Enjoy a date afternoon with the kids by treating them to one (or more) of the fantastic theatre shows coming to the region. Check out our pick of eight doing the rounds in 2025.

PIRATES LOVE UNDERPANTS

Claire Freedman certainly knows a thing or two about writing for children. And she’s no slouch on the subject of underpants either, with her picture books including Aliens Love Underpants, Aliens Love Panta Claus and Aliens In Underpants Save The World... It turns out pirates are pretty keen on underpants too, as evidenced by this stage adaptation of yet another of her publications. Theatre Severn’s legendary pantomime Dame, Brad Fitt, has written the show, which features a winning combination of ‘music, puppetry and glittering pants of gold’. 

Warwick Arts Centre, Coventry, Monday 17 February; Theatre Severn, Shrewsbury, Tuesday 11 - Friday 14 March; Royal Spa Centre, Leamington Spa, Wednesday 23 - Thursday 24 April

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BREATHE

Told from the perspective of an acorn and celebrating nature, Breathe sees three storytellers use a combination of puppetry, detailed sets and live camera work to explore the inner workings of trees. A unique blend of thumping D&B and live ethereal folk songs further add to an experience in which the audience is invited to ‘find the epic in the tiny’. The show is presented by Canterbury-based theatre company Half A String. 

Warwick Arts Centre, Coventry, Tuesday 18 February

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THE DINOSAUR THAT POOPED (A ROCK SHOW)

Tom Fletcher and Dougie Poynter are promising their brand-new production will come complete with new songs, a lot of laughs and (not surprisingly given the show’s title) a whole lot of poo! Based on Tom and Dougie’s bestselling children’s books, The Dinosaur That Pooped follows Danny and Dino as they try to get hold of the last two tickets to their favourite rock band’s last-ever concert. But with a villainous band manager lurking, nothing goes to plan... Will the band perform? Will Danny rock out? Or will Dino’s rumbling tummy save the day?...   

The Alexandra, Birmingham, Monday 3 March; Crewe Lyceum Theatre, Saturday 5 April; Theatre Severn, Shrewsbury, Saturday 17 May; Albany Theatre, Coventry, Friday 30 May; Wolverhampton Grand Theatre, Sunday 20 July; Malvern theatres, Saturday 25 October; Lichfield Garrick, Wednesday 29 October

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RUDE SCIENCE

As science shows go, BBC Gastronaut Stefan Gates is pretty darned certain that his Rude Science production is the most revolting in the whole wide world. And he could well be right, given that it involves enormous bottoms, pee-powered fireworks, fart machines and vast whoopee cushions! Science stunts and spectacular experiments abound in a show that promises to be both entertaining and educational.

Warwick Arts Centre, Coventry, Thursday 20 February; Theatre Severn, Shrewsbury, Saturday 19 April; Malvern Theatres, Friday 25 April; Stafford Gatehouse Theatre, Monday 21 July

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THE BADDIES

The company behind this hugely popular touring show is Freckle Productions, who’ve got plenty of form when it comes to brilliant stage adaptations of Julia Donaldson’s terrific tales. This one focuses on a witch, a troll and an ancient ghost who love nothing more than being very, very bad... Expect your kids to laugh out loud.

Albany Theatre, Coventry, Tuesday 8 - Sunday 13 April; The Swan Theatre, Worcester, Tuesday 3 - Wednesday 4 June

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BING'S BIRTHDAY

Bing’s Birthday’s promoters are confident that their brand-new 70-minute show is a perfect ‘first theatre trip’ for pre-schoolers and their families. And why wouldn’t they be, given that the production is awash with fun, laughter, music, puppetry and dressing-up?... For those not in the know, the show is based on an animated CBeebies television series.

Regent Theatre, Stoke-on-Trent, Friday 11 - Saturday 12 April; Wolverhampton Grand Theatre, Wednesday 23 - Thursday 24 April; Birmingham Town Hall, Saturday 14 - Sunday 15 June; Theatre Severn, Shrewsbury, Tuesday 1 - Wednesday 2 July

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THE DETECTIVE DOG

Given the success of so many other stage adaptations of Julia Donaldson’s hugely popular stories (see, for example, The Baddies elsewhere in this blog), it’s a real no-brainer to mount a live version of The Detective Dog.

The canine sleuth of the title is Nell, whose detective skills are certainly not in question; whether it’s finding a lost shoe or discovering who left an unpleasant ‘surprise’ on the new gravel pathway, her ever-sniffing nose is always hard at work. So when the books at her owner Peter’s school disappear one morning, it isn’t long before Nell is on the case and sniffing out the culprit!...

Created with three- to seven-year-olds in mind, the show is being presented by Bristol-based Tiny & Tall Productions.  

Midlands Arts Centre (MAC), Birmingham, Saturday 12 - Sunday 13 April

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THE WORST PRINCESS

With no interest in pretty dresses, fairytale weddings or grand balls, as stereotypical princesses go, Sue is pretty rubbish. Her ‘handsome prince’ isn’t much cop either. So it’s no wonder she’s more interested in having adventures, causing mischief and making unusual friends - including a dazzling larger-than-life dragon!... Anna Kemp’s much-loved picture book is here brought to life by the talented creatives at Full House Theatre, whose 55-minute production comes complete with ‘laugh-out-loud comedy, cool puppets and singalong pop anthems’. 

The Rep, Birmingham, Tuesday 22 April; Malvern Theatres, Saturday 26 - Sunday 27 April; Lichfield Garrick, Saturday 7 - Sunday 8 Jun

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