The air feels a little lighter despite all the worldly chaos and we can definitely do with the arrival of spring. There’s more to lift your mood in this week’s guide to family fun around London with live theatre premieres and musicals for all ages, a baby-friendly show + literary, STEM and stitching festivals, and our favourite family ravers. Enjoy!
Your Guide to Family Fun Around London this Weekend
Thu-Sat: My Brother’s a Genius at National Youth Theatre Workshop Theatre, 443-445 Holloway Rd, N7 6LW (Holloway Rd tube, Highbury & Islington tube/overground)
Daisy and Luke at twins trying to make it on a high-rise estate. One’s called ‘an idiot’ and the other ‘a genius’ but can they break free from their labels to fly high together or will they crash land? Debris Stevenson’s dynamic new drama mixes poetry, grime and dance to explore sibling rivalry, neurodivergence, and the weight of expectation. Directed by Eleanor Manners, this is a Theatre Centre, Sheffield Theatres and National Youth Theatre Co-Production. Recommended for ages 12+ (Year 8 to Year 11). All performances are Relaxed and accessible, Fri Mar 20 2pm is Sensory Adapted and Sat Mar 21 2pm is Captioned in English. 7pm-8.30pm (Thu-Sat) & 2pm-3.30pm (Fri-Sat); general £19/concs £15/carer FREE/family £30-£60/pay what you can £3-£15/pay it forward £36 (Mar 19-21)
Thu-Sat: Jaja’s African Hair Braiding at Lyric Hammersmith, Lyric Square, King St, W6 0QL (Hammersmith tube/overground)
From the brilliant writer Jocelyn Bioh and director Monique Touko of smash hit School Girls; Or, The African Mean Girls Play comes another Tony Award-winning comedy. Jaja’s is a bustling Harlem salon where West African braiders perform their trade, as secrets spill and dreams implode. I can’t wait! Ages 12+. 7.30pm (Mon-Sat) & select matinees 2.30pm (Wed & Sat); from £10 (Mar 18-Apr 25)
Thu-Sun: Cinderella, Ice Cream Seller at Polka Theatre, 240 The Broadway, Wimbledon, SW19 1SB (South Wimbledon tube)
This delectable show follows the rags to riches story of an ice cream maker who builds a multimillion empire. Employees Talvi and Caldwell tell the story of Cinderella, Ice Cream seller with touches of music, magic and humour. Ages 5-10. Shows at 10.30am & 1pm or 1.30pm; from £14 + £2.50 booking fee (Mar 18-29)
Thu-Sun: The Stitch Festival at Islington Business Design Centre, 52 Upper Street, N1 0QH (Angel tube, Highbury & Islington tube/overground)
Get your whole family involved in a weekend of crafting and making at this popular annual event. Pop in for demos, take part in workshops, hear inspiring talks and visit 150+ stalls. You’ll learn tips on everything from batik to crochet and embroidery. All ages welcome. 10am-6.30pm (Thu), 10am-5.30pm (Fri), 10am-6pm (Sat) & 10am-3pm (Sun); adult £26 (£22 Sun)/child 5-18 £10 (£8 Sun)/concs £24 (£20 Sun) – extra fees for workshops and VIP tickets (Mar 19-22)
Thu-Sun: Who Let the Gods Out at Polka Theatre, 240 The Broadway, Wimbledon, SW19 1SB (South Wimbledon tube)
LAST CHANCE to see Maz Evans’ adaptation of her riotously funny children’s book featuring Elliot Hooper trying to save the world (and his mama) whit various Greek gods getting in the way. Music by Luke Bateman. Ages 8-13. 10am & 1.30pm (Thu-Fri) & 11am & 2.30pm (Sat-Sun); from £12.50 (until Mar 22)
Thu-Sun: Cambridge Festival at University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 1TN (Cambridge rail)
If you’re feeling like a day trip or a weekend away, you can pack your whole brood for this annual festival of arts, STEM, creativity and discovery. Events this weekend include a Big Biomedical Campus Family Day (Sat Mar 21) to explore interactive demos and life-changing research. The special Family Weekend (Sat-Sun Mar 28-29) features a host of activities e.g. Family Day at the Museum of Zoology, Pop in at the Polar Museum, Hands-On Archaeology, Build a Cam(Brain), and Stitch and Code. Various booking options, many events are FREE. Download the festival guide for info (Mar 16-Apr 2)
Sat: Family Film Club: Wicked for Good at Barbican Cinema 2, Barbican Centre, Beech Street EC2Y 8DS (Barbican tube)
Settle in at the Family Film Club for a Saturday matinee starring Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande. The pair are back as the Wicked Witch and Glinda who have to face down an angry mob and their own selves to change Oz forever. Rated PG. NB: no unaccompanied adults or kids. 11am; adult £5/child £2.50 (Mar 21)
Sat-Sun: Deptford Literature Festival at The Library at Deptford Lounge and spaces around Deptford, SE8 (Deptford rail, New Cross rail/overground)
The south London lit fest is back with more fantastic author talks, live readings, workshops, and children’s activities. The festival kicks off this weekend with Lewisham Libraries Local Writers spoken word and open mic event (Sat Mar 21, 2.30pm, free). Coming up: How to Tame a Mummy Monster with author-illustrator Rochelle Falconer (Sat Mar 28, 10am, £3); Jimi Famurewa, Derek Owusu and Aniefiok Ekpoudom on Black male writing today (Sat Mar 28, 4pm, £3). Various ages, times and prices £0-£3. Download the full festival programme HERE (Mar 21-28)
Sat-Sun: A Midsummer Night’s Dream at Unicorn Theatre, 147 Tooley St, SE1 2HZ (London Bridge tube/rail)
With its fairytale mischief, romantic entanglements, and a character called Bottom, Shakespeare’s comedy is a delight for younger audiences. Unicorn Theatre’s first co-production with the Royal Shakespeare Company is billed as “a feast of magic and mayhem for everyone aged 7 and above”! Ages 7+. Various shows from 10.30am (Tue-Sun); from £10 (Mar 21-May 3)
Sun: Counting Sheeps at Jacksons Lane, 269a Archway Road, N6 5AA (Highgate tube)
Meet the sheep who think they know all about sleep (they’re experts in their field). Until one night, they find themselves wide awake. This award-winning musical experience is aimed at babes aged 0-3 (and their very tired grownups). 30 minutes show + stay and play! 10.30am, 12.30pm & 2.30pm; £20 adult + child, £15 additional adult (Mar 22)
Sun: Big Fish Little Fish Hackney Family Rave at Night Tales, 14 Bohemia Place, E8 1DU (Hackney Central overground)
The theme is Under and Over the Sea at this Hackney family dance party hosted by the one and only Big Fish Little Fish. Bring your mermaids and pirates for an afternoon of raving at a new central Hackney venue. Tech House don DJ Terry Francis keeps the tunes coming for all ages. There’s also Wheadon’s Wacky Crafting tables, play areas, face painting (extra charge), baby chill out, licensed bar, balloons, bubbles, glitter cannons and parachute dance finale. 2pm-4pm; adult from £12/child from £9/non-walking human FREE (Mar 22)
Sun: Olaf Falafel’s Stupidest Super Stupid Show at Arts Depot, Tally Ho Corner, North Finchley, N12 0GA (Finchley Central tube)
Try saying the title of this one-man show several times in a row, go on I dare you! The award-winning comic and kids author Olaf Falafel, fresh from a sell-out run at the Edinburgh Fringe, serve up another frying pan full of family fun. Expect an hour of kid-friendly jokes, poos on pogo sticks (!), time-travelling and live draw-along. Ages 5+. 2pm; from £13.75 (Mar 22)
We also like
Baby-friendly show Counting Sheeps is also playing at Arts Depot (Thu); the world’s biggest dance event Move It is back at ExCel London (Fri-Sun); don’t miss this Southbank Centre screening of the brilliant Spiderman: Into the Spider-Verse with live percussion, orchestra and turntables! (Sat); mark the end of Wandsworth’s year as a Borough of Culture with a fabulous FREE family festival, The Beat Goes On at Battersea Power Station (Sat); choo choo! The London Festival of Railway Modelling returns to Ally Pally (Sat-Sun); family show Your Toys (ages 5-9) launches this Sunday at Unicorn Theatre (from Sun)
Booking Ahead
- We’re Going on a Bear Hunt at Polka Theatre, SW19 (Mar 25-Apr 12)
- Star Trek at 60 at Science Museum, SW7 (Mar 26-Sep 8)
- Astronomers Take Over at National Maritime Museum, Greenwich (from Mar 27)
- Family Fun Day: Spectacular Space! at Royal Institution, W1 (Mar 28)
- The Cat in the Hat at Greenwich Theatre, SE10 (Mar 28-29)
- Black History Bus Tour, from Brixton across London (Mar 29)
- Family Wildlife Drawing Easter Special at Dulwich Picture Gallery, SE21 (Mar 29)
- Unboxing the Universe at National Maritime Museum, Greenwich (from Apr 3)
- Easter Family Disco at Big Penny Social, E17 (Apr 5)
- Ideal Home Show at Olympia London (Apr 10-19)
- Hetty Feather Day at Foundlng Museum, WC1 (Apr 11)
- Family Workshop for Children with SEND at Royal Academy, W1 (Apr 12)
- World’s Greatest Lover: The Musical at The Other Palace (Apr 12-Jun 7)
- AstroNights Sleepovers at Science Museum (Apr 24, May 15, Jun 19, Jul 10)
- The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind at Soho Place (Apr 25-Jul 18)
- Exploring Black British Literature Live with Malorie Blackman at British Library, NW1 (May 22)
- Summer Exhibition at Royal Academy, W1 (Jun 16-Aug 23)
- Dog Man the Musical UK tour hits London at Southbank Centre, SE1 (Jul 29-Aug 16)
PS. The Babes About Town Easter holidays guide is coming soon.
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**NB: Please note that all event timings and prices are subject to change/cancellation at short notice, so always check ahead with the venue before making a trip!**
10 Questions for The Gruffalo live creator, Toby Mitchell
