KarenWe do enjoy watching a good, entertaining stage show and The Lowry is one of the places we visit most. They have a lot on offer for families like last night’s performance of The Emperor’s New Clothes. See Hodge Podge Days’ review of the show here. Whether you have a toddler or a teen there is usually something for everyone each month.
This is just a little gathering of info for you to see what’s on over the Summer from now until the end of August. These are specifically family shows – there are lots, lots more goings on over the coming weeks for everyone and you can find full listings here.
The First Hippo on the Moon
23rd – 25th June
From Number One bestselling children’s author David Walliams comes an explosively funny space adventure for children of 3 and up. Two big hippos. One ENORMOUS dream. Who can make it to the moon first?
3 …2 …1 …BLAST OFF!
David Walliams has taken the literary world by storm and his brilliantly funny stories are adored by children the world over! He has achieved unprecedented critical acclaim and quickly developed a reputation as a natural successor to Roald Dahl. His books have been translated into over 45 languages and sold over 9.5 million copies in the UK alone.
Adapted for the stage by acclaimed award winning Theatre company Les Petits and hot off the heals of their hugely successful Captain Flinn and the Pirate Dinosaurs tour and immersive hit Adventures in Wonderland, comes a fantastical adventure featuring puppetry, music, mayhem and a giant space race to the moon!
The creative team have worked on such hit shows such as Dr. Seuss’ The Lorax, The Nationals’ Elephantom, Warhorse and Raymond Briggs’ The Bear.
Les Petits was set up as the sister company to ‘razor sharp theatre group’ (The Telegraph) Les Enfants Terribles whose work includes The Trench, The Vaudevillains and Alice’s Adventures Underground.
Find them on twitter: @Petitstheatre #TheFirstHippo
Fantastic Mr. Fox
5th – 9th July
Boggis, Bunce and Bean, three greedy, smelly, horrid farmers hate the cunning Mr Fox.
Mr Fox is smart, clever and rather fantastic, but he doesn’t realise how determined the farmers are to get revenge. Can he hatch a plan to save his family and friends? Can they outrun the diggers and outsmart the farmers? And can Rabbit shut up long enough not to give the game away?
Roald Dahl’s Fantastic Mr Fox is family fun at its finest. A tale of greed, pride and the power of friendship, this flagship production for the Roald Dahl 100 celebrations promises a huge theatrical feast with live music and songs, ideal for the whole family.
Running Times: Act 1 53 minutes, Interval 20 mins, Act 2 48 mins
How Time Flies
23rd July
HandMade Theatre presents, How Time Flies, an original and quirky show inspired by the wonderful and intriguing world of archaeology.
Join the eccentric team of archaeologists inside their beautiful field tent, as they guide you through a dig to find long lost artefacts. Help them to uncover the hidden truth behind an ancient skeleton and imagine the many possible stories it could hold. There are mysteries to solve and discoveries to be made. An interactive show bursting with puppets, songs, facts and fun, suitable for the whole family to enjoy!
HandMade Theatre makes unique, interactive performances, which engage audiences in creative ways. This show builds on the success of the company’s highly successful Flying The Nest production and is set to be another thrilling adventure.
The Railway Children
25th – 30th July
E. Nesbit’s classic novel The Railway Children is brought thrillingly to life in a stunning new stage production.
This best-loved tale, made famous by the iconic 1970 movie starring Jenny Agutter and Bernard Cribbins, delivers a compelling coming of age story and a fascinating insight into Edwardian rural life.
When their father mysteriously disappears with two strangers one evening, the lives of Roberta, Peter and Phyllis are turned upside down. Forced to leave the comforts of their privileged London life in exchange for a simple existence in the depths of the Yorkshire countryside, this fractured family soon discover new friendships and an unexpected secret that will change their lives forever.
Complete with beautiful period costumes and ingenious designs, this new production promises an uplifting theatrical experience for all ages, packed with intrigue, adventure, joy and jubilation.
The Tiger Who Came to Tea
27th – 30th July
The doorbell rings just as Sophie and her mummy are sitting down to tea. Who could it possibly be? What they certainly don’t expect to see at the door is a big, stripy tiger!
Following a smash-hit West End season, the tea-guzzling tiger is back on the road in this delightful family show; packed with oodles of magic, sing-a-long songs and clumsy chaos! A stunning stage adaptation of the classic tale of teatime mayhem…,expect to be surprised!
David Wood OBE is undisputedly the country’s leading writer and director of plays and musicals for children. His many successes include The Gingerbread Man, BFG, The Witches, Meg and Mog, Spot and Babe the Sheep Pig.
Room on the Broom
1st – 27th August
Join the Witch and her cat in Tall Stories’ magical, musical adaptation of the classic picture book by Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler.
The Witch and her cat are travelling on their broomstick when they pick up some hitchhikers – a friendly dog, a beautiful green bird and a crazy frog. But this broomstick’s not meant for five and – CRACK – it snaps in two… just as the hungry dragon appears!
Songs, laughs and scary fun for children and their grown-ups, in this Olivier nominated show.
There is a Relaxed Performance on Thu 10 August at 2pm. Please call box office to book your tickets.
The Wiggles
4th August
The Wiggles Big Show is coming to the UK!
Emma, Lachy, Simon and Anthony will play everyone’s favourite Wiggles songs like ‘Hot Potato’, ‘Rock-a-Bye your Bear’ and ‘Do the Propeller!’, along with their Wiggly friends Dorothy the Dinosaur, Wags the Dog, Henry the Octopus and Captain Feathersword.
Age 0-5yrs
The Jungle Book
29th August – 2nd September
This spectacular new production from award-winning Metta Theatre brings Kipling’s classic tale crashing into the 21st Century with breathtaking street dance and circus.
Mowgli is finding her way in the urban jungle. With a beat-loving bin man Baloo, graffiti artist Bagheera and a skateboarding Wolf crew, this heart-warming coming of age story will astonish and amaze.
Choreographed by Kendra J Horsburgh (BirdGang Dance Company, Into the Hoods, Sadler’s Wells and Blaze, International Tour) and featuring jaw-dropping tricks from an extraordinary cast of international performers, this is a show for everyone from 8 to 108.
The Addams Family
29th August – 9th September
Look who’s moved into the neighbourhood!
Everyone’s favourite kooky family are now on stage in the UK premiere of this spectacular musical comedy from the writers of multi award-winning hit musical Jersey Boys, with music and lyrics by Tony Award-nominated Andrew Lippa.
Wednesday Addams (Carrie Hope Fletcher), the ultimate princess of darkness, is all grown up and has a shocking secret that only Gomez (Cameron Blakely) knows. She’s fallen in love with a sweet young man from a respectable family. With his cherished Morticia (Samantha Womack) in the dark will Gomez manage to keep his daughter’s secret until the two families meet for a fateful dinner with hilarious consequences?
Join them, plus Uncle Fester (Les Dennis), Lurch, Pugsley and more for a heart-warming story of love, family and friendship… with a twist!
Featuring a live orchestra and extraordinary original score The Addams Family is sure to entertain, whether you are 7 or 307!
What would you most like to see? Book tickets for any of these shows via The Lowry website.