We’re SO excited to introduce you to all our events for September – December 2024!
From Gruffalos to Hidden Gardens and Polar Bears to interactive gameshows, there’s something for every member of the family to enjoy!
Shoe Baby – Sat 14 Sept | 11am & 2pm
The brilliant and award-winning Long Nose Puppets return with their magical new puppet show, Shoe Baby. A fantastical sing-a-long adventure with a baby who takes to the sea, the air, and the zoo all in a shoe! Shoe Baby is adapted from the book written by well-known author, Joyce Dunbar, published by Walker Books. The show is aimed at 2-6-year-olds, but is fun for all the family. Fun interactive activities take place before the show.
The Hidden Garden – Sat 21 Sept | 11am & 2pm
Curiosity and imagination spring in this magical tale of a blooming unlikely friendship. Blah Blah Blah Theatre Company introduces The Hidden Garden. Hidden amongst the concrete high-rises and the redbrick buildings is something pretty unexpected. A place bursting with colour where flowers, fruits and vegetables come to life in every corner growing up walls, twisting around handrails and planted in unusual objects. A curious child discovers this hidden garden and meets the man who has created his own little paradise to brighten up the grey and to feed those for whom hunger is never far away. Join this unlikely duo and be part of the bond that sprouts when they go on an enchanting adventure together, for children age 5+ and their grown-ups.
Katy and the Music Machine – Sat 28 Sept | 2pm
We’re super excited for this one! Former CBeebies’ Presenter Katy Ashworth brings her live funk and soul music experience to Z-arts! The six-piece band made up of keys, percussion, saxophone, guitar, bass, and vocals covers well-known funk and soul tracks with kid-friendly lyrics. Katy’s jam-packed show is crammed with interaction, games, prizes, and lots of fun! All designed to get the WHOLE family up on their feet having a great time! Katy and the Music Machine is sure to be an afternoon of family fun and entertainment, plus we’ve got a £10 ticket offer when you buy more than 4 tickets. What are you waiting for?
Room on the Broom – Tues 22 – Thur 24 Oct | 11am & 2pm
Flying into Z-arts for October Half Term, Iggety ziggety zaggety zoom! Jump on board the broom with the witch and her cat in Tall Stories’ fun-filled adaptation of Room on the Broom, the best-selling picture book by Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler.“Very catchy songs, brilliant puppets, and a fantastically animated cast.” ★★★★★ Families Magazine. Will there ever be room on the broom for everyone? Find out in the magical Olivier Award-nominated show for everyone aged 3 and up.
A Gameshow for Awful Children – Sat 26 Oct | 11am & 2pm
Back by popular demand! With not one but two shows, our friend Marcel Lucont, the UK’s favourite French comedian, presents a wild family gameshow, in which kids get to be pests, politicians and pétomanes to be crowned the most awful child. Perfect for ages 6-12 and just as much fun for adults as it is for kids! A Gameshow for Awful Children was a massive hit at the Edinburgh Fringe and many other festivals and has multi-award-winning comic Marcel Lucont channeling his humor into a series of tasks for the whole family to get involved with.
The Gruffalo – Sat 2 – Sun 3 Nov | various times available
There’s no such thing as a Gruffalo – is there? Tall Stories head back to Z-arts in November with the ever-famous, The Gruffalo. Join Mouse on a daring adventure through the deep, dark wood in this magical, musical adaptation of the classic picture book by Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler – celebrating 25 years in 2024! Songs, laughs, and monstrous fun for children aged 3 and up and their grown-ups, in the much-loved show that’s toured Britain and the world!
The King’s Polar Bear – Sun 30 Nov | 11am & 2pm
A majestic wintry tale for the whole family. Join Luton’s favourites Full House Theatre as they journey across the ice fields beneath the awesome shimmer of the northern lights. This cosy new show by Full House will be full of warmth and sparkle, where young and old alike will be carried away by the magic of an arctic adventure never heard of before. The Kings Polar Bear is recommended for ages 4+, but is suitable for all the family.
Christmas Bhangra with the Jolly Bolly Elf – Sat 7 Dec | 11am
Jingling our way into December, can the Cheeky Jolly Bolly Elf wrap all the presents in time for the festive season? That’s where you come in! Don’t miss the shenanigans singing and dancing – Get ready to join in with Bhangra Jingles, Bollywood Glitz, and lots of festive cheer! This is a family fun interactive session with lots of audience participation, recommended for those under 7. Tickets for are £5.
Rockin Rhinos Christmas Cracker! – Sun 8 Dec | 2pm
The Rockin’ Rhinos are back to rock your Christmas! When we say this is for all the family we mean it – the children will be dancing and the grownups will too as they recognise classics from Bowie, The Specials and The Ramones. Warning: there WILL be tinsel!
Christmas Lights – Friday 13 – Monday 30 December | 10:30am, 12pm & 2pm
On a tiny house, covered in snow, colourful lights that twinkle and glow.
Snow is falling, the nights are drawing in, winter is here and Christmas is just around the corner. Join friends, Alvie and Kit as they embark on a playful mission to light up their house in time for Christmas. But what happens when your Christmas Lights seem to have a mind of their own? Join award-winning company, Filskit Theatre, for this brand-new festive performance that shows us how the power of friendship can light up the dark.
With beautiful lights, original music, playful performance and integrated Makaton, Christmas Lights will be sure to dazzle children aged 1-4 and their families. Audiences will be invited to stay and play in the snow-covered garden after the show.
A co-commission programmed in partnership with Z-arts and Wonder Arts, funded by Arts Council England.
Other highlights include our annual event of monster mayhem, the one and only Halloween Party! Our festive family fun day, plus our super popular Family Jam!
The 100 Story Hotel is here to stay… until February 2025! Our interactive world of play and storytelling for ages 1-8 and their grown-ups is open on Saturdays during term time and Tuesday to Saturday during the school holidays. Do come on in, Clive the Concierge can take your bags. We know he’s rather hairy and his claws are sort of long, but what else can you expect from a polar bear? Created with bestselling, multi-award-winning author and illustrator Rob Biddulph.
PLUS, our sell-out enchanting experience Z-escape, still proves to be a total hit with families from far and wide! Ever wanted to step inside a story? The Library of Enchantment is a fun-filled thrilling family-friendly escape room, full of seafaring adventures, time travelling tricks, and a pesky old bookworm who’s always up to meddlesome mischief!
So, what are you waiting for? Get booking and be inspired by your own creativity and remember to DREAM BIG!
For more details on all of our activity here at Z-arts or to book over the phone you can reach our friendly Visitor Experience Team on 0161 226 1912. Or email boxoffice@z-arts.org
Access: All our theatre shows come with a Visual Guide for our families who would like to familiarise themselves with Z-arts and the show before their visit. We’re updating these now and hope to have them live on our web pages over the next few weeks. If you’d like more information about the show, please contact boxoffice@z-arts.org.