Thu 2 Mar 2023

Family friendly shows fill Theatre by the Lake this spring

Theatre by the Lake have got a perfect programme lined up for children and their families to enjoy this spring.

Around the World in 80 Days is an adventure of global proportions, brought to the stage in a brand new production that transports the audience to the most exciting age of invention. Taking place Friday 31 March to Saturday 29 April, this is a don’t-miss event suitable for all the family.

The Lost Spells – A New Musical (24 May-3 June) is a fun, wild and boisterous show adapted from the best-selling book by Robert Macfarlane and Jackie Morris, with music and dancing played live on stage by talented actor-musicians.

For young children, look out for Inside the Igloo Live on 4 March, an exciting interactive performance with projection, dance and storytelling. Kitchen Zoo present Hey Diddle Diddle on 11-12 April, where much-loved nursery rhyme characters come to party, perform and have fun! And Pirate Bonnie takes to the stage on 14 April, with original songs and friendly interaction courtesy of Fidget Theatre.

For teens, the popular Pentabus Theatre return to TBTL on 9-11 May with One of them Ones, an uplifting new play about two siblings living in an isolated rural community trying to get their heads around gender identity. Shewolves by Sarah Middleton, on 13 May, is a coming-of-age comedy for teenagers and anyone who has ever been a teen.

Looking further ahead to Christmas, Theatre by the Lake present the world premiere of A Little Princess, adapted for the stage by Amanda Dalton from the novel by Frances Hodgson Burnett. Join Sara Crewe as she travels from her idyllic childhood in India to a boarding school in a cold dark corner of England. Just as she begins to build a brighter world for herself and her new friends her life takes a terrible turn. Will her love of storytelling help her to triumph? This is an uplifting story about the power of imagination and friendship for all the family.

For younger children:

The Knotted Project & Hawk Dance Theatre present
Inside the Igloo Live!
Age 3+
Sat 4 March | 11am and 2pm
Using projection, dance and storytelling, join us on our exciting, interactive family performance for children 3+ and their grownups. Children can join in with the story, interact with the performers as well as participating in a fun, engaging workshop that focuses on how we can look after ourselves, each other and the world around us.

Kitchen Zoo presents
Hey Diddle Diddle
Age 0-6
Tue 11 – Wed 12 April | 11am and 2pm
All nursery rhyme characters love to party, perform and have fun! Some of the most famous faces from your favourite rhymes are coming together to present a spectacular nursery rhyme cabaret. ‘Hey Diddle Diddle’ features live music, puppetry, laughter, and lots of chances to join in. It lasts 45 minutes and every performance is relaxed, making it an ideal introduction to theatre for children age 6 and under and their grown-ups.

Fidget Theatre presents
Pirate Bonnie
Age 4+
Fri 14 April | 11.30am and 2pm
Join the crew on board the Good Ship Adventure! Set sail and discover forgotten legends of real female pirates. In typical Fidget Theatre style, this show is warm and witty with original songs and friendly interaction for children and their grown-ups, who all become Bonnie’s ship-shape crew.

For Older Children:

Theatre by the Lake & Hull Truck Theatre present

Around The World in 80 Days
Age 12+
Friday 31 March – Saturday 29 April
All aboard for an adventure of global proportions as Around The World in 80 Days hits the stage! With the single-minded Detective Fix of Scotland Yard in hot pursuit, will Phileas Fogg and company manage to avoid arrest and make it home before their time is up? Based on Jules Verne’s timeless novel, this bold new production by writer Laura Eason transports the audience to the most exciting age of invention, with evocative music, puppetry and circus.

Pentabus Theatre presents

One of them Ones
Age 12+
Tuesday 9 – Thursday 11 May
An uplifting new play about two siblings living in an isolated rural community trying to get their heads around gender identity.

Shewolves
by Sarah Middleton
Age 13+
Sat 13 May
‘SHEWOLVES’ is an uplifting coming-of-age comedy for teenagers and anyone who has ever been a teen.

Theatre by the Lake, Goblin Theatre, Watford Palace Theatre & Polka Theatre present

The Lost Spells – A New Musical
Ages 6+

Wednesday 24 May – Saturday 3 June
A fun, wild and boisterous show adapted from the best-selling book by Robert Macfarlane and Jackie Morris. A girl with no name finds a magical book of spells that conjures up a wild world. Moths appear from nowhere; owls light up the dark; a red fox leads the way down a rabbit hole to a brand new wonderland. As our heroine journeys through the wild world, she learns the dandelion time, flies with a band of jackdaws and battles with conkers – all on a quest to find that which has been lost. ‘The Lost Spells’ is a show for all the family, full of music and dancing played live on stage by talented actor-musicians.

Theatre by the Lake presents the World Premiere of

A Little Princess
adapted by Amanda Dalton from the novel by Frances Hodgson Burnett

Fri 17 November – Sun 7 January | various times

Join Sara Crewe as she travels from her idyllic childhood in India to a boarding school in a cold dark corner of England. Just as she begins to build a brighter world for herself and her new friends her life takes a terrible turn. Will her love of storytelling help her to triumph? Theatre by the Lake are excited to present a new adaptation of this children’s classic by Frances Hodgson Burnett (The Secret Garden). An uplifting story about the power of imagination and friendship for all the family.