Watching shows for kids is child's play

I choose any work for families and young children extremely carefully, as I want to make sure they leave wanting to come back. Wouldn't it be a pity to put a terrible piece of theatre in front of a child, and turn them off theatre for life?

Highlights for me were Tam Tam's show Little Hippo and his Magic Pen - a wonderful puppet show for children aged 2 - 5 about the magic of drawing (look out for Tam Tam at ARC in March with The Magic Sandals) and a very slick dance theatre piece Best Friends by M6 and Ludus Dance about a boy starting school.

The most ambitious piece was Out of the Blue by Sarah Argent and Theatre Iolo, for children aged just 6 - 18 months.

An incredibly gentle show, with a single performer playing with light, sound, movement and texture, with a melancholic bluesy soundtrack, it was mesmerising, with as much pleasure to be gained from watching the children enjoying it as from watching the show itself.

Back to the adult world now....