Showing posts with label February Half Term. Show all posts
Showing posts with label February Half Term. Show all posts

Monday 18 February 2019

Gandey's Circus - The Greatest Show Tour - A Review

We were recently invited along to Gandey's Circus which is currently at Aintree in Liverpool until the 3rd of March as part of its current UK tour. I haven't visited the circus since I was a young child and was therefore excited and intrigued to experience the 'The Greatest Show' and find out exactly what it could offer for family entertainment.

From the moment we arrived my youngest son Riley was amazed by the giant circus tent and kept asking what would be inside. He was running around excitedly trying to take a peek through the entrance whilst I was waiting to collect our tickets from the box office. He soon stopped in his tracks though as the smartly dressed ringmaster walked past and gave him a smile and a wave.

Once we had collected our tickets, we made our way into the foyer area where there was a variety of food and drink stands, along with a stall that sold the popular flashing toys and wands. Riley immediately spotted a brightly coloured sword that had colour changing lights and was priced at £6. I felt that this was very reasonable compared to some event stalls that we have seen before, so I had no issue in purchasing one for him to wave around.


As we entered the show arena, we handed over our ticket and were directed where to take our seats. The seats aren't numbered so you can simply choose where you would like to sit, as long as it is in the area that you have paid for. We managed to get some great seats a few rows up from the front, which gave us a great view throughout the show. The time slot we attended was really popular so whilst waiting for all the guests to take their seats there was also the opportunity to have your face painted or have a mascot photograph in the circus ring for a small charge, which I thought was a great idea.

Once everyone was seated the show began to start and we were introduced to the full cast singing and performing. It was a superb beginning and really set the standard high. My children were in their element singing and clapping along and they sat captivated waiting to see what happened next.

The show advertising states "You've never seen anything like it!" and they are not wrong. Every single act which took to the ring was absolutely incredible and the talent of each person was outstanding. The acrobats spun and flew through the air as they attempted high flying flips and bounces on a thin bar supported only by the strength of two people. My whole family watched in amazement as the acts continued, always excited to see what was next.

The Garcia Brothers performed an act of amazing strength as they balanced on one hand whilst carrying out a superb gymnastic routine. They made everything look so easy, yet in reality it must take so many years of training to get to the high standard they are at. We really liked the fact that each act had a great soundtrack to it with popular well known songs that matched perfectly to the performance.


One of my favourite acts of the evening was a romantic aerial ballet performance that had me completely mesmerised. An extremely talented duo climbed high above the ring and supported themselves on the silk drapes whilst providing a breathtaking and beautiful display together involving acrobatics, spins, drops and dance. However, just when we thought it couldn't get anymore spectacular, we were presented with the giant space wheel and sat on the edge of our seats as two extremely talented acrobats attempted somersaults, runs and flips whilst the wheel spun round at speed. They even attempted it whilst blindfolded which was unbelievable!

In between all the acts the audience was kept entertained by loveable clown Chico Rico who provided plenty of belly laughs and fun. There were also numerous opportunities for audience participation along with jokes and comedy suitable for the whole family.

Before we knew it the first half was over and it was the interval. The show was so fast paced and entertaining that an hour had passed really quickly. The 15 minute break allowed plenty of time to purchase some snacks or pop to the toilet and there was a further opportunity again for face painting in the circus ring along with a raffle to win a cuddly toy.


The second half was just as incredible as the first and at one point the award winning circus stars Duo Garcia performed high flying acrobatics on a soaring rocket that spun at speed around the circus top. It definitely had an element of fear and at one point one of the performers was hanging by only one foot at a great height with NO safety nets. It was definitely a heart stopping moment!

The finale saw three motorbikes enter the 'globe of death' which saw them drive around at speed whilst narrowly avoiding one another. At some points it literally looked like they were only millimetres away from one another and that they could collide at any moment, but incredibly they completed the act with precision to a great round of applause.


Overall this circus show was everything we had hoped it would be and more. It was absolutely action packed from start to finish and my children have not stopped talking about it since. Everything from the dazzling costumes to the music was just perfect and it was quite incredible to see so many talented performers all in one show. Gandeys Circus The Greatest Show really does live up to it's name and I wouldn't hesitate to recommend this tour to families.

For further information and full tour dates you can visit the Gandeys Circus website or their social media pages which can be found on the following channels:

Website: www.gandeyscircus.com
Facebook: facebook.com/gandeyscircus/
Twitter: @gandeyscircus
Instagram: @gandeys_circus

*Disclaimer - We were provided with a complimentary family ticket for the purpose of writing an honest review of the show. Opinions are my own unless otherwise stated.

Monday 12 February 2018

Dates for your Diary - Storyhouse Chester Announces a Great Line-Up of Family Shows for Spring 2018

Storyhouse has revealed its exciting programme of children's shows for the Spring Season 2018 - promising plenty of fun for all the family at the Chester theatre.

With four fantastic shows, written and produced specifically for children, there's no excuse for youngsters to be bored during the half-term break or the coming months.

The first show to take to the stage this season is Captain Flinn & The Pirate Dinosaurs 2: The Magic Cutlass on Tuesday 20th February.

Based on the best-selling children's books, Flinn, Pearl and Tom are in the middle of their school play when their old nemesis, Mr T the T-Rex, appears and kidnaps them, forcing the children to hunt for the secretive Magic Cutlass - a sword that grants the holder any wish.


Young fans of dinosaurs have a real treat to look forward to on Saturday 7th April and Sunday 8th April when Dinosaur World Live comes to Storyhouse.

Dare to experience the dangers and delights of the dinosaur world with this incredible interactive show. Youngsters are invited to join an intrepid explorer  across unchartered territories to discover a pre-historic world of astonishing (and remarkably life-like) dinosaurs. Meet a host of impressive creatures, including every child's favourite flesh-eating giant the Tyrannosaurus Rex, a Triceratops, Giraffatitan, Microraptor and Stegosaurus.

Dino fans can meet their favourites during a special meet and greet after the Dinosaur World Live performances.


The mischevious and hilarious Gangsta Granny takes to the Storyhouse stage during the Easter Holidays, on Wednesday 11th April to Saturday 14th April.

Based on the books by the best-selling children's author David Walliams, Gangsta Granny and her grandson Ben are about to embark on the adventure of a lifetime together. This award-winning West End production is brought to stage by the acclaimed producers of Horrible Histories.

Fans of dance and music are also catered for as world music group Kabantu return to Storyhouse on Wednesday 21st February. After proving to be a big hit at the Chester venue last June, the quintet perform as part of their Debut Album Tour, which has been produced by Mercury Prize nominated Gerry Diver.

Storyhouse Artistic Director Alex Clifton said: "We are thrilled to present such a varied and exciting programme for families over the coming months. Following the success of our Christmas show, The Secret Seven, we want to continue to engage families and young people as much as possible Whether that's seeing a show in the theatre or creating something together in the children's library."

Storyhouse is also producing its annual WayWord half-term festival between the 17th-24th February. The week-long festival is dedicated to families and young people, and features Gruffalo illustrator Axel Scheffler, silent discos, stand-up comedy for kids, a raft of workshops, tea-time movies and free arts and crafts.

Tickets for all events are on sale now and can be booked online, over the phone, or in person at the theatre.

Storyhouse has a dynamic pricing policy on the majority of shows, ensuring that the earlier you book your tickets, guarantees the best seats at the lowest price.

For further information on these events and more, please visit www.storyhouse.com

Tuesday 30 January 2018

February Half Term Fun with WayWord Family Arts Festival at Storyhouse, Chester - 17th to 24th February

If you are looking for something fun to do with the kids this February Half Term (17th to 24th Feb), then the multi award-winning Storyhouse Chester have recently revealed a fantastic line-up of events for families to enjoy.

Family arts festival, WayWord, is now in its 5th year and is a week long festival that is dedicated to families and children. For seven days, Storyhouse in Chester will have a programme, featuring performances, workshops, children's illustrators, writers and discos.

Alex Clifton, artistic director at Storyhouse said: "We are so excited to be bringing our family festival to Storyhouse for the first time. WayWord is a celebration of ideas, of playing, being creative, learning and having fun together."

Gruffalo Illustrator Axel Scheffler will be coming to Chester on the 22nd February to talk about his latest book with Smartie winner Julia Donaldson - The Ugly Five. Waterstones Children's Book Winner, Jonny Duddle will also be returning to the festival to discuss his latest adventure in the pirate world Scurvy Sands.

There will be performances for families to enjoy in Storyhouse's theatre - Captain Flinn and the Pirate Dinosaurs based on the bestselling picture books will be on stage on Tuesday 20th February and beatboxer Lee Gibling will perform and give a workshop on Saturday 17th February. Musicians, Kabantu return to Chester to perform a concert followed by a music-making workshop for ages 4+. There will also be lectures on the Science of Doctor Who and Star Wars.

New for 2018 is WayWord Flicks - a selection of family favourite short films, screened on Storyhouse's Big Screen located in the art deco foyer. Price includes a ticket, headsets for audio and a snack.

Workshops will feature throughout the week: Storyhouse's in house dance theatre company Fallen Angels are doing a dance workshop for all the family on Monday 19th February. Creaters of Wallace and Gromit  Aardman Studios will lead a session on clay modelling. Acapella singer James Sills will do a workshop on performing songs from musicals, followed by a performance in the Garret. There will also be a hip-hop dance workshop, plus code a drone, Lego stop motion and computer game design.

The return of 'play in a day' on Saturday 24th February, sees participants work with theatre makers to write, rehearse and perform a play in a day. Storyhouse's Atrium will welcome families to dance together at the Silent Disco and Artful Playground will perform with their swing band.

Festival favourite Den Building returns for its 5th year and families will come together to create incredible hiding spaces. Storytelling is at the heart of the programme with sessions daily in Storyhouse's children's library - The Den. There will also be Caveman parties, a puzzle/board game library, puzzle room - like a children's Crystal Maze and free themed arts and crafts including kite, dreamcatcher and puppet making.

Storyhouse's independent cinema will be screening kids movies: Aardman's latest film Early Man, plus documentary Jane and classic reissue Doctor Dolittle.

Tickets start at only £4. To find out more and to view the full schedule of events, please visit the Storyhouse website or visit their social media pages which can all be found here:

Storyhouse website - www.storyhouse.com
Twitter - @StoryhouseLive
Facebook - StoryhouseLive

Saturday 20 January 2018

Dates for your Diary - The Wizard of Oz at St Helens Theatre Royal from 13th-18th February

Get ready to go on a magical adventure over the rainbow with Regal Entertainments and their enchanting February Half Term pantomime production of The Wizard of Oz. The show will be heading to the St Helens Theatre Royal from Tuesday 13th February to Sunday 18th February and will be sure to delight the audience with a great selection of brilliant songs and show-stopping choreography.

After the show's success whilst touring last year, which included playing to packed-out auditoriums in Stockport, Southport, Rhyl and Liverpool, it is now coming back to St Helens due to a huge demand.


Starring BBC's Pitch Battle star Maddie Hope Coelho as Dorothy, this magical show is sure to put a smile on the faces of even the meanest of munchkins. Maddie trained at Laine Theatre Arts, West End MT and the Royal Ballet School. Her theatre credits include Fairy Goodapple in Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, Mary Margaret in Singin' in the Rain as well as appearances in Sleeping Beauty and Aladdin.

Click your heels together and join X-Factor's David Heath as the Scarecrow, the brilliant Philip McGuiness as the Tin Man, the loveable Si Foster as the Cowardly Lion, and the adorable little dog Toto, as they follow the Yellow Brick Road to the Merry Old Land of Oz to meet the Wizard so he can make their dreams come true.

David Heath was a contestant on ITV's The X Factor back in 2006 as a member of boy band Eton Road. Since his time on the show he has turned his talents to theatre with credits including Billy in Wag -The Musical, as well as pantomime leading men including Aladdin, Prince Valentine in Snow White and Prince Valiant in Sleeping Beauty.

Guaranteed to give an oil-slick performance as the Tin Man, the charming Philip McGuiness is a panto regular, having previously played Gaston in Beauty and the Beast and Captain Hook in Peter Pan.

Finally, Si Foster is no stranger to the St Helens Theatre stage, or to a panto, he is back as the Cowardly Lion, searching for courage from the Wizard.


The Wizard of Oz is a firm family favourite which tells the story of young Dorothy Gale and her dog Toto as they embark on a wondrous adventure over the rainbow in the magical land of Oz. So why not join Dorothy, Toto and all their new friends Scarecrow, Tin Man and Lion as they journey down the Yellow Brick Road to The Emerald City om search of the Wizard of Oz who can make all their dreams come true.

Wizard of Oz Producer, Chantelle Nolan said: "We are so excited to bring The Wizard of Oz back to the theatre for February half term. The show was a roaring success, not just in St Helens, but on tour too. I know that people are just as excited to see the show again as I am, so get your tickets soon, before they sell out!"

Listing Details

Show - Regal Entertainments Ltd presents The Wizard of Oz
Dates - Tuesday 13th February to Sunday 18th February 2018
Times - Tues: 1pm / Weds - Sat: 1pm & 5:30pm / Sun: 1pm
Venue - St Helens Theatre Royal, Corporation Street, St. Helens, Merseyside, WA10 1LQ

Tickets - From £14*
*All prices are inclusive of a £1 per seat transaction fee. On-line bookings are subject to an additional 50p per seat on-line processing fee.

Box Office - 01744 756000
Website - www.sthelenstheatreroyal.com
Twitter - @TheatreRoyalStH
Facebook - www.facebook.com/St-Helens-Theatre-Royal

Friday 10 February 2017

What's On in Liverpool this February Half Term?

If you are a regular visitor to the blog, you will know that Liverpool is one of my favourite cities, as you can always be sure that there is plenty to do to keep the children occupied during the school holidays and this February half term is no exception.

Here is a round up of some attractions and shows that are available to visit during the February Half Term:

The Narnia Experience


The Narnia Experience has returned to St George's Hall following its sell-out run back in 2013. The critically acclaimed walk-through experience is open from the 10th February to the 25th February and tickets are now on sale for this fabulous event.

Visitors will be invited to step through the enchanted wardrobe where they will discover a wintery forest scene and whisked off to the magical land of Narnia.

The Great Hall will be beautifully transformed as visitors go on a journey through the White Forest, and across the land of Narnia, in this large-scale, immersive and interactive trail. There will also be the opportunity to meet your favourite characters along the way including Mr Tumnus, Mrs Beaver and The White Witch.

St George's Hall General Manager Alan Smith said: “We are delighted to welcome back the team at In Another Place, their previous productions of Narnia and Alice Experience were incredibly well received by the public. The creativity and vision in their set designs and the characters they bring to life are always astounding. I would definitely recommend booking fast as I imagine this to be another sell-out!”

Tickets are available to purchase online through Ticketquarter and are available at various prices which are:

Mondays/Tuesdays - Adults £8 and Children £6
Wednesdays/Thursday - Adults £10 and Children £7
Fridays/Saturdays - Adults £13 and Children £10
Friday 10th February - Adults £8 and Children £6
Tuesday 21st February from 6pm - Adults £8 and Children £6

There will also be 4 Autism friendly performances on Tuesday 21st February between 6:15pm - 7pm which have been specifically designed to welcome visitors who will benefit from a more relaxed performance environment. A BSL performance will also be available at 7:30pm on Saturday 19th February.

This event is ideal for families, though is not recommended for under 3's. The experience should last approximately 90 minutes.


Superbooty at The Epstein Theatre


SuperBooty is a fun-filled show for all the family which tells the story of a brand-new superhero we can all relate to - an ordinary girl with an extraordinary gift. It is a brand new musical comedy brought to you by The Epstein Theatre's very own panto dame, Michael Chapman.

Boasting a fantastic cast including Jordan 'Weekender' Davies, Boogie Storm's Lewis Pryor, Liverpool Singing Sensation Hayley Hampson, BBC's 'Young Dancer of the Year' finalist, and the award winning Anamal Dance Company from Hoylake, this is a show that promises to kick some serious booty!

The audience can look forward to watching crazy characters literally flying across the stage, lots of daft jokes and world class dancing provided by Harry Popper and Anamal Dance Company! There is also some very funky music courtesy of Michael and Danny Smith, the musical director.

To book tickets call 0844 888 4411, visit www.epsteinliverpool.co.uk or book in person at the theatre box office (open 2-6pm Mon-Thu, 12-6 Fri-Sat).

The show runs from Friday 17th February - Sunday 19th February, and performance times are as follows:
Friday 17th February 7pm
Saturday 18th February 2pm and 7pm
Sunday 19th February 2pm and 6pm

Tickets cost £17 with concessions at £15.
*All prices include a £1 per ticket venue restoration levy.



Monstersaurus


Bring your little monsters to the Epstein Theatre for an afternoon of magic and mayhem on Tuesday 21st February when Big Wooden Horse present...Monstersaurus!

This brand new show from the creators of Aliens Love Underpants is monstrously good! Follow the young inventor Monty as he creates a whole world of wacky inventions and incredible monsters, but now he has made them all, how is he going to get rid of them?

This energetic show full of thrills and spills, magic and mayhem will delight the whole family - with original music and plenty of audience participation.

The show runs for 50 minutes and is suitable for children aged 3 and over. Ticket details are as follows:

Tuesday 21st February 2017 - £13.50* per ticket or a family ticket is available for £43*.

To book tickets please call 0844 888 4411 or go online to www.epsteinliverpool.co.uk. Alternatively you can purchase tickets in person at The Epstein Theatre box office from 2pm-6pm Monday to Thursday, and 12pm-6pm Friday to Saturday.

*Subject to booking fee. All prices include a £1 per ticket venue restoration levy.

The Sorcerer's Apprentice



This brand-new adaptation of the timeless tale The Sorcerer's Apprentice will be staged at The Epstein Theatre on Wednesday 22nd February.

Brought to life by the brilliant Blunderbus Theatre Company, the show tells the story of Charlie Hubble, a little boy with a very big dream - he wants to be a world class magician. So, he saves up all his pocket money to buy The Big Book of Magic for Trainee Magicians.

He set's off to Mr Zacoor's Toy Shop to buy his spellbook. But Mr Zacoor is no ordinary shopkeeper, he is a real-life sorcerer! And he has a very special job for Charlie....

Little people aged three to seven will love this delightful new show which comes to life with an irresistable blend of music, puppetry and storytelling. There's also an enchanting toy shop setting filled with all sorts of magical surprises.

Ticket details are as follows:

Wednesday 22nd February 2017 with two shows available at 11:30am and 2pm - £11* per ticket or a family ticket (2 adults & 2 children) is available for £40*.

To book tickets please call 0844 888 4411 or go online to www.epsteinliverpool.co.uk. Alternatively you can purchase tickets in person at The Epstein Theatre box office from 2pm-6pm Monday to Thursday, and 12pm-6pm Friday to Saturday.

*Subject to booking fee. All prices include a £1 per ticket venue restoration levy.

The World Museum



If you are thinking of attending one of the above shows or attractions, then why not make it a full day out by also visiting the fabulous World Museum located on William Brown street which is only a short walk away from Liverpool's Lime Street station.

This is my favourite place to visit whilst in Liverpool,with an extensive array of exhibits and hands on activities to fascinate the whole family. My children absolutely love visiting The World Museum and always manage to find something new to see and learn about.

Admission is free which makes it a low cost enjoyable day out, which will also provide you with a fantastic learning experience.

It is also extremely baby & child friendly with baby changing facilities on levels 2, 3, 4 and 5, a pram storage area, lifts, an indoor picnic room, a cafe with staff that will be happy to warm bottles, highchairs which are available on request, and a children's menu. The World Museum also encourages and supports breast feeding.

The World Museum is open between the hours of 10am to 5pm Monday to Sunday and at present there is also a fascinating exhibit which explores Ancient Egyptian animal mummies! This exhibit is available until the 26th February.

If you would like to find out more then please visit their website here: World Museum Liverpool



Disclaimer - Dates and ticket prices correct at time of writing.