Jasmine Birtles
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Free West End shows for kids this summer
Planning for the summer holidays? Six weeks of keeping the little ones occupied can take a lot of preparation and even more money. There are loads of fun ways to keep the kids occupied on a budget during the school holidays, and this is made even easier thanks to Official London Theatre.
This August, the company is bringing back Kids Week, where children can enjoy over 45 top London West End shows for free. On sale from 10am on 13th June, tickets are available for a huge range of shows for the whole family to enjoy.
If you fancy a sing-along favourite, why not ‘Let it Go’ with Frozen The Musical, or take a trip to Rydell High with Grease. Follow the yellow brick road with Dorothy in The Wizard of Oz, or spend the day with the witches of Oz at a showing of Wicked.
For younger children, there are great shows such as Blippi: The Wonderful World Tour or The Tiger Who Came To Tea. Horrible Histories – Terrible Tudors will spark the learning of your kids in a fun and memorable way, whilst Disney’s The Lion King is a spectacular event for any age.
It’s not just young children who can see these shows for free. Those aged 17 and under can enjoy the experience without spending a penny. So, if you’re taking your teens to the theatre, why not broaden their minds with gritty Les Miserables or moving theatre like The Crucible.
Taking more than one child out with you? Although only one child can get a free theatre ticket per full-paying adult, an additional two children can attend the show for half price – plus, there’s no booking fees!
24 exciting productions are participating in Kids Week for the first time, like Ain’t Too Proud, Mrs. Doubtfire, Rodgers & Hammerstein’s Oklahoma! and The SpongeBob Musical. Many shows are returning once more, including established Kids Week favourites including Mamma Mia, RSC’s Matilda The Musical and The Smeds And The Smoos.
Alongside the performances, shows are offering a wide range of free activities for Kids Week ticketholders, so look out for ‘Kids Week Curtain Calls’ where all Kids Week bookers in attendance can stay for a post-show Q&A or demonstration after the show, as well as many more show specific offerings from dance and musical theatre workshops to backstage tours. Also, families travelling into London to see a show can take advantage of restaurant deals via OfficialLondonTheatre.com/Deals.
Kids Week bookers with access requirements can complete the Access Priority Request Form before general on sale. The form will be available on the Kids Week website from 9 June to 11 June. Eligible bookers who have completed the form will be contacted by the theatre box office on the morning of 13 June.