Last weekend I went to the theatre with my son and five of his friends…they had a great time it was so cute to see them when they first meet. They all ran up and shook hands with each other. The performance was amazing with immense professionalism by the cast despite obvious provocations…..The children in our party gazed on completely capitavated…
However not all of the audience knew how to behave in the theatre…Here’s some tips; accumulated during several years of theatres and children.
1) Arrive on time or you will miss the begining. The show we saw on Saturday started at 2. People stopped arriving at 2.40. The first people left at 2.45; it was like watching a show on the M6.
2) Its ment to be fun. If you tell your children off the whole time they won’t enjoy it…Plus its far more annoying to here you shouting at your child than whatever your child is doing.
3) If you are only 4ft high then its OK to stand. You won’t block anyones view.
4) Sweets make children hyper…if you feed them sweets and coke for the whole of the first half (to keep them quite) don’t expect them to be calm in the second half.
5) Theatre is for boys as well as girls. Whenever I take my son there are loads of mother daughter combos but stories, acting and dressing up isn’t just for girls. The 5 we took at the weekend loved it. The girls might like football for a change.
6) Go for a run first! Children find it difficult to sit still- take them for a run first to use up some of their energy…then they will enjoy it.
7) Wear comfortable clothes; linen suits may be de-riguer for adults at the theatre but are not suitable for 4 year olds. Ties are unnecessary. Relax; enjoy yourself.
Don’t pay too much for tickets; if it costs too much you will have too much invested in it working out and can’t relax…or bail if its a disaster.
9) Avoid anything you think you might not understand. We went to a performance with fully integrated sign language…one character spoke; the other signed. You could guess what the signing character said from the speaking characters reaction…Too much thinking for a 4 year old…
10) If the special needs kid behind you makes noises like a kazoo the whole way through…ignore it- they are enjoying themselves…If its the mum you can comment!
