Children and young people's theatre

Families in Wales invited to join new Theatr Iolo project

Specialist in theatre for young people, Theatr Iolo, asks families to help create Twenty20: Experiences of an Extraordinary Year.

One Dance UK digital youth dance festival summer 2020

One Dance UK is moving its U.Dance National Festival online this year for a weekend of streamed dance masterclasses, showcases, careers talks and information sessions for young people.

Young people reimagine the future in Derby

Young people in Derby are being provided with a professional online platform to share their ideas of a reimagined future beyond the COVID-19 pandemic.

Working with young people during lockdown

How Northumberland-based Mortal Fools has continued its work with young people and in professional development in spite of the lockdown.

Chichester Midnight Gang and Beauty and the Beast online

David Walliams's The Midnight Gang and the Chichester Festival Youth Theatre production of Beauty and the Beast will be the next productions to be streamed online from Chichester Festival Theatre.

Tackling Shakespeare’s language: RSC artists give tips

Artists from the Royal Shakespeare Company who are unable to rehearse or perform will help to unlock Shakespeare for thousands of children and young people studying at home.

Two ballet schools share message of solidarity and hope

Elmhurst Ballet School in Birmingham and English National Ballet School in London have united to share a message of hope and support in footage filmed by students dancing at home edited by BalletBoyz.

Playhouse seeks writer for Christmas show

Nottingham Playhouse is on the lookout for a professional writer to create its annual festive family show.

Oldham Coliseum goes online

Oldham Coliseum has released 100 Word Plays (about Oldham) as audio online and is preparing to launch a monologue challenge for school and college students.

Primary schoolers help create show

Youngsters can contribute to the creation of the next adventure by Raddlesham Mumps creator.

Perform your own panto

Middle Child has made available resources so that every family can perform their own take on The Little Mermaid.

Interactive circus classes for everyone

Time on your hands? Learn circus skills from the experts with Lost in Translation Circus classes for beginners upwards.

Designs wanted for Curve production of Wizard of Oz

Leicester’s Curve is asking children to submit designs to be featured in the set of its Christmas 2020 production, the regional première of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s The Wizard of Oz.

Birmingham students create online drama classes

First-year students studying applied theatre at Birmingham City University have created DIY drama classes online for children and their parents to encourage them to take part in teaching together at home during the coronavirus crisis.

Z-Arts is full of Dust

Dust sweeps into Z-arts, Manchester.

Double Puss 'n' good!

Families can experience classic furry-tail Puss in Boots at The Dukes in Lancaster.

Coliseum opens a new Jungle Book

Oldham Coliseum presents a musical adaptation of Rudyard Kipling’s famous story The Jungle Book.

NE director to tour children’s version of Orwell classic

NE born director Robert Icke is to tour a children’s version of George Orwell’s classic Animal Farm.

Dragons and Mythical Beasts in Darlington and Billingham

A new interactive children’s theatre show is to visit Darlington Hippodrome and Billingham Forum later this year.

TV favourites at the Dukes

Families and little ones will see some of their television favourites on stage when CBeebies’ Sarah & Duck bring their live show to The Dukes in Lancaster.

A Monster Calls at The Lowry

The UK tour of A Monster Calls comes to The Lowry in Salford.

National Connections for Keswick

Keswick’s Theatre by the Lake is a partner venue for 2020’s National Theatre Connections festival.

Taking Flight launches Wales’ first youth theatre company for deaf performers

The official launch of the first youth theatre company catering for “D/deaf and hard of hearing performers” in Wales, under the aegis of renowned inclusive theatre company Taking Flight, took place at the Wales Millennium Centre.

Customs House selected for national programme

South Shields’ Customs House has been chosen to take part in the Future Arts Centres Here and Now project.

Customs House Takeover play director announced

South Shields’ Customs House has announced who is to direct this year’s play from the Takeover Young Writer in Residence.

Lost Happy Endings in Darlington starts tour

balletLORENT begins a national tour of The Lost Happy Endings at Darlington Hippodrome.

A Ripper yarn for youth performers

Liverpool’s Royal Court youth theatre and North West End acting school have combined to present a brand new play set in 19th century Liverpool: The Unlikely Candidate.

Monster of a writing challenge

A creative writing challenge has been launched alongside the UK tour of A Monster Calls.

Children’s arts festival to be staged in Leicester

The “largest children’s arts festival in England and Wales”, the Spark Festival in Leicester will present “unforgettable” arts experiences for young people aged from birth to 13 over seven days in February.

Epic poem takes to the roads

Murray Lachlan Young tours his family theatre show and virtual reality experience The Mystery of the Raddlesham Mumps this spring.

NE playwrights under 25: an opportunity

The Customs House in South Shields is looking for a NE-based playwright under 25 to become its third Young Writer in Residence.

The Little Prince lands in Manchester

The Little Prince lands in Manchester when Z-arts host this new show from Fuel Theatre.

From January to May at The Hullabaloo

Darlington’s Hullabaloo has announced its programme of play installations, workshops and performances for young children during the spring.

Just So much for Cheshire fest

Just So Festival has unveiled the first wave of programming for this year’s festival at Rode Hall Estate, Cheshire.

Young theatregoers benefit from appeal

Theatre by the Lake in Keswick has been making strides with its Christmas Appeal.

Dennis steps up as Elfluent steps down

The replacement for Santa’s Naughty Elf at the Customs House is announced.

£43,000 ACE grant for Mortal Fools YT project

Arts Council England has given £43,000 over two years to Prudhoe-based Mortal Fools for its Youth Theatre Exchange Project.

A Beasty Baby in Liverpool

Unity Theatre in Liverpool currently hosts Beasty Baby.

Ducklings afloat in Exchange Studio

The Herd Theatre float their show for youngsters Ducklings in Manchester Royal Exchange Studio.

Oldham Theatre Workshop has a Secret

Oldham Theatre Workshop is back with another family Christmas musical: The Secret of Christmas Eve.

Family holiday time at Z-arts

The holiday season at Z-arts in Manchester is aimed at the whole family.

Touring News – February 2020

Sandra Giorgetti looks at the tours that take to the road next month which includes more than the usual number of shows for younger audiences.

Christmas in the North West

A look at the pantos, musicals, family shows and other theatre productions that will be playing in the North West over the festive period.

Stories from Home

Ines Sampaio, David Parkin, Tia Chand-Corey

I Want My Hat Back

Jon Klassen

The Wind in the Willows

Book by Julian Fellowes, music and lyrics by George Stiles and Anthony Drewe

Crongton Knights

Alex Wheatle, adapted by Emteaz Hussain

Vehicles

Martyn Harry

A Monster Calls

From the novel by Patrick Ness, inspired by an idea by Siobhan Dowd

Crongton Knights

Emteaz Hussain, based on the novel by Alex Wheatle

Rocket Girl

Steve Byron

Plock!

Concept by Hanne Vandersteene and Mahlu Mertens

Nest

Anna Beecher and Rachel Lincoln

Holes

Louis Sachar

Giraffes Can't Dance

Based on the book by Giles Andreae and Guy Parker-Rees, adapted by Julia Thomas

Ducklings

Sam Caseley

Red

Devised by the company

Father Christmas's Christmas Workshop

Horrible Histories Horrible Christmas

Terry Deary

All Wrapped Up

Ellie Griffiths

Roots

Suzanne Andrade

The Adventures of Pinocchio

Carlo Collodi, adapted by Matt Borgatti, music and lyrics by Mary Erskine and...

The Lost Thing

Based on the book by Shaun Tan, music and words Jules Maxwell, director and c...

The Slightly Annoying Elephant

David Walliams, adapted by Samantha Lane, music and lyrics by Tom Gray

Santa’s Sooty Christmas

Roma Tomelty

The Snow Queen

Hans Christian Andersen, adapted by Laura Lindow