Igniting young imaginations

After a short summer break from public performances, our new season of theatre for young audiences returns next month with an exciting programme featuring 53 performances, 19 inspiring theatre companies, 16 fantastic productions, a cinema screening, a community event, and a vibrant exhibition exploring East London’s geography and architecture. Each one is a joyful celebration of the power of live performance to ignite imaginations and spark conversation.

This autumn marks two important milestones: it’s the first season curated by Half Moon’s new Artistic Director, Bradley Travis, and it’s also our 35th season of theatre for young audiences! With our box office already open and the first show sold out, we recommend booking early to avoid disappointment.

Opening the season is Little Gift (27 September), a tender tale of friendship told through puppetry, music and song. It’s a heartwarming story about the joy that can be found around every corner, shared by a truly special performer.

In October, we’re proud to mark a major milestone – our Free Family Fun Day (4 October) celebrates its 10th year! Always a highlight, the day is packed with activities, creativity and community spirit and we can’t wait to share another unforgettable day of activities and entertainment with you.

Award-winning children’s author Oliver Sykes returns with We Are Family: Six Kids and a Super-Dad (Saturday 18 October), a groundbreaking live poetry adventure based on his real-life childhood. It’s perfect for fans of Jacqueline Wilson, Phil Earle and Anthony McGowan!

Half term brings two wonderful productions: The Sleep Show (25 October), a poetic and sensory journey through the mysteries of sleep told through movement and lullaby; and Hare and Tortoise (1 November), a musical, playful reimagining of Aesop’s classic fable.

We’re also thrilled to welcome back Grandad Anansi (6-8 November), our co-production with Z-arts. Following a sell-out run in 2022, this uplifting story about love, courage and letting go celebrates storytelling, Jamaican culture and the Windrush generation. Winner of Best Performance at the Manchester Culture Awards 2023, it returns for six performances as part of a UK tour.

It’s an exciting start to autumn and I haven’t even mentioned ten of the shows!

We can’t wait to welcome families, many for the first time, into our building as they begin their creative journeys with us.

All tickets are £9 and can be booked online or by phoning 020 7709 8900.

Stephen Beeny is the Communications Manager at Half Moon