ON STAGE

Celebrating the 50th anniversary of Pam Adams’ well-loved book based on the nursery rhyme, There Was an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Fly, is coming to Leighton Buzzard Library Theatre on 14 Sept and the Quarry Theatre on 21 Sept.

This sounds like a lovely one – Anna Hibiscus’ Song has been adapted for the stage with puppets and music to re-tell the tale of a little girl in Nigeria who shares her happiness through singing. For ages 3+ at Quarry Theatre, Bedford from 14 – 15 Sept.

Anna hibiscus song, Utopia Theatre. Photo by Chris Saunders

Two iconic book adaptations are coming to a theatre near you. Dear Zoo, will be live on stage at BEAM Hertford on 21 – 22 September with music and puppetry. Also at the Alban Arena from 15 -16 October. Whilst, The Very Hungry Caterpillar is munching its way around Watford Palace Theatre from 27 – 28 September, the Radlett Centre from 24 – 26 October and BEAM Hertford on 28 – 29 October.

Join in with Peppa Pig’s Fun Day Out live stage show at Grove Theatre Dunstable on 28 – 29 Sept.

Julia Donaldson fans will be spoiled for choice this Autumn, with not one but three live shows based on her brilliant books coming to a venue near you. The Smartest Giant in Town will be at The Radlett Centre from 8-9 October, Charlie Cook’s Favourite Book comes to the Alban Arena on 1 November and Room on the Broom will be on at Watford Palace Theatre from 9 – 10 November.

Watch out for The Tiger Who Came to Tea, based on Judith Kerr’s classic tale (or should we say ‘tail’?). It’s roaring into South Mill Arts on 15 – 16 October and BEAM Hertford on 1-3 November.

My Sleepybum has some very strange dreams and in this show, where he finds himself waking up in a roomful of parents and children, he decides to re-enact them in a series of very silly sketches. He’s waking up at Hat Factory Arts on 26 October, The Old Town Hall in Hemel on 1 Nov, and The Quarry Theatre Bedford on 2 Nov.

The not-too-scary In the Dead of Night is a fun and heartwarming show about conquering a fear of monsters with puppets, music and comedy, at the Old Town Hall on 27 Oct.

There's a Monster in Your Show — There’s a Monster in Your Show

And there are more monsters in the interactive show based on Tom Fletcher’s popular ‘Who’s in Your Book?’ series. There’s a Monster in Your Show is coming to BEAM Hertford from 16 – 17 November.

BOOK NOW: Get ahead for the festivities. Book The King’s Polar Bear – a magical wintry show with original score – at Hat Factory Arts from 7 – 24 Dec before 29 Oct and get exclusive access to a FREE children’s workshop.

CREATIVITY & STORYTELLING

Big Red Bath Photo ©Shaun Armstrong / mubsta.com

Southern Maltings in Ware are holding Mini Masterclasses in expressive art and design for ages 3-4 every Thursday from 12 Sept – 17 Oct, including mark making, junk modelling, collage and more.

There’s Messy Play (Tuesdays) and a Gardening and crafts club (Fridays) at The British Schools Museum in Hichin every week until 31 December.

Over at St Albans Museum + Gallery there are monthly storytelling sessions for ages 2-4 including Museum Minis which looks at a text inspired by a current exhibition (second Friday of every month, next is 13 September) and Tots Tales (last Friday of each month) – the next is on 27 September.

There’s a monthly Family Arts session at Broadway Gallery in Letchworth led by local creatives for 3 – 10 year olds. This one’s always on a Saturday so you can bring along older siblings too. The upcoming ones are 14 Sept, 12 Oct and 9 Nov.

Award-winning children’s author, Julia Jarman invites pre-schoolers for a splash about in The Big Red Bath for a reading of her book and interactive worshop with Full House Theatre at The Quarry Theare Bedford on 21 October.

ANIMAL MAGIC

Willows Farm’s annual Potato Shindig is happening until 29 September, where you can put the kids to work digging up a bag of spuds from the potato patch, along with all the usual animal fun and Puddle Play Park. Plus, book a ticket for a FREE second visit between 30 Sept – 18 Oct.

Everyone’s favourite Aussie pups, Bluey and Bingo, will be making an appearance at Hertfordshire Zoo on 21 and 22 Sept at regular intervals between 10.30am – 3.30pm on the safari stage – included in your admission tickets.

potato digging little girl — Potato Shindig

Over at ZSL Whipsnade Zoo, there’s a toddler safari happening every Tuesday (term time only) between 17 Sept – 22 Oct. These will be mini adventures for under 5s to explore the zoo in 15-20min sessions. Learn to waddle like a penguin, find rainbows in the butterfly house and stomp like a rhino.

MUSIC AND MOVEMENT

You might have heard of baby raves but what about toddler Taleshakers? At Hat Factory Arts in Luton on 16 Sept under 5s and their adults can come and revel, rave and rhyme with 45 mins of storytelling, games and movement.

And on 27 Sept 0-5s can explore colour with Kaye-Leidoscope at The Place Bedford, in a workshop combining songs, games, crafts and dancing. You can also catch her on 25 Oct, 29 Nov and 20 Dec for numbers, sounds, and weather workshops.

There’s a multi-sensory dance experience coming to Hat Factory Arts in Luton on 19 October called Skydiver which will transport 3-5 year olds to an dream-like world in the skies amongst fluffy clouds and flocks of birds.

Come to the Halloween Spooky Baby Ball on 27 October at the British Schools Museum in Hitchin, where babies, toddlers and pre-schoolers can enjoy games, music, dancing and a treasure hunt – costumes encouraged! You’ll also find baby and toddler dancercise sessions on 10.45am every wednesday morning and a free pre-schoolers singing club every Thursday morning at 10.45am, both in the museum’s play café until 31 Dec.

Join poet Simon Mole and musician Gecko for The Great Big Dinosaur Show on 28 October. Inspired by Simon’s book, A First Book of Dinosaurs, you can expect poetry, rapping and dancing to some Jurassic Classics.

All their fave TV characters – Dora, Pip and Posey, Blue from Blues Clues and Milo Monkey – will take to the stage for and all-signing, all dancing, family show, Milkshake Live! on 30 October at Watersmeet Rickmansworth.

Nurture their appreciation of dance early with this production of The Ugly Duckling Ballet by Let’s All Dance, especially aimed at ages 2-11 years. It’s calling at The Radlett Centre on 1 November.

Hot tickets for tots: What’s on for pre-schoolers this Autumn?

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