Family-Friendly Shows and Activities at Buxton Opera House
Theatre doesn’t just have to be for the grown-ups. Buxton Opera House has a whole host of shows guaranteed to keep your little ones entertained this winter and into 2022.
Panto is the ultimate Christmas treat, and a great way for families to have fun together at this special time of year. Top of everyone’s panto wish list has to be Aladdin. Life in far-off Peking is tough for Aladdin and his poor old mum Widow Twankey. They’re always just a prawn cracker away from poverty until Aladdin finds an ancient lamp with magic powers. What follows is a rip-roaring adventure that takes the hero from rags to riches and back again on a rollercoaster ride with more ups and downs than a journey through the Peak District! Buxton’s favourite dame James Holmes returns as Widow Twankey, alongside Annalise Liard-Bailey as Princess Willow and Matthew Jay Ryan as Wishy Washy. Aladdin runs from 11 December – 1 January with a Relaxed Performance on 15 December and a BSL Interpreted Performance on 28 December. Panto tickets are selling fast so book now to get the best choice of seats.
Northern Ballet brings a special child-friendly performance of Pinocchio on Tuesday 8 February. Lasting 40 minutes and with prices of just £8 for adults and £7 for children, Pinocchio is the perfect opportunity to introduce your little ones to the magic of live ballet, music and theatre.
There’s more family-friendly fun in the Easter holidays with Billionnaire Boy, a live stage adaptation of David Walliams’s hugely successful children’s book – a production worthy of the ‘Golden Buzzer’ according to David himself! It tells the story of Joe Spud, twelve years old and the richest boy in the country! He has his own sports car, two crocodiles as pets and £100,000 a week pocket money. But what Joe doesn’t have is a friend. So he decides to leave his posh school and start at the local comp, where life becomes a rollercoaster for Joe as he tries to find what money can’t buy. Billionaire Boy runs from Wednesday 20 – Sunday 24 April. Family tickets available.
In May BOH welcomes back Peppa Pig with a live action stage show where Peppa enjoys her Best Day Ever on a day out with her family and friends, including everything from castles to caves and dragons to dinosaurs, plus ice-creams and muddy puddles! Miss Rabbit, Mr Bull, Suzy Sheep, Gerald Giraffe and more characters join in the fun. Peppa Pig’s Best Day Ever is on Saturday 21 and Sunday 22 May.
In addition to great family shows, Buxton Opera House also has lots of opportunities for children and young people to get involved. Taking part in arts activities can help develop confidence while having fun in a safe and friendly environment. During the school holidays, the Learning and Engagement team offers a range of exciting craft, storytelling and exploration workshops for young people and their families. Young people aged 5-11 or 12-17 can also join BOH’s Young Company youth theatre group. Young Company provides a creative hub where young people can experiment, develop and fine tune their creative skills in both performance and production, in a safe and supportive environment, with the full support of the professional team.
