Women in piggy tails – why it can be so right.

Last week I watched a grown woman in a blond piggy tail wig and pinafore dancing around and running away from a grown man in a bearskin. No, much to my disappointment I was not at a new avant garde club night. What I do after hours is on my other blog, www.fetishtastic.com.au (shame on you for clicking).

No, I was at an under 4s performance of Goldilocks. I did spend the entire 45 minutes wondering what led these two people to be performing in this show — I am presuming they were wannabe Eastenders stars or perhaps more serious Shakespearean types. Or maybe I am doing them a gross disservice, maybe there is a whole children’s acting career path – starts with a being a giant sandwich in a mall, next stop the dizzying heights of Disneyland? I am NOT dissing the acting which was nothing short of superb. Let’s face it, anyone who can keep a group of about thirty under 4s mostly spellbound for the better part of 45 minutes is a shoo-in to win the X-Factor.

So, children’s theatres. There are many but to many I have not been (despite Yoda status), so these come with no personal recommendations, (legal disclaimer drafted by the Captain) but as a distraction at any age for kids from about 6 months to 13, they beat visiting the park day after day after day after day (kill me please). Here is a non-exhaustive list for a few cities, any other recommendations most welcome.

London

• Polka Theatre – Wimbledon(this is one I have been to – it is ACE. Set up for all ages including babies, has play area and café. Definitely worth a visit if you’re in London)
• Arts Depot, North FInchley
• Barbican Centre, EC2
• Broadway Theatre, Catford
• Chicken Shed Theatre, Southgate
• Colour House Theatre, SW19
• Greenwich Theatre, Greenwich
• Half Moon Theatre, E1
• Little Angel Theatre, Angel
• Lyric Theatre, Hammersmith
• Millfield Theatre, Tottenham
• National Theatre, Southbank  
• Sadler’s Wells The Peacock Theatre, Holborn
• The Puppet Theatre Barge, Little Venice
• The Tricycle Theatre, Brent
• Unicorn Theatre, London Bridge
• Warehouse Theatre, Croydon
• Young Vic, Waterloo

Sydney

• Sydney Opera House
• Marian Street Theatre, various
• Riverside Theatres, Paramatta
• New Theatre, Newtown
• Carriageworks, Eveleigh

Melbourne

• La Mama for Kids, Carlton
• Arts Centre, Melbourne City
• Dracula’s for kids, Carlton
• Tivoli Theatre, various
• Dream Puppets, various
• Royal Botanic Gardens

New York – see here.

Paris – see here. 

photo credit: Orin Zebest