Greyish skies outside but there’s plenty to cheer you up in your weekly guide to family fun in London. As always, I’ve got a multi-ethnic, multi-sensory mix of theatre, art, cultural festivals, thought-provoking exhibitions and toddler-friendly outings.
Happy St Patrick’s Day to those celebrating (he’s also a patron saint of Nigeria, in case you didn’t know!) and have a good weekend all.
Launching This Weekend: Forthwrite Festival in Brighton & Crawley!
Forthwrite Festival, a new writing festival for women writers over 50, launches this weekend in Brighton. You can join me on Sunday March 30 at the Crawley edition of the festival, where I’ll be on a panel with bestselling authors Kit de Waal, Nicola Williams and literary agent Abi Fellows talking about how to get your work noticed as a writer! Read more about it in this article in The Guardian and get details and tickets here: https://forthwrite.uk/forthwrite-festival/ (Mar 15-30)
Weekend Scoop: Your Weekly Guide to Family Fun in London
Thu-Sat: Drum TAO: The Dream at Sadler’s Wells Peacock Theatre, Portugal Street, Holborn, WC2A 2HT (Holborn tube)
Peacock Theatre hosts another banging production of large-scale taiko drumming combined with elaborate and contemporary Japanese costumes. Drum TAO are a global phenomenon set to captivate a London audience with their explosive show. 7.30pm (Thu-Sat) & 2.30pm (Sat); from £38 (Mar 12-15)
Thu-Sat: Dear England at National Theatre (Olivier Theatre), South Bank, SE1 9PX (Waterloo/Embankment tube/rail)
Back by popular demand, writer James Graham’s smash hit show explores fandom, nationalism and the (seemingly) unattainable goal of taking it all the way, through the lens of Gareth Southgate’s final outing as England manager. Age guidance 6+ (probably best for older kids). 7.30pm (Mon-Sat) & 2pm (Wed & Sat); £20-£99 (Mar 10-May 24)
Thu-Sat: Ballet Black: Shadows at Hackney Empire, 291 Mare St, E8 1EJ (Hackney Central overground)
From a criminal sister pact to shadow work. Oyinkan Braithwaite’s bestselling novel My Sister the Serial Killer gets the Ballet Black treatment in a double bill also featuring Chanel DaSilva (The Joffrey Ballet), in her British choreographic debut. Ages 12+. 7.30pm; £15-£42 (Mar 13-15)
Thu-Sun: The Little Prince at London Coliseum, St Martin’s Lane, WC2N 4ES (Covent Garden tube)
Performed in French with English subtitles, this immersive and grand performance based on the iconic children’s book by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry comes to the London Coliseum after sold-out shows in Paris, Sydney, Dubai, and a season on Broadway. See the story told in leaps and bounds with music, dance, acrobatics and projections. 7pm (Wed), 7.30pm (Thu-Sat), 2.30pm (Thu & Sat), 2pm & 5.30pm (Sun); £39-£149 (Mar 12-16)
Thu-Sun: Black Sound: The Story of Black British Music at Barbican Library, Level 2, Barbican Centre, Silk Street, EC2Y 8DS (Barbican/Moorgate tube)
A broad tribute to the DIY spirit of Black British music, from grime and jungle and drill going back to its roots in jazz, reggae and lovers’ rock. Experience vintage mixtapes and magazine covers, fly-posted walls and the sounds of a musical revolution. Library open: 9.30am-5.30pm (7.30pm Tue & Thu, 4pm Sat, closed Sun); FREE entry (Mar 10-Jul 19)
Thu-Sun: Edvard Munch Portraits at National Portrait Gallery, St. Martin’s Pl, WC2H 0HE (Charing Cross tube/rail)
Get closer to Edvard Munch in this intimate showcase of the man behind The Scream. Discover how he saw himself alongside friends, lovers and family members. From 10.30am time slots (until 5pm or 8pm Fri/Sat); from adult £21/child 25 and under £5 on Fri-Sun/members FREE (Mar 13-Jun 15)
Thu-Sun: Dress Codes at Kensington Palace, Kensington Gardens, W8 4PX (High St Kensington tube)
View treasures from the Royal Ceremonial Dress Collection spanning 500 years and 10,000 objects. Highlights include clothing worn by Queen Elizabeth II, Diana, Princess of Wales, Dame Vivienne Westwood, Princess Margaret and Queen Victoria. The collection also features fashion from around the globe e.g. an extremely rare Japanese court suit dating from the early 20th century. All ages. 10am-6pm (last entry 5pm); included in entry fee – from adult £24.70/child £12.40 (Mar 13-Nov 30)
Sat: Family Concert: London Adventure at Sinfonia Smith Square, SW1P 3HA (Westminster/St James’ Park tube)
Hear music from composers who lived and worked in the Big Smoke, from George Handel and Samuel Coleridge-Taylor to Felix Mendelssohn and Errollyn Wallen. Families can also meet the musicians and have a go with their instruments. 11.30am; £6 (Mar 15)
Sat-Sun: Disney Jr Live: Let’s Play at Southbank Centre, Belvedere Rd, SE1 8XX (Waterloo/Embankment tube/rail)
Mickey and his pals are out for a fun day but the mysterious green weather keeps spoiling their plans. They’ll have to turn to Team Spidey (Marvel’s Spidey and His Amazing Friends) to save the day. See Disney Jr faves including Mickey Mouse, Minnie, Goofy, Ariel, the Puppy Dog Pals, and Ginny and Bitsy from SuperKitties. All ages. 11am, 2pm & 5pm; from £19.50 (Mar 15-16)
Sun: Bing’s Birthday at Arts Depot, 5 Nether Street, Tally Ho Corner, North Finchley N12 0GA (Finchley Central tube)
Wear your party clothes to meet Bing and his buddies Sula, Pando, Coco, Amma, and, of course, Flop for a very special birthday. The CBeebies series comes to life with top puppeteers and catchy new tunes for families and their little Bingsters. Hurry, Saturday show is already sold out! Ages 2+. 10am, 1pm & 4pm (Sun); from £12 (Mar 16)
Sun: Nowruz Family Day at Lauderdale House, Waterlow Park, N6 5HG (Highgate tube)
Find out all about Nowruz and celebrate the Persian New Year with your family and friends. Have a go with Haft-sin colouring pages, pattern printing, paper mosaics and Persian-inspired tile crafts. All ages. 11pm-3pm (drop in); FREE (Mar 16)
Sun: Magic of India: Holi Colour Dance Festival at Rose Gardens, Waterlow Park, N6 6PL (Highgate tube)
Head to Waterlow Park for a colourful celebration to mark the Hindu festival of Holi. Live DJs and entertainment, Bollywood and Western soundtracks, delicious street food, and of course Holi colour play are all on the menu. All ages welcome. 12pm-5.30pm; adult or child age 9+ from £25.50/child ages 8 and under £18 (Mar 16)
We also like
Toot toot! Come and play on giant train tracks at Track Play for ages 18 months+, at Big Penny Social in Walthamstow (Fri); all aboard for the London Festival of Railway Modelling at Alexandra Palace, N22 (Sat-Sun); it’s the 10th year for London’s only Retro Games Fair at Royal National Hotel in Bloomsbury (Sun); and don’t forget to wear green for St Patrick’s Day with the big city parade travelling from Hyde Park Corner to a free festival from 12-6pm in Trafalgar Square (Sun)
Booking Ahead
- Ideal Home Show at Olympia London (Mar 21-Apr 6)
- Beegu at Unicorn Theatre, SE1 (Mar 22-May 4)
- OAE Tots and LPO Funharmonics at Southbank Centre, SE1 (Mar 23)
- Funharmonics: The Snail and the Whale at Southbank Centre, SE1 (Mar 23)
- Deptford Literature Festival at The Library at Deptford Lounge, SE8 (Mar 27-30)
- Big Fish Little Fish Flower Power Mother’s Day Rave at Hackney Wick (Mar 29)
- The Nest Collective: Family Ceilidh at Grand Junction W2 (Mar 29)
- Little Night (for ages 18 months-4 years) at Unicorn Theatre, SE1 (Mar 29-Apr 19)
- Pirates at National Maritime Museum, Greenwich (Mar 29-Jan 4)
- Big Fish Little Fish Flower Power Mother’s Day Rave at Vauxhall (Mar 30)
- Make and Race Your Own Toy Car at Alexandra Palace, N22 (Apr 9-May 26)
- The Boat Race, banks of the River Thames (Apr 13)
- Open Air Theatre Season at Regent’s Park, NW1 (May 10-Sep 20)
- AstroNights Sleepovers at Science Museum (May 16, Jun 20 & Jul 11)
- The Boy With Wings at Polka Theatre, SW19 (Jun 21-Aug 16)
**NB: Please note that all event timings and prices are subject to change/cancellation at short notice, so always check ahead with the venue (or the latest government guidelines) before making a trip!**
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