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

Watch out, tired revivals: there’s a new kid in town. Inspired by a 2011 BBC documentary about a teenager who wanted to be a drag queen, the show follows 16-year-old Jamie on his journey to be himself. And it's cool and energetic enough to thrill both secondary school kids and their parents.

The posters have been plastered around the London Underground for years – long enough for this show to become the most successful musical of all time – but nothing prepares you for the sheer impact of 'The Lion King's opening sequence…

For its first ever family Christmas show, the Bridge Theatre bags the London transfer of director Sally Cookson’s devised adaptation of CS Lewis’s beloved kids’ fantasy novel, which ran to great acclaim at Leeds Playhouse in 2017…

'My mummy says I'm a miracle,' lisps a pampered mini-me at a purgatorial kiddies' birthday party at the outset of this delicious, treacly-dark family show…

A little chimney sweep, born into a cruel world, finds his suffering is ended when he is swept away and turned into a ‘water baby’, winding up in an enchanted underwater kingdom full of fish and fairies. 

Rachel Bagshaw directs a new production of a play by contemporary German playwright Roland Schimmelpfennig, a bouyant look at challenges of urban life for an isolated and neglected child. Suitable for ages 8-12. 

Tim Crouch returns to his series of shows for young people focusing on minor Shakespearean characters. This time it's the turn of Cinna – a poet torn to pieces by an angry mob in 'Julius Caesar'. Hear his side of the story in a one-man performance from the always mischievously engaging Crouch. 

Most of London’s glut of seasonal family theatre shows closed on the first weekend of January, but the Little Angel still has plenty of leftovers to go round, with both of its Christmas shows running into February…

Neil Gaiman gets the puppet treatment in this new stage version of his graphic novel. Lucy is convinced there are wolves living in the walls of her home, but her family won't believe her – until the day they burst out. Toby Olié directs a spooky, frenetic show, featuring original songs by Adam Pleeth and Carl Grose. 

‘Me…’, is a charmfest that’s unlikely to upset even the most lily-livered pre-schooler. Featuring a cute bundle of day-old penguin fluff and an icy antarctic environment shaped like a half pipe, it is simple, short and sweet…

London's theatre calendars are flooded with acclaimed shows, big names and hotshot directors, and there's no way anyone can see them all. As a starting point, the Time Out theatre team have picked ten shows opening in London this month that you won't regret booking for.