Keeping kids busy during the holidays – especially at Easter when the weather is unreliable – can be challenging, but don’t worry! There are lots of fun and educational things happening that’ll keep your kids entertained whatever the weather. Here’s a round-up of some of the most egg-cellent holiday events the city has to offer.
Easter Fun @ Life Science Centre, Times Square
Image: Life Science Wow Zone
The Life Science Centre can always be counted on to provide something exciting for kids during the holiday and this Easter is no exception. In fact, even by their own standards, they’ve egg-celled themselves. (Okay, no more egg puns).
You can learn how to make an egg catapult in the Making Studios, experimental with rolling eggs in the Experiment Zone, learn about the local coastline in the new live show, The Sea & Me, tour the stars in the Planetarium, immerse yourself in the Space Zone (which includes a replica of the International Space Station), have lots of fun in the Play Zone (for the under 7s) and perhaps most exciting of all, enjoy the thrills of the new Wow Zone, full of exciting, interactive exhibits. Ticket prices and event details are all on the Life website.
Discovery Days @ Discovery Museum, Blandford Square
The Discovery Museum has a couple of their Discovery Days craft-based events over the easter holidays that promise to be fun and creative. On April 4th there’s Beautiful Birds, aimed at primary school kids and running in 30 minute slots from 10.15am until 2.20pm. Kids can make a papier-mâché Bird House (£2), a ceramic bird (£1) or a paper bird (free). And the following week (April 11th) there’s Spring Flowers, running in the same time slots and this time kids can make papier-mâché flower pots (£2), flower wands (£1) or a paper bird (free). Booking is advised for both events.
Rapunzel Easter Panto @ Tyne Theatre & Opera House, Westgate Road
Pantomimes are forever linked with Christmas, but they needn’t be, and Tyne Theatre are forging ahead with another Easter Panto! This time it’s the evergreen Grimms fairy tale Rapunzel that’s getting the Tyne Theatre treatment. Made by the same team behind The Wizard Of Oz and Beauty & The Beast, the cast includes Bobby Davro, Britain’s Got Talent winner Matt Pagan and panto favourite Lewis Denny. Expect jokes, songs, dance routines and obviously lots of audience participation. Performances are twice a day on Saturday April 8th and Sunday April 9th, tickets start at £19 for children, £21 for adults.
Grimm’s Tangled Tales Storytime Performance @ Seven Stories, Lime Street
Also calling on the magic and disquiet of the Grimms is a series of performances at Lime Street’s unique and wonderful Seven Stories. The brothers’ famous tales will be lived out using a breadcrumb trail, a magical mirror and more in an interactive story time performance suitable for all the family. Performances are twice daily at 10.30am and noon, from April 1-7 and 10-16. The 45 minute – 1 hour performances cost £9.50 per child and one adult goes free (additional adults are another £9.50).
Shrek @ Newcastle Castle, Castle Garth
Image: Shrek
The popular film season at Newcastle Castle is back, running from April until September, and for easter there’s a chance to see big family favourite Shrek in very fitting surroundings! This 2001 Dreamwork classic, with stars like Mike Myers and Cameron Diaz providing the voices, is full of medieval derring-do and is bound to feel especially atmospheric in the old castle keep! The screening is at 6.30pm on April 7th and advance booking is essential.
Children’s Easter Egg Making @ Blackfriars, Friar’s Street
Blackfriars is known for its adult cookery classes but sometimes it’s good to let the kids get involved, so they’re hosting an Easter Egg Making class. Aimed for a ‘more confident’ child aged 9-14, the workshop will show kids how to make their very own easter egg – from molding the shell to making the mini chocolates to fill it. There will be two sessions on Sunday April 9th, from 10am to noon and 2 to 4pm. Tickets are £35 per child, which includes refreshments and all the equipment and ingredients. And of course the egg! Booking is essential.
Myth Quest: Monsters & Mortals @ Great North Museum, Hancock, Barras Bridge
New to the Great North Museum is Mythquest: Monsters & Mortals, a fantasy adventure where the visitor becomes the hero in this interactive exhibition. Mixing storytelling with live action, the adventurers will explore the museum completing quests as they travel through time and space. Armed with just a map and a quartz crystal, the brave adventurers can choose one of three quests - the Foggy Forest of Forgettings, the Serpentine Sea of the Sirens, and the Moody Mountains of the Monsters. It’s free for kids and families to take part and runs until September 3rd during museum opening hours.
Treasure Island @ Theatre Royal, Grey Street
Treasure Island has been a firm family favourite for 150 years with good reason – it’s excellent swashbuckling fun! And this production from physical comedy troupe La Navet Bete looks set to be especially entertaining as the team of four present it in their own inimitable, energetic and very funny style. There are three performances only – 7.30pm on April 5th and 6th (Wednesday and Thursday) and a matinee on Thursday at 2pm. The show runs for around 2h20mins and is suitable for 7+. Tickets start at £10.
The Ugly Duckling @ Northern Stage, Barras Bridge
Image: Ugly Ducking - photo Emily Nuttall
Another family favourite is Hans Christian Anderson’s Ugly Duckling, which arrives at Northern Stage in its acclaimed Northern Ballet production. This version of the fable of the sad lonely duckling trying to make friends and learning to love herself tells its important story through music, theatre and ballet. The performance is just 40 minutes long so it’s just right for wriggling kids. There are just five performances – 2pm and 4pm on Friday April 14th and 11am, 1pm and 3pm on Saturday April 15th (the 11am performance is a ‘Relaxed Performance’. Tickets start at £10.
Art School & Art Academy @ Laing Art Gallery, New Bridge Street
The Laing Art Gallery is once again running its popular art schools and academies this Easter, with two separate classes for different age groups. From Tuesday April 4th to Thursday April 6th and Tuesday April 11th to Thursday April 13th, the Art Academy invites 7-10 year olds to spend three days working with an arts educator and a variety of materials to create their own artwork, perhaps inspired by the gallery’s own remarkable collection. Or for older kids – aged 11 to 16 – there is a four-day course running from Monday April 3rd to Thursday April 6th. Each course runs from 10am to 3pm each day, with entrance costing £75 for the younger group and £100 for the older, although taken as part of a the nationally accredited Explore Level Arts Award it’s £100 and £135 respectively.
Breakfast With Peppa Pig @ The Vermont Hotel, Castle Garth
Finally, why not let your kids enjoy a fabulous morning with Peppa Pig at the Vermont Hotel. Breakfast With Peppa Pig is a one-hour show hosted by the much-loved character, taking place at on Thursday April 13th. Tickets include a breakfast buffet and cost £15.95 for adults and £11.95 for kids under 10, for a breakfast running from 9.30am to 11.30am.
That’s just a selection of the many great entertaining, educational and eggs-ellent things to do with your kids this Easter to keep them away from their games consoles. From art classes to ballet, egg making to adventures, there’s something for any child!
