Half-term is looming and, as all parents know, those kids will need entertaining or they’re likely to send you loopy!
Lucky, then, that there is an absolute glut of great theatre to choose from for a brilliant family trip out, all over the country.
From old-school gangsters in Bugsy Malone, to a Frozen show that’s equally as spectacular as the Disney smash hit, via some jaw-dropping acrobatics and stunts in Cirque Berserk!, there’s entertainment for all.
Read on and banish the phrase ‘I’m bored’ from your household this half-term.
Bugsy Malone
There’s nothing quite like the sight of a group of kids decked out in 1920s gear pretending to be old-school gangsters, complete with cream-splurging guns – and this stage adaptation of the 1970s musical film is just as delightful as its source material. Suitable for ages six and over.
Monday until Feb 11, Liverpool Empire; Feb 15-19, Chichester Festival Theatre, bugsymalonethemusical.com
Mother Goose
Panto ain’t just for Christmas, as this uproarious show, touring the UK until Easter, proves, starring Ian McKellen as Mother Goose herself and comic John Bishop as her husband Vic. The very best thing of all? The fabulous, eye-popping array of gowns Sir Ian sports as the panto dame. Suitable for ages three and over.
Tuesday until Feb 11, Chichester Festival Theatre; Feb 14-18, Sheffield Lyceum, then touring, mothergooseshow.co.uk
Cirque Berserk!
This home-grown company is celebrating its tenth anniversary with a five-week London residency that promises lots of suitably bonkers stuntwork including the thrilling Globe Of Death, with motorbikers racing inside a steel cage.
Feb 9 until March 11, Riverside Studios, London, riversidestudios.co.uk
The Ocean At The End Of The Lane
If you’re looking for entertainment that promises to entrance even the hardest-to-please teenager, the National Theatre’s touring adaptation of Neil Gaiman’s supernatural novel is just the ticket, conjuring an incredible netherworld filled with fantastical creatures. Suitable for ages 12 and over.
Until Feb 11, Curve Theatre, Leicester; Feb 14-25, Theatre Royal Plymouth, then touring, nationaltheatre.org.uk
Rapunzel
The classic story about the long-haired princess is retold by Northern dance company balletLORENT. Visually bold and with a top-notch script written by former Poet Laureate Carol Ann Duffy, it will cast a spell over all the family. Suitable for ages five and over.
Feb 17 and 18, Southbank Centre, London, southbankcentre.co.uk, then touring
Frozen
If you’re looking for a West End half-term treat, you simply can’t go wrong with this stage musical of the 2013 Disney animation, inspired by The Snow Queen. It’s every bit as epic as the much-loved film, with its dazzling sets including an ice bridge that spans 70ft. Suitable for ages six and over.
Booking until Oct 15, Theatre Royal Drury Lane, London, frozenthemusical.co.uk
Sleeping Beauty
Dance maestro Matthew Bourne’s take on perhaps the ultimate fairy tale is a typically stunning and flamboyant affair. First seen a decade ago and now enjoying a revival, it’s sure to be a family favourite all over again. Suitable for ages five and over.
Until tomorrow at Wales Millennium Centre, Cardiff; Tuesday until Feb 11, Birmingham Hippodrome; Feb 14-18, New Victoria Theatre, Woking, then touring, new-adventures.net
Charlie And The Chocolate Factory
Imaginations will be well and truly fired by this colourful, song–and-dance spin on the Roald Dahl favourite, which balances sweetness with darkness as it leads Charlie and the audience into the bizarre, confectionery realm of Willy Wonka. Suitable for ages seven and over.
Feb 9 until March 5, Milton Keynes Theatre, then touring, charlieandthechocolatefactory.co.uk
Little Murmur
This brilliantly conceived dance-theatre piece explores the realities of living with dyslexia. It’s all done in a beautifully expressive way that will capture the hearts and minds of young audiences. Suitable for ages seven and over.
Feb 16-18, Bristol Old Vic, bristololdvic.org.uk, then touring
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