Theatre for babies and pre-schoolers

  • Theatre
  • Children's
  • Islington

After delighting kids (and making grown-ups cry) with wistful kids' show 'The Paper Dolls', Peter Glanville is adapting another Julia Donaldson picture book. This time, it's the turn of 'The Everywhere Bear', which follows the titular teddy on his adventures using rhyme, puppets and new songs. Ages three-to-six.

  • Theatre
  • Children's
  • Tower Bridge

Cabaret legend Le Gateau Chocolat follows up his previous kids’ smash ‘Duckie’ with a new one-man musical about fairy tales, hopes, dreams and consequences. Le Gateau performs ‘I Wish’, which is directed by new Unicorn Theatre boss Rachel Bagshaw and with lyrics by the gloriously mischievous Seiriol Davies. For ages three-to-seven.

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  • Theatre
  • Children's
  • Kingston

A shy little mouse wishes he could become as brave as a lion – but ends up learning that even lions aren’t always brave. Puppet-powered stage adaptation of Rachel Bright and Jim Field kids’ book from Sarah Punshon, who also directs. For ages three-plus.

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  • Theatre
  • Children's
  • Wimbledon

Three hungry goats face off against one grumpy troll in this stage version of the beloved fable from Hiccup Theatre. Ages 3-7.

New theatre this month

Encore

See the brightest stars on stage with Time Out

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