Plays, concerts, workshops, Easter Egg Hunts, there is loads to do for all ages in and within striking distance of the Test Valley this Easter. You don’t need to go to London for culture!
THE MAYFLOWER THEATRE, SOUTHAMPTON
The Mayflower Theatre is the biggest theatre on the south coast with over 2,300 seats in the auditorium – they bring a diverse range of shows to Southampton, presenting a mixture of spectacular touring productions, from musicals – many direct from the West End – to dance, opera, drama, ballet and comedy.
This Easter you can see the following productions:
The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time
27 March – 1 April 2017
Suitable for 11+
Approximately 2 hours 30 minutes including 1 interval.
We’re Going on a Bear Hunt
7 – 8 April 2017
All ages welcome, including under 2s.
Approximately 55 minutes with no intervals.
Wonderland
18 – 22 April 2017
Recommended age 6+
Under 2s are not permitted.
Approximately 2 hours 30 minutes including 1 interval.
THE NUFFIELD THEATRES, SOUTHAMPTON
One city, two venues the NST (Nuffield Southampton Theatre) is much more intimate than the Mayflower but it punches above its weight when compared to its size. Currently based at the University of Southampton’s Highfield Campus, the NST will be opening its brand new performing arts venue in the city centre later in 2017.
Until then we have a few shows for you this Easter taking place at its campus theatre:
Leaf
25 March 2017 at 10.30,12.30 and 2.30
Ages 0-3
Join us as we tell the life story of a very special leaf in this warm, intimate and playful new piece for under 3s inspired by nature and the seasons. Framed within an evocative soundscape, this is the perfect introduction to theatre for the very young.
Leaf is another heart-warming play created by Tam Tam Theatre, whose previous shows for very young children include Circles in the Sand and Curious. It is performed by the company’s founder, Marleen Vermeulen, and created in collaboration with director Joy Haynes.
At the end of the performance, children are invited onto the stage to play among the leaves and explore a landscape created by the changing seasons.
#TamTamLeaf @halfmoontheatre
The Twits
28 March to 1 April 2017
Suitable for all the Family
THE LIGHTS, ANDOVER
It’s right on our doorstep and it’s a little gem. The Lights has got so much to offer children this Easter including some brilliant workshops.
Tom Thumb
1 April 2017 at 10.30am
Family Show £7
English/Australian puppetry company DNA Puppetry & Visual Theatre present England’s oldest tale of a tiny hero in changing times. Follow Tom’s magical journey – from wizard Merlin and the Fairy Queen to his quest from King Arthur to defeat a fearsome dragon!
Goldilocks and the Three Bears Workshop
10 April 2017 9.30 and 11.30am, £5 (adult included in ticket price)
Suitable for ages 2-5 years (must be accompanied by an adult, older siblings welcome)
Who’s been eating my porridge; who’s been sitting in my chair, and who’s been sleeping in my bed … and is still there!
Join tutor Amanda as she brings this classic fairy tale to life with music, movements and lots of make-believe.
The Enormous Egg-osauraus – Play in a Day Workshop
12 April 2017 10am – 3pm, £16.50
The Play in a Day is with tutor Amanda and is suitable for ages 6-10 years (children can be left unaccompanied).
Ella and Ernie are fossil hunters. One day they find an enormous egg buried in the ground! They are going to need all the help that they can get to pull it out, and with surprising results.
This fun Play in a Day is a reworking of the classic story of The Enormous Turnip.
There will be a performance on The Lights stage to family and friends at the end of the day.
Please bring a packed lunch and wear comfortable clothes.
Alice in Wonderland
11 April 2017 at 2pm, £8.50
Suitable for all the family
Imagination runs wild and logic is abandoned in this fantastical, larger-than-life musical brimming with nonsensical fun and excitement for the entire family.
Follow Alice and the White Rabbit as they set off on a colourful, topsy-turvy adventure like no other and meet a host of outlandish characters including the troublesome twins, Tweedle Dum and Tweedle Dee, the notorious Queen of Hearts, the Cheshire cat and of course, the Mad-as a bat-Hatter!
Immersion Theatre proudly bring their trademark energy to their most spectacularly bonkers show to date, as children and adults alike are invited to join in the hilarity of seeing this classic story brought vividly to life before having the opportunity to meet the characters after the show…why not come dressed up as your favourite?
A perfect day out for the entire family, you’d be mad to miss it!
Easter Bunny’s Party Workshop
12 April 2017 at 2.30pm £4.50
Suitable for ages 2-4 years (must be accompanied by an adult, older siblings welcome)
A fun movement workshop with tutor Lauren where you learn to hop and bop just like the Easter Bunny.
Superhero Mask and Movement
13 April 2017 at 9.30am
Suitable for ages 5-9 years (can be left unaccompanied). £10.
Calling all superheroes, it’s time to save the world! But first you will need to create your very own superhero, design and make your mask and perform a routine at the end of the session to your family and friends to show your newly acquired skills and powers.
So whether you see yourself as Bat Girl or Superman, this workshop is for you.
With tutor Amanda.
Mirror, Mirror Dance Workshop
18 April 2017 at 1pm-3pm £8.50
Suitable for ages 5-7 – (can be left unaccompanied).
Bring a partner to this great dance workshop with Lauren and learn to dance in sync with your friends.
Rhythmic Ribbons Workshop
19 April 2017 at 1pm £8.50
Suitable for ages 7-11 years (can be left unaccompanied).
If you love the rhythmic gymnastics of the Olympic Games, then this workshop is for you.
Learn to use the ribbon just like our Olympic gold medallists (ribbons provided).
With tutor Lauren.
Easter Bunny’s Eggs-ellent Adventure
20 April 2017 at 2pm £8.50
Easter Bunny’s Eggs-ellent Adventure is a family show particularly suitable for 2-7 year olds and is followed by a meet, greet and treat with the Easter Bunny himself – plus a free Easter present for every child!
From the team behind Marty MacDonald’s Farm and Santa’s Christmas Cracker comes the most chocolatey Easter show ever…
Who is behind the mysterious Easter Egg trail?
Why are there strange noises coming from beneath the hills?
And what is the truth behind the tale of the Easter Bunny?
Join the hunt for the hidden chocolate factory in Easter Bunny’s Eggs-ellent Adventure and meet the Easter Bunny afterwards to receive a special Easter present!
SALISBURY PLAYHOUSE
Salisbury Playhouse is one of Britain’s leading producing theatres and a registered arts & educational charity. It has a national reputation for home-grown work of the highest quality that attracts audiences from across Wiltshire, Hampshire, Dorset and beyond.
The building comprises the 517-seat Main House, the 149-seat Salberg, a purpose-built Rehearsal Room and Community & Education Space. There is also an on-site scenery workshop, wardrobe and props store.
The Giant Jam Sandwich
Saturday 25 March at 11am & 2pm at The Salberg
Tickets £9 (groups of 6+ £7)
Ideal for ages 3 – 6
What a to-do! One hot summer’s day, four million wasps invade the quiet village of itching Down. The picnickers panic and the farmer stops haymaking. The wasps are noisy, nasty and worst of all, they don’t mind who they sting. That is until the baker has ingenious idea…
Join the villagers in their giant sandwich-making plan to defeat the wasps and help save the day as their favourite children’s picture book is brought to the stage.
Oyster Boy
Tuesday 11 April at 11am & 2pm at The Salberg
Tickets £9 (groups of 6+ £7)
Ideal for ages 8+
Follow the tale of Italian ice cream seller Jim who falls in love with Alice strolling along the beach in a 1950s whirlwind romance. However, all is not as sweet as it seems when their lives are turned upside down by the arrival of their son Sam… a very unusual boy!
Based on the title story of The Melancholy Death of Oyster Boy by Tim Burton, this bittersweet tale reminds us of the fragility of life and introduces us to a range of larger-than-life characters that are sure to entertain and delight. Oyster Boy is a multi-award-winning, international production mixing physical storytelling, clowning, live singing, dance and puppetry.
A Strange New Space
Monday 10 April at 11am & 2pm at the Salberg
Tickets £9 (groups of 6+ £7)
Ideal for ages 3+
Did you know that Astronauts get taller in space? That our solar system is around 4.6 billion years old? Or that there are more stars in the universe than grains of sand on all of the beaches on Earth?
Amira knows all of these things. She is completely obsessed with space and every night dreams of becoming an Astronaut. But one night, the bangs, whooshes and fizzes of her imagination explode right out of her dreams, becoming a deafening reality. In the darkness, Amira’s mother tells her that they must leave their hometown to go on an adventure together, to find a new home: a safe space. Hearing the words ‘space’ and ‘adventure’ among the chaos, Amira quickly packs her bag for the intergalactic trip she’s been waiting for…
A completely original one woman show without words, A Strange New Space will meld physical theatre with stunning puppetry and original music. You will be taken on an imagined voyage into space, which is paralleled with Amira’s real-life journey as a refugee across continents.
Tom Thumb
12 April 2017 at 11am and 2pm
Tickets £9 (groups of 6+ £7), Ideal for ages 4+, Running Time: 50 minutes
This epic tale of the smallest hero in the world is told with superb puppetry, music and fantastic design. Follow Tom’s magical journey from wizard Merlin and the Fairy Queen to his quest from King Arthur to defeat a fearsome dragon!
‘WHEN IT COMES TO MAKING CHILDREN’S THEATRE, IT’S CLEAR THAT DNA PUPPETRY AND VISUAL THEATRE ARE PART OF THE UPPER CRUST’
childrenstheatrereviews.com
ANVIL ARTS, BASINGSTOKE
Anvil Arts, the largest performing arts organisation in Hampshire, runs The Anvil, The Haymarket and The Forge in Basingstoke.
National Children’s Orchestra of Great Britain Under 13 Orchestra
Sun 9 April, 3:00pm, The Anvil, suitable for all ages
£24, £20, £17; Over 65s £2 off, f/t students and NCO Alumni £12, under 16s £7, under 5s free (includes £2 booking fee). Group rate available.
Featuring the best young musical talent the UK has to offer, the NCO makes a welcome return to The Anvil for the first appearance of the 2017 Under 13 Orchestra.
Prepare to be blown away by the talent and enthusiasm of these youngsters as they perform a striking programme combining the maturity of accomplished musicians with an irresistible fun factor.
Don’t Dribble on the Dragon
Tue 11 April, 2:30pm, The Haymarket
£12 (includes £2 booking fee). Group rate available.
Suitable for: ages 2 and over and their families
My brother has a dragon and he keeps it secretly
Within a box beneath his socks. He’s hiding it from me…
Tom is a toddler with a cool older brother, a secret dragon… and a dribbling problem that just won’t stop! When Tom’s endless drooling threatens to tear the brothers’ friendship apart can their dragon’s amazing magic help them put it back together again or will it only end up making things worse?
Based on the fabulous new book by Steven Lee and with magic designed by the late Paul Daniels, this spectacular musical adventure about growing up and the importance of family is the perfect feel good show for big-hearted adults and loving little ones alike.
Running time: 60 minutes
WATERCRESS LINE – DAY OUT WITH THOMAS THE TANK ENGINE
14-23 April 2017, Open 9am – 5pm
Book online or pay on the day. Adults £18, Child (age 2 – 16 yrs) £12, Family (2A+2C) £54
Child under 2 yrs FREE
Meet Thomas the Tank Engine and his friends here at the Watercress Line. Come and experience a ride on a real steam engine, shake hands with The Fat Controller and take part in Thomas themed activities in the Imagination Station. Make their day a Day Out With Thomas and book your tickets now!
The travel ticket includes all the above and so much more!
- An entire day’s travel on the big steam trains that run up and down the whole line.
(These trains run approximately every 30-40 minutes from 9:35am to 4:30pm). - A free Thomas sticker and Day Out With Thomas certificate.
- Unlimited rides behind Thomas in his carriages or in Toad the Brake Van
- Unlimited rides with Iron ‘Arry and a friend of Diesel’s – you can even get in the cab with the driver!
LOTS of FREE activities!
- Thomas themed children’s entertainer
- Rides on the Minature railway
- Bouncy Slide (age 3+)
- Tea Cup ride
- Story corner and daily story time
- ‘Thomas & Friends’ Transfers
- Imagination Stations with Thomas playsets, colouring and DVD shows
- Meet a friend of Bulgy the Bus and George the Steam Roller
- See a friend of Rocky the Breakdown Crane
MOTTISFONT CADBURY EASTER EGG HUNT
8-23 April 2017
Event details here
