Age for a panto?

[Chickpea]

Yeah, I agree 20 months is too young. DD went at 4, and adored it.

My dilemma this year is: is she old enough (6yrs) to enjoy the ballet, as we have the chance to get some v v cheap tickets to see the Nutcracker.

[redhed]

I hope she is, as DD2 is going for her 6th birthday!

[Chickpea]

I would have thought so, despite SIL telling me she is FAR too young.

[Helski]

If you're happy to leave when he gets bored (which may or may not be after 10 minutes) then go, he *might* absolutely love it. Who knows.

DD went at 2 & a half and loved it, DS we wouldn't have entertained at that age.

How's he with noise? DS was petrified of loud noises so theatre (& cinema to a certain extent) were an absolute no no until very recently. In fact my folks took them last year, DS saw the big drum, cried and ran out of the theatre

[Bettie May]

Yeah, I agree 20 months is too young. DD went at 4, and adored it.

My dilemma this year is: is she old enough (6yrs) to enjoy the ballet, as we have the chance to get some v v cheap tickets to see the Nutcracker.

Yes she is old enough. DD has been going since she was 5. I just noticed this weekend that ENB are doing "my first ballet" experiences. A traditional ballet but little ones (prob too young for your DD now) are allowed to shout and boo panto style and allowed to have a go at some steps themselves. Nice idea I thought to introduce them to it:

http://www.ballet.org.uk/details.php?id=16

I think the Royal Ballet Nutcracker is on tv this week sometime (Thurs perhaps?) - maybe see if she is interested by sitting her in front of that?

ETA - I took DS to panto when he was 2 and he was terrified of King Rat (Dick Whittington). We were sat in the front row and got covered in dry ice everytime he appeared from the floor which added to the terror. I ended up standing in the foyer for 2 hours.

[skylark]

We took Lexie last year so she was 1 1/2 and she loved it. For some of the time she sat and watched and at other times she was dancing in the isles. She is going again this year but she absolutely loves singing and dancing so it really catches her attention.

[fifitrix]

Yes she is old enough. DD has been going since she was 5. I just noticed this weekend that ENB are doing "my first ballet" experiences. A traditional ballet but little ones (prob too young for your DD now) are allowed to shout and boo panto style and allowed to have a go at some steps themselves. Nice idea I thought to introduce them to it:

http://www.ballet.org.uk/details.php?id=16

I think the Royal Ballet Nutcracker is on tv this week sometime (Thurs perhaps?) - maybe see if she is interested by sitting her in front of that?

We have tickets for My First Ballet next year; I think it will be ideal for J as she'll be 5.5 and is really into it. I can't wait for it myself and even OH is really up for it J's quite good at sitting still and watching a performance but there's no way I'd have taken her to a panto until perhaps last year as they are so loud. I did consider it last year as Justin Fletcher was at Reading (also this year) but managed to overlook it amongst other things

I'll look out for Nutcracker on tv; thanks for the heads-up Bettie May. We have the Barbie Nutcracker DVD which is surprisingly good

[Bettie May]

Royal Ballet in the Nutcracker - Friday 23rd (my DD's birthday! ) at 7pm on BBC4.

Birmingham Royal Ballet in Cinderella - 31st Dec - 7pm on BBC4.

[TopStar]

I'm taking DS to 'something special' panto on 31st..I'll report back. Got DH with me so hoping its painless.

We went, it was Aladdin with Justin in it and Madge from Neighbours (she was wooden as wooden thing!) Great fun, DS was mesmerized, he was really good. Didint like the baddie and didnt join in the boo or anything else we shouted but clapped when we clapped. DD was good as gold, she was engrossed when she was awake. It was 2.5hrs with a break (think 15/20mins break)

DS and I are going to see Bob the builder on stage soon

[thirzasmum]

We go to that panto every year (well the kids go now and the adults don't bother LOL they "waz robbed" this year as there IS NO DAME!) We took DD2 at 2.5yrs and that was fine but I wouldn't have taken any younger child.

Go next year