Family activities & fun days out

Best shows for toddlers in Summer 2009

Where to find fun toddler-friendly entertainment this summer

Stuck for ways to entertain your toddler this summer? askamum has come up with the top local and national attractions from Baby Discos to ballet to keep your tot happy.

National:

The Wiggles UK tour
Tots’ favourite, the Wiggles are appearing throughout the country this summer on their You Make Me Feel Like Dancing tour. During their interactive song and dance show The Wiggles appear live onstage, joined by their Wiggly friends Dorothy the Dinosaur, Wags the Dog, Captain Feathersword and Henry the Octopus. Toddlers will enjoy favourites from the TV show, such as: Rock-A-Bye Your Bear, Play Your Guitar with Murray, Monkey Dance, Can You Point Your Fingers and Do The Twist?

Dates: 22nd June – 5th July
Performance times: From 9am
Cost: Tickets ₤14.50. Family of 4 or groups ₤13.00 per ticket
Telephone: Telephone numbers for each venue are available on The Wiggles Website
Website: The Wiggles website

The Tweenies UK tour
Over a million Tweenie-loving tots have enjoyed the Tweenies ‘Top of the Tots’ live theatre show. The show will be visiting many locations throughout the UK this summer. There will be plenty of opportunities for audience participation for excited tots and mums and dads. The ten year old characters are as popular as ever dancing in the aisles and singing solos.

Dates: 23rd June to 16th September
Cost: Tickets from £12.50 (vary according to each venue)
Website:Tweenies Live Website
Telephone: Telephone numbers for each venue are available on the Tweenies Live website.

Angelina Ballerina: Real-live ballet
The second Angelina Ballerina ballet by the National Ballet follows children’s favourite mouse, Angelina, as she auditions for the Camembert Ballet School. This is a great opportunity for children aged three and over to enjoy their first ballet and see Angelina in the flesh.Based on the books written by Katherine Holabord and illustrated by Helen Craigs Angelina is a charming character who will entertain parents and children alike.

Dates: Now until 12th August
Performance times: 11am, 2pm and 7pm
Cost: Tickets from £20 (adults) and £10 (child)
Telephone: 0870 4000 601
Website: Angelina Ballerina website

Scooby Doo live on stage
The Mystery Inc gang return after their last successful show, Stagefright, with a new Scooby-Doo mystery. Both children new to the cartoon and parents eager to relive the classic from their childhood will enjoy watching the gang solve the mystery of the pirate ghost. The new show features the usual thrills and spills, from pirates to puzzles with plenty of fun, frolics and music.

Dates: 24th June- 25th July
Cost: Tickets from £7.50 (prices vary according to venue)
Telephone: Telephone numbers for each venue are available on the website.
Website: Scooby Doo Live Website

Milkshake! Live in My First Concert
Milkshake! Live has returned for a six month UK tour. Tots will love meeting their favourite Milkshake! presenters and characters including Fifi, Noddy, Peppa, Rupert, Mr Men and The Little Princess. The new show is an action-packed musical extravaganza with enough singing and dancing to tire out the most excitable tots. Children will enjoy watching Milkshake characters sing tunes and dance steps that they already know.

Dates: 27th June -20th September
Cost: Tickets from £10 (prices vary according to venue)
Telephone: Telephone venues directly. Links to each venue are available on the Milkshake Live website.
Website: Milkshake! Live website

Baby Loves Disco
Disco-loving babys can shake their bootees from Birmingham to Brighton this summer at Baby Loves Disco events. Hip venues are made child-friendly for toddlers and pre-school children to enjoy disco dancing. Parents eager to escape the usual playgroup finger painting and repetitive tunes from children’s TV shows will enjoy this unusual activity. Each afternoon dance party includes classic disco tunes from the 70s and 80s spun by a dj. The craze from the US has taken off over here too and tots will love the parties, which include: bubble machines, baskets of instruments, a chill-out room (with tents, books and puzzles), nappy changing stations, healthy snacks and, of course, heaps of dancing. Each party is also a chance for both children and parents to make friends locally. Baby Loves Disco guarantee that their parties are more fun than any other kids events.

Dates: Locations dates available on the Baby Loves Disco website
Cost: Tickets £5 and non-walking babies free
Contact: elaine@babylovesdisco.co.uk or contact the host mum for your city directly from the website
Website: Baby Loves Disco website

Local:

Bristol
Pinocchio at Tobacco Factory Theatre
The objects in the carpenter's workshop tell the story of Pinocchio, the puppet who dreams of being a real boy and the puppet-maker who wants to be a father. The show features magical puppetry, shadows, illusion and specially composed music, which appeal to all ages. An element of improvisation makes each performance unique to its audience and Pinocchio is carved live on stage. Award-winning Indefinitearticles have worked with the RSC, Improbable Theatre and The Mighty Boosh.

Dates: 12th July
Times: 11am, 2.30pm
Cost: Tickets £5
Telephone: 0117 9020344
Website: Tobacco Factory Theatre website

Chatham
The Magic Porridge Pot at Kings Theatre
The Magic Porridge Pot is an engaging professional play for 2-5 year olds by Spotlites Theatre Productions. The show is full of interactive fun with kids invited onstage to join the fun throughout. Your little ones can help Boy cook magic Porridge or throw porridge in a magic food fight.

Dates: 23rd June 1pm, 23rd Sept 1pm, 11th Oct 2pm, 13th Oct 1pm
Times: 1pm (2pm on 11th Oct)
Cost: £5.50 / £4.50 kids / £18 family
Telephone: 01634 829468
Website: Spotlites website

Halifax
The Selfish Giant, Square Chapel Centre for the Arts
Oscar Wilde’s story of the Selfish Giant has entertained generations of children and adults. After building a wall to keep children out of his garden the weather in the garden turns to a permanent winter until one morning everything changes. This spectacular puppet adaptation is set in a steel sculpted garden, using a brilliant musical soundtrack and superb storytelling. Children also have the opportunity to meet the puppets at the end of the performance.

Dates: 28th June
Times: 2.30pm
Cost: £6
Telephone: 01422 349422
Website: Square Chapel Website

London
Snozzcumbers and Frobscottle! The Wonderful World of Roald Dahl and Quentin Blake at the V&A museum
After the excitement of the Tweenies stage show or grooving away at Baby Loves disco, worn out mums and dads can recharge their batteries at the Snozzcumbers and Frobscottle exhibition. The exhibition celebrates the partnership of illustrator Quentin Blake and writer Roald Dahl in Dahl's weird and wonderful stories. Old favourites like The Twits, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and George's Marvellous Medicine are brought to life in Blake's unique illustrations. The exhibition displays original manuscripts, illustrations and Dahl-related objects. Children will enjoy interactive exhibits and creative activities.

Dates: 2nd May - 6th September
Times: 10am - 5.45pm (Mon-Sun)
Cost: Free admission
Telephone: 020 8983 5200
Website: V&A Museum website

Newcastle
Maisy Weekend at Seven Stories, The Centre for Children
Children’s favourite, Maisy, is a colourful mouse with a nose for adventure! One of the best-loved modern children’s book characters, Maisy is visiting Seven Stories for a weekend of special story times, colourful craft activities and appearances from Maisy!

Dates: 27th to 28th June
Times: 10am-5pm
Cost: Adult £5.50, Child / Concession £4.50, Family £16
Telephone: 0845 271 0777 ext 715
Website: S even Stories website

Oxford
Potted Pirates, The North Wall Arts Centre
Following the hilarious success of Potted Potter, CBBC presenters Dan and Jeff return to the stage with their new compressed caper, Potter Pirates. In this family comedy the pair takes to the high seas in search of the mysterious buried treasure and all things pirate. On the way they’ll be telling tales of the seven seas, from Long John Silver to Blackbeard, plus a full-scale re-enactment of the Spanish Armada.

Dates: 3rd July
Times: 7.30pm
Cost: £10 (concessions £6) (Family ticket 2x adult & 2x children £25)
Telephone: 01865 319450
Website: North Wall website

Portsmouth
Room on the Broom at David Russell Theatre.
Room on the Broom is packed with songs, laughs and scary thrills for children aged three and up. A fast-paced entertaining story full of magic and fun. The show is adapted from the popular children’s book, by Julia Donaldson and Alex Scheffler who also created bestselling tale, The Gruffalo.

Dates: 25th June
Times: 10.30am, 1.30pm
Cost: Children (£1), adults (£5)
Telephone: 02392681390
Website: Portsmouth Festivities Website

Sheffield
Showcomotion Young People’s Film Festival, Showroom Cinema.
Showcomotion is Britain’s biggest children’s film festival. The festival; caters for children from 2 – 19 years. The 2008 programme is available on the Showcomotion website. Different types of film are screened including features, shorts, animation, live action and documentaries.

Dates: 25th June- 9th July
Times: See the Showcommotion website for full film listings
Cost: Children (£2.20), adults (£3.50)
Telephone: Box Office 0114 276 3534
Website: Showroom website Showcomotion website

Stirling
Butterflies by TPO Company, Macrobert, University of Stirling
One of Italy's leading children's theatre companies presents the story of the butterfly’s lifespan. Children are invited to join TPO Company's dancers on the children's cheering carpet, a touch sensitive carpet that creates an imaginary environment for performers, butterflies and curious onlookers. Using motion capture technology, TPO creates a unique theatrical experience where children can virtually paint with their arms and compose lullabies with their feet.

Dates: 27th- 28th June
Times: 11am, 1pm/ Stay and play session 27th June, 3pm-5pm
Cost: Adults (£6), children (£5)
Telephone: 01786 466666
Website: Crying out loud website Macrobert website

Tewkesbury
The Ugly Duckling, The Roses Theatre
The Story Man has done a gentle, musical adaptation of Hans Anderson’s much loved fairytale. The story travels through the seasons while the little ugly duckling transforms into a swan. A combination of magical storytelling, stunning puppets and a delightful new musical score make this great show for little ones and parents.