Polka Theatre

Word up to new-ish parents: the Polka’s Soft or Spiky? is of that fairly rare strain of theatre shows directed at the very young, with a suggested age range of six to 18 months. Essentially closer to a theatricalised version of sensory play than anything with a plot, the show – directed and devised by Daryl Beeton – is an exploration of shapes, sounds, textures and words that’s inspired by conversations with parents at the question ‘what would you ask you child?’. Shows like this don’t come around very often and many a London child has reached 18 months without even having had the chance to go to one, so if you want to get them started on the theatre early, seize your chance.

While it can feel like around three-quarters of the shows on in London over the Christmas period are productions of the ballet The Nutcracker, the big Christmas show from Polka Theatre is something a little different, being a new non-dance version of the classic seasonal fairy story from leftfield theatre stalwarts Little Bulb, last seen on stage at the Royal Opera House with their folk opera Wolf Witch Giant Fairy. After receiving a mysterious nutchracker toy from their aunt, siblings Clara and Fritz are sucked into a world of mild peril where they must do battle with the many-headed mouse king. For ages five to 12.

Polka Theatre’s Christmas show for little ones is, intriguingly, a dance theatre adaptation of Ezra Jack Keats’s picture book about New York City on… a snowy day. A co-production between Polka and kids’ company Can’t Sit Still, the movement-based show contains limited dialogue and is aimed at real little ones ages one to four.