By Eleanor Davies
With the summer holidays now upon us children everywhere will be squealing with excitement at the prospect of six weeks off school.
Parents however may be showing less enthusiasm. While keeping children entertained during weekends might be easy, over a month and a half, the ideas of how to keep your little cherubs happy disappears, and fast!
With theme parks and such not only costing a lot but taking up every ounce of your energy and patience, why not take a trip to the theatre instead?
Essex is lucky enough to be the home of many brilliant theatres, and all have something on to keep your children entertained this summer, and give you a well earned rest!
Southend is home to not only one but two theatres, The Palace and Cliffs Pavilion.
While the Cliffs Pavilion is undergoing refurbishment throughout the summer they haven’t closed their doors completely and still have child friendly events taking place.
From 31 July until 5 August the outdoor terrace area will be transformed into a roller rink and then from 6 August to 8 August a synthetic Ice Rink will take shape for children to wiz around and tire themselves out!
Then on 22 August Peter Pan and co will be the theme of the day as children are invited to a day of story telling, pavement art, ice-cream making, art and crafts and free face-painting with food also provided on the BBQ!
If that doesn’t take your fancy, how about a trip up the yellow brick road at the Palace Theatre, with their summer youth production of The Wiz, running from 5 to 8 August.
And for the younger children how about the musical adaptation of the popular children’s book, The Gruffalo? Showing at various times from 19 to 21 August.
For more information on both theatres visit thecliffspavilion.co.uk or call the Box Office on 01702 351135.
And for those big kids out there, who want to enjoy the theatre with their children, The Queens Theatre, Hornchurch, are putting on a production of Dangermouse saves the world!
Showing for one night only on 2 September it will be a nostalgic trip for adults as everyone’s favourite furry agent returns to solve crime.
For more information go to queens-theatre.co.uk.
Another well known character making a return to stage this summer is Disney’s Beauty and the Beast, which will be brought to life by the Players Theatre Company with their adaptation of the classic film.
Showing from 26-29 August at the Towngate Theatre in Basildon, prepare for an evening of songs including: Be our Guest, Gaston and Beauty and the Beast.
For more information visit: basildon.gov.uk.
Then, coming straight from Cbeebies, double act Chris and Pui will be coming live from the Thameside Theatre, Grays on 19 August.
Fresh from ‘Show me, Show me’, they’ll be performing songs, sketches, games and lots more, even giving children the chance to join in!
For more information, visit thurrock.gov.uk/theatre.
So, wherever you are in Essex this summer holiday, don’t despair. There’s a theatre near you promising fun and entertainment for the whole family!