The West End has always been home to family-friendly entertainment. From classic favourites like The Lion King to exciting new shows like School of Rock, there’s plenty for all the family to enjoy across London’s theatres.
If you’re staying at Hotel Montcalm London with your family and are thinking of going to see a show, here are some of the best kid-friendly theatre shows coming up this season on the West End.
Aladdin
Prince Edward Theatre
Aladdin is another adaptation of a Disney classic, following in the footsteps of musicals like Mary Poppins, The Lion King and Beauty and the Beast. The story follows Aladdin, a young pauper on the streets of Agrabah, as he meets a genie who will grant him three wishes. With classic songs including A Whole New World and Friend Like Me, as well as a host of new characters and tunes that will stick with you on your journey back to your accommodation in London, this is one hit show that’s certainly worth all the rave reviews.
Wicked
Apollo Victoria Theatre
This musical has been the biggest theatre hit of the century, and recently celebrated a full ten years of shows in the West End. Wicked tells the backstory of The Wizard of Oz, delving into the personal lives of the Wicked Witch of the West and the Good Witch Glinda. It asks important questions: are people born wicked? Do they have wickedness thrust upon them? It’s also packed full of brilliant songs that you and your kids will be singing for weeks after.
Matilda
Cambridge Theatre
The story of Matilda struck a nerve with everyone when it was first written by Roald Dahl more than a hundred years ago. The movie adaption brought it to the world’s attention again during the 1990s, and now it’s been transformed into a musical by Tim Minchin and Dennis Kelly. The musical tells the story of imaginative, ultra-intelligent child Matilda, who discovers she has supernatural powers. She decides to use those powers to teach the mean adults in her life a lesson. Memorable characters include terrifying headteacher Miss Trunchbull and Matilda’s classmate Bruce Bogtrotter, who famously eats an entire chocolate cake as punishment for stealing. Your kids will cackle all the way through – just cross your fingers they don’t pick up any ideas from the sneaky, naughty children of this show!
The Lion King
Lyceum Theatre
The ultimate Disney classic was turned into a stage show in the 1990s and has remained on the West End ever since. With every animal played by incredibly talented puppeteers and dancers, this amazing production is a total spectacle from start to finish. Children will love seeing the sights and sounds of the savannah brought to life on stage, and they’ll be singing along to classics like Hakuna Matata and Circle of Life throughout. Adults will surely get plenty of enjoyment out of seeing this quirky version of Hamlet told so inventively. Don’t forget to bring the tissues for the stampede scene.
