The Little Angel Theatre has been a leading light in theatre shows for younger audiences since its inception in 1961.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, the theatre was at the forefront of online provision for a continued supply of entertainment for younger ones, to the relief and delight of many thousands of parents tasked with a new way of keeping their kids safely entertained and engaged.
Now that live theatre is back, our youngsters can enjoy work for all age groups. But for those who may need to be cautious about returning to large-group activities, or for those restricted by ongoing health issues, the online offerings from the Little Angel team are still available to surprise and delight young imaginations.
I have featured their shows on this blog many times during the pandemic, and know that you have contributed to the many thousands of views each show has received.
And so I thought it a good time to update you on what’s available online
You can find all the Little Angel Theatre’s online offerings here
It’s great to report that Head2Head Sensory Theatre have created a special YouTube series on their channel for children with special needs or other sensory issues.
Head2Head Sensory Theatre is a registered theatre charity dedicated to the SEND Special Needs’ and disability Community.
The new series is called Sensory Squad and the videos are free to watch on YouTube, and are signed and captioned
Sensory Squad enhances communication and offers supportive and fun learning experiences through songs, crafts, stories dancing and repetition, all aimed to help families and children prepare for real world experiences through a variety of exciting sensory experiences.
The charity says “Our channel offers fun and interactive multi-sensory theatre experiences for ALL including; shows, storytelling, learning, games and mask workshops for families, schools, colleges & SNSUs.
We are passionate about making theatre accessible to all and understand that families who have a child with a disability face many barriers.
We raise awareness, share knowledge and develop new ways to make this happen.
We include opportunities for self-development and learning by offering work experience to students transitioning from education.”
This August, KIDSWEEK is back, and tickets are now on sale!
A great way to save money on over 40 of London’s most exciting shows, KIDSWEEK lasts all through August. This year, there are 250,000 tickets included in the promotion, but please be aware the most popular shows get snapped up quickly, so take a look as soon as you can!
When an adult books a full price ticket, they can take a child (aged 17 or under) with them for free! Further children’s tickets can be booked at half price, so it’s a great way to treat the family that costs less than you thought!
Shows featured this year include My Fair Lady, Anything Goes, 101 Dalmatians, My Fair Lady,Back To The Future The Musical, Disney’s Beauty And The Beast, Dear Evan Hansen, Disney’s Frozen, Disney’s The Lion King, Mamma Mia, Mary Poppins, Matilda The Musical,The Lion, The Witch And The Wardrobe,The Play That Goes Wrong,The Tiger Who Came To Tea, Wicked…..and lots more!
Please be aware that not every performance will have the option of discounted tickets, so it’s best to start looking with a few dates in mind.
You can find more details about the shows featured this year, and book tickets here
After a flurry of shows announced earlier last year, I felt it was time to revisit the wonderful Little Angel Theatre’s programme of online shows for younger audiences.
Here are some of the shows currently available on their YouTube channel – check out the individual listings for making puppet instructions at home and games to play.
TOADSTOOL TALES: TRUFFLE’S IN TROUBLE is a 15-minute show presented by Little Angel Theatre Puppetry Intern Jessica Shead. A performance aimed at children ages 0-3.
The safe comfort of Mossy Glade in the deep forest is disrupted as a band of merry mushroom friends have one of their own snatched away! Penny and Shaggy embark on an adventure into the great unknown to rescue Truffle, encountering many exciting characters, environments and obstacles along the way. Will they be able to use their wits to save the day and return home to Mossy Glade?
DON’T WORRY, LITTLE CRAB is a five-minutes long show from Folded Feather, presenting a puppet-filled version of Chris Haughton’s ‘Don’t Worry, Little Crab’ book, and is currently available.
Little Crab and Very Big Crab live in a rockpool. Today, they’re going for a dip in the sea. “This is going to be so great!” says Little Crab. But then Little Crab catches a first glimpse of the water… Oh. The waves! They’re ENORMOUS. “JEEPERS!” Will Little Crab be brave enough to go in?
For ages 3 and over, FANTASTICO is by Ruby Saide and Jessica Shead and presented by Little Angel Theatre.
Elephant is tired, and just in need of a good sleep for 10 minutes or so. His old armchair is comfy but worn out, and he can’t sit down without it making twingy-twangy noises. Determined to get a good sleep, Elephant sets out to find the perfect chair to nod off in. He is lucky enough to get help from his neighbour Anteater and a friendly Kangaroo, who guide him through a series of chair disasters! Despite all the mishaps, Elephant finally returns home to find he had the best chair all along. This is a musical and playful adaptation of Sean Taylor’s work. This show will be available indefinitely.
Although all these wonderful shows are free to watch, please consider making a donation to the Little Angel Theatre which does unique and vital work in helping younger children to access the joy of theatre. A donation of any amount will help them to keep producing work which will keep future generations of theatregoers entertained whilst they are very young. Thank You.
The fantastic Little Angel Marionette Theatre in London’s Islington has been operating since 1960, delighting children for over six decades with their lovingly crafted puppets and imaginatively staged shows for younger audiences.
In 1964, British Pathe saw the value in filming a short tribute to the Theatre’s amazing contribution to children’s appreciation of theatre, as well as to the skills of the puppeteers themselves, in this brief visit to the theatre. Enjoy a trip back in time!
