16 Things to Look Forward to in 2016

 

 
Happy New Year! We hope you enjoyed some excellent feasting, family time and sheer laziness over the Christmas holiday period. After a fun New Year’s Eve celebration at Babes HQ (just the four of us in various bits of fancy dress, playing YouTube DJs and grooving through midnight in our living room), I’m PUMPED for the year ahead.

We’ve found a spectacular 16 Things to Look Forward to in 2016, from family friendly festivals to Idris Elba to Harry Potter on stage. You’ve been told.

 

1. Lumiere London

 

 
Lights, camera, London! The world’s greatest light artists illuminate the city, spanning areas like King’s Cross, Mayfair and Trafalgar Square, in Lumiere London the biggest light festival ever to hit the capital. Look out for light graffiti, dazzling projections, interactive light installations and more to spark the imagination of young and old. Various locations, 6.30pm-10.30pm daily, FREE (Jan 14-17)

 

2. Mini Vault Festival 2016

 

 
After a hugely successful launch last year, the Vault Festival returns to Waterloo’s hidden tunnels, along with the Mini Vault programme just for nippers. We’re especially excited about an Out of this World Rave underground, with our fave family clubbing crew Big Fish Little Fish (Feb 6, suitable for babies through to adults). Also check out Assembly of Animals’ ‘performance sculpture’, Comedy Club 4 Kids, and an Under the Sea Mini Rumpus (Mar 5) with breathtaking circus acts including Marawa the Amazing hooping up a storm. From 10am, parties/shows £8-£15, many activities FREE! (Jan 30/31, Feb 6, Feb 13/14, Feb 27/28 & Mar 5)

 

3. Magical Lantern Festival at Chiswick House and Gardens

 

 
For the first time in its illustrious history, the Magical Lantern Festival lights up Chiswick House and Gardens, just in time to celebrate Chinese New Year. Soak up the festive atmosphere, surrounded by gorgeously sculpted lanterns of animals, birds, buildings and abstract shapes. There’s live music and performances and delicious Chinese food to fuel your experience. All ages. 5pm-8.45pm (Tue-Sun); adult £16-£18/child £10-£12/family £48-£56 (Feb 3-Mar 6)

 

4. Imagine Children’s Festival

 

 
Back for another glorious year at Southbank Centre, the Imagine Children’s Festival celebrates literature, live performance, theatre, arts workshops and music for ages 0-12. Run by kids, for kids, highlights for 2016 include: activities for Roald Dahl’s 100th birthday, Groove Baby jazz workshops, author and illustrator meet and greets (Judith Kerr, Cressida Crowell amongst others), rap battling for under 12s, Giant Storytelling Bed, FUN DMC daytime hip hop party, Mrs H & her Singalong Band and tons more! 10.30am-4.30pm daily, various prices, many events are FREE (Feb 10-24)

 

5. Barbican Shakespeare Weekender: Play On

 

 
It’s a Bard takeover at the Barbican Centre with the Barbican Shakespeare Weekender: Play On. Promising two activity-packed days ‘as boisterous and subversive as Shakespearean drama’, come for pop-up performances, interactive workshops, offbeat installations and even a bite of Shakespearean-inspired food. Double double! All ages. 11am-6pm, most events FREE (Mar 5-6)

 

6. The Witches at Rose Theatre, Kingston

 

 
There’s mischief and mayhem brewing at Kingston’s Rose Theatre as Roald Dahl’s The Witches tyrannise the stage. See one brave boy and his nana come up against those hideously scary characters that think kids are only good for squishing — or turning into mice. A vibrant cast of actor-musicians adapt this spellbinding tale with plenty of shrieks and mind-bending illusions. For ages 7+. Varying times from 11am-5.30pm, £8-£24 (Mar 29-Apr 10)

 

7. The Jungle Book (with Idris Elba!)

 

 
I was pretty blown away by the cast list on this Disney live action/CGI remake of Rudyard Kipling’s famous tale: Idris Elba (Shere Khan), Scarlett Johansson (Kaa the python), Sir Ben Kingsley (Bagheera), Christopher Walken (King Louie), Lupita Nyong’o (Raksha), Giancarlo Esposito (Akela), Neel Sethi (Mowgli) and Bill Murray as Baloo. And that’s before I saw the Jungle Book trailer. Directed by Jon Favreau, The Jungle Book 2016 is slightly darker than the animated classic, but also features stunning visuals, music and song — and yes, Bare Necessities is on the soundtrack. Can. Not. Wait. (UK release Apr 15)

 

8. Bridget Jones’ Baby

 

 
Our favourite singleton takes the plunge into parenthood in Bridget Jones’ Baby starring Renee Zellweger reprising her hit role and Colin Firth as the dashing Mark Darcy. We’ll miss Hugh Grant, although happy to hear Patrick Dempsey aka McDreamy is appearing as a potential love interest/rival. But who’s the daddy? They’ve shot three different endings to keep us (and even cast members) guessing! (UK release Apr 22)

 

9. Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre

 

 
Last summer we were swept away by Peter Pan at Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre, this year their programme brings more music, magic and romance to the gorgeous al fresco setting. There’s Michael Morpurgo’s Running Wild (with puppetry by the team behind War Horse), Shakespeare’s blistering Henry V, an epic revival of Jesus Christ Superstar and the return of sell-out production, Pride & Prejudice (swoon). Mostly suitable for older kids and adults (under 4s not admitted to any shows). 7.45pm weekdays + 2.15pm weekend matinees (varying dates), price range from £20-£65 (season May 13-Sep 17)

 

10. Disney’s Aladdin On Stage

 

 
Enter a whole new world at Aladdin the Musical as Disney’s hilarious animated tale comes to the West End. We’re huge fans of the film and can only anticipate a riot of colour, comedy, dance and toe-tapping songs. Directed and choreographed by Casey Nicholaw (The Book of Mormon), music by Alan Menken (Beauty and the Beast), lyrics by Howard Ashman (Beauty and the Beast), Tim Rice (The Lion King) and Chad Beguelin (Elf), who also wrote the book. Serious pedigree. Recommended for ages 6+. 7.30pm (Mon-Sat), 2.30pm (Thu-Sat), from £27.25 (May 27-Oct 1)

 

11. Harry Potter and the Cursed Child (Parts 1 and 2)

 

 
Set 19 years after Harry and his wizard friends left Hogwarts, Harry Potter and the Cursed Child is the eighth instalment of JK Rowling’s masterpiece series, and first official Potter play. Harry’s working at Ministry of Magic and raising his son Albus, whose destiny becomes intertwined with Harry’s past in ways neither of them could foresee. The two-part play can be seen as matinee and evening performances or on consecutive days. Jamie Parker, Noma Dumezweni and Paul Thornley are Harry, Hermione and Ron in what’s set to be THE must-see summer show. 2pm & 7.30pm (Wed & Sat), 7.30pm (Thu-Fri), 1pm & 6.30pm (Sun); £15-£65 (early previews from May, previews Jun 7, world premiere Jul 30 May 27, 2017)

 

12. Bugsy Malone at Lyric Hammersmith

 

 
This was one of the best kids’ theatre performances we’ve ever seen, and we couldn’t be more thrilled at the return of Bugsy Malone at Lyric Hammersmith. The loving adaptation of Alan Parker’s Oscar-winning film brought laughter, dancing and tears of joyful nostalgia to audiences last year. If you missed it the first time, I urge you to beg, borrow, or splurge gun your way to the box office. For ages 6+. 7.30pm (Tue-Sat), 2.30pm (Wed & Sat), 1pm (Sun); £15-£40 (Jun 11-Sep 4)

 

13. New Tate Modern

 

 
While we’re looking forward to bold new exhibitions like the Georgia O’Keefe retrospective at Tate Modern, we’re also excited about the launch of the New Tate Modern. The new 10 storey building behind the original power station will offer much more displays and interactive space, including a dedicated area for the youth programme, where all ages are invited to create, experiment and innovate. Get stuck in. (opens Jun 17)

 

14. The BFG

 

 
It’s the familiar story of a girl named Sophie who meets a Big Friendly Giant that, unlike his cronies, refuses to eat little children. We love the original animated film, but expect big (ok, giant) things from this Disney adaptation of Roald Dahl’s beloved book, directed by Steven Spielberg and starring Mark Rylance as The BFG. This is where all dreams is beginning… (UK release Jul 22)

 

15. Rio 2016 Olympic and Paralympic Games

 

 
Can it really be 4 years since London 2012? The Olympics and Paralympics absolutely transformed the capital as we embraced the spirit of the games, knocked the socks off competitors, and basked in an all-round feelgood glow. Now things are heating up for the city of samba. Tickets to Rio 2016 might be hard to come by, but wherever we watch it from, we’ll be cheering (and dancing) all the way. (Olympic Games Aug 5-21; Paralympic Games Sep 7-18)

 

16. Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them

 

 
Don’t call it a comeback, he’s been here for years. At least 70 years before Harry first reads his book at Hogwarts. Adapted from Newt Scamander’s book Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them (‘ghost written’ by JK Rowling), the film follows the adventures of Scamander himself among New York’s community of wizards and witches circa 1920. Eddie Redmayne stars in the first of a trilogy set to reignite Potter mania worldwide. (Nov 18)

 
We also like
Strike a pose for Vogue 100: A Century of Style at National Portrait Gallery (Feb 11-May 22); hit after hit after hit in Motown the Musical at Shaftesbury Theatre (Feb 11-Oct 22); the comeback of serial pouter Derek in Zoolander 2 (Feb 12); Jazz for Kids: Jumping at the Royal Albert Hall concert for ages 4-9 (Feb 18); Dino Snores for Kids sleepovers at Natural History Museum (Feb 19 & Apr 23); Glenn Close gets ready for her close-up in Sunset Boulevard (Apr 1-May 7); yes sweetie, it’s Absolutely Fabulous: The Movie (Jul 1, tbc); Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, we love you, at New Wimbledon Theatre (Jul 20); the return of the big bash for little people, LolliBop Festival 2016 (dates tbc); food, family fun and fabulous acts at On Blackheath festival in Greenwich (Sep 10-11); Katniss Everdeen refuses to ‘bow’ down at The Hunger Games live at Wembley Theatre (dates tbc)