Children and young people's theatre

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.

Scamp wedded to Z Arts

Scamp Theatre’s The Scarecrows’ Wedding comes to Z-arts in Manchester.

Christmas dance for kids

balletLORENT presents a Christmas creative dance course for children in Newcastle.

Gramophones record funding for new aerial theatre show

Nottingham-based all-female theatre company the Gramophones has received almost £60,000 from Arts Council England and other sources to mount a new aerial theatre show for families.

Pick up a Penguin for Christmas

The Broadway and West End production of Mr Popper’s Penguins comes to Greater Manchester.

New commission announced for Midlands theatre makers

A Midlands creative development programme is to commission a new piece of work from mid-career theatre makers for 2020.

Two helpings from Kitchen Zoo this Christmas

This Christmas children’s theatre company Kitchen Zoo will be appearing at two different venues with two different shows.

Northampton reveals cast for Pippi Longstocking première

Northampton’s Royal and Derngate has announced the cast for the world première of Pippi Longstocking, one of its 2019 Christmas shows.

Derby Theatre casts Little Red Riding Hood

Derby Theatre and Hiccup Theatre have revealed the cast of their Christmas 2019 production Little Red Riding Hood.

Double helping of Horrible Histories

Horrible Histories Live On Stage heads to Storyhouse in Chester.

Scaredy Bairns at Halloween

Scaredy Bairns is a family friendly Halloween experience deep in the woods in County Durham.

Melva tours to schools in 2019 and 2020

Melva, a play about children’s anxieties and worries, tours to NE schools in 2019 and 2020.

Big Imaginations sought for child-centred shows

The Dukes and Lancaster Arts are set to host five family shows in October.

Snow Queen casting announced

Northern Stage has announced the cast for its Christmas show, The Snow Queen.

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.

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

The Snow Queen

Conor Mitchell after Hans Christian Andersen

Peter Pan

J M Barrie, adapted by Deborah McAndrew

Snow White

Original Brothers Grimm fairy tale developed by Mike Tweddle and Rina Vergano

Wolf!

Written and devised by Brad McCormick, Hannah Goudie-Hunter and Bob Nicholson...

The Prince and the Pauper

Mark Twain, adapted by Chinonyerem Odimba

The Canterville Ghost

Oscar Wilde, adapted by Anthony Weigh

The Boy in the Dress

Mark Ravenhill, based on the David Walliams novel

I Wish I Was A Mountain

Toby Thompson