Christmas shows for kids go online this festive season
London families are desperately missing kid-friendly theatre. These are the immersive productions to watch with your tots in tow at home this Christmas season
We're not quite sure what Christmas is going to look like, but we do know that we want theatre and storytelling sessions to be a part of it.
For families with young children, introducing theatre at home makes a lot of sense: you don't need to stress about whether your child is too young to sit through the show, or if they'll struggle to manage without a loo trip/snack/tugging on your sleeve and chatting loudly through the whole production. Many of these live-stream kids' theatre shows are designed for kids from the age of three, with immersive elements so kids can participate in the storytelling.
Watching kids' theatre online together is also a fantastic way to support theatre companies that have been so desperately affected by the current crisis – many have links to direct you to the best ways to donate. Happy watching.
Photo: The Gruffalo
Tall Stories' The Gruffalo
Everyone loves a Julia Donaldson/Axel Scheffler collab, and Tall Stories' live version of The Gruffalo is a festive favourite. Catch it online with the toddlers this month. Each session includes a video from Julia Donaldson, an afterword from Axel Scheffler and a printable activity pack.
Dates: 11 December – 13 December
Ticket price: from £10 a session
Click here to book
The Wonderful Wizard of Oz
Creation Theatre's The Wonderful Wizard of Oz
A live, real time show featuring a cast of actors working remotely, The Wonderful Wizard of Oz brings families from around the world together to watch in the comfort of home. It features an eight-strong cast and a special cameo guest star.
Dates: 19 December – 3 January 2021
Ticket price: £30 per device / per household
Times: 2pm and 7pm GMT (12noon and 4pm GMT, Christmas Eve) Running time is 110 mins with a 20-min interval
Click here to book
Paterson Joseph (Scrooge) in The Old Vic's 2019 A Christmas Carol. Photo: Manuel Harlan
A Christmas Carol, Old Vic: In Camera
This festive favourite returns for its fourth year as part of the Old Vic's In Camera series, in an atmospheric adaptation from Jack Thorne that kids will love watching snuggled up on the sofa under a cosy blanket. This year sees Andrew Lincoln (Love Actually, The Walking Dead) wearing Scrooge's miserly hat.
Dates: 12 – 24 December
Ticket price: from £30 per household
Times: 1pm and 7pm GMT
Click here to book
The Sleeping Trees
The Sleeping Trees' The Legend of Moby Dick Whittington
We are huge fans of performing trio The Sleeping Trees – James Dunnell-Smith, Joshua George Smith and John Woodburn – whose Goldilocks and the Three Musketeers panto mash-up at Battersea Arts Centre last year was the highlight of our festive calendar. This year, expect more of that quirky mixed-up fairytale magic in this immersive online production which encourages audience participation and interaction as sofas transform into boats and spoons become swords.Dates: 1 December – 5 January 2021
Ticket price: from £5
Running time approx 50 mins
Click here to book
The Wizards of Oakwood Drive
Tom Salamon's The Wizards of Oakwood Drive
Part magic show, part performance, this US-based Zoom experience can involve up to eight children at a time, from anywhere. It features two wizards performing magic tricks and sends kids off on a treasure hunt around their homes. It requires a bit of advance prep with parents hiding various objects around the home, and works just as well for a lockdown birthday as it does a fun show.
Dates: 28-29 November
Ticket price: from $25 (each additional child is $5)
Multiple times, running time is around 45 mins
Click here to book
Storystock
Storystock Father Christmas storytime
Storystock has teamed up with Anderson Press and The Polar Express to give its immersive offerings for children a festive twist. For those missing out on a Santa's grotto experience this December, Father Christmas will be streaming from his cosy study on weekend nights in the lead-up to Christmas. Guests will get a downloadable activity pack that includes festive songs, Christmas cracker jokes and gorgeous recipes (hot chocolate from Thomasina Miers, anyone?). If you opt for a First Class ticket, you also get a copy of The Polar Express to enjoy.
Dates: Saturday and Sundays in December at 5pm GMT (also 8-10 December at 11am for schoolkids)
Ticket price: from £12.50; First Class ticket is £22.50
Click here to book 
Unicorn Theatre Philip Pullman's Grimm Tales
Unicorn Theatre: Philip Pullman's Grimm Tales and Anansi The Spider Re-Spun
The Unicorn Theatre
has been streaming vivid new readings of six Grimm
tales adapted by Philip Pullman on its YouTube channel. Each story will
be read by a talented cast and brought to the stage by a different
director: Justin Audibert, Rachel Bagshaw, Polly Findlay, Tristan
Fynn-Aiduenu, Ola Ince and Bijan Sheibani. This is one for kids aged eight and up.
Dates: Until 21 February 2021
Ticket price: Free
Click here to watch
Some other online shows for kids to enjoy...
The Wind in the Willows musical
Kenneth Grahame's favourite animal characters – Ratty, Mole, Badger and Toad – come to life in this musical written by Julian Fellowes with Olivier-award winning composer and lyricist, George Stiles and Anthony Drew. Suitable for kids aged seven and older, there are also free activity packs and the book of the show available to download here.
Ticket price: £4.99 to rent
Click here to watch
Cirque Du Soleil Luzia
Cirque Du Soleil
Okay, it's not strictly theatre-theatre, but who can resist Cirque Du Soleil? Amazingly, they've been posting 60-minute specials on their YouTube channel (search for #CirqueConnect).
Click here to watch
Macbeth – and other offerings from Shakespeare's Globe Theatre
What: While we'd like to think that 15-year-olds would love to watch Shakespeare for fun – just for fun –the reality is that they probably have some schoolwork set around it and could use some theatrical inspiration to help make it come alive. Shakespeare's Globe has an impressive range of resources and educational offerings for students, from primary-school students to those in secondary.
Keen to get your younger children interested in Shakespeare? Then sign them up to a Macbeth storytelling session this month (you'll also find workshops and storytelling sessions for kids five and up for shows including The Tempest and A Midsummer Night's Dream online).
Dates: 28-29 November
Ticket price: from £20
Running time: one hour
Click here to book
