The Guide

Sara Keating: Theatre comes of age as children’s cultural rights take centre stage

It wasn’t so long ago that family shows were rarely seen outside of panto season, now there’s one a week in the capital and much of the credit for this must go to children’s art centre The Ark

Matthew Malone as Bart, C Clare Barrett as Pet Shop Owner, R Domhnall Herdman as Harvey in Gold in the Water: the musical opens this weekend at the Mermaid Arts Centre in Bray, Co Wicklow. Picture: Ros Kavanagh

If you go down to the theatre today, you’re sure of a big surprise – a wide range of children’s productions for young audiences of all ages.

There is Shakespeare adapted with teens in mind at Lyric Theatre Belfast (lyrictheatre.co.uk), where Philip Crawford's slick and stylish production of Romeo and Juliet runs until March 5. Theatre Lovett (theatrelovett.com) is on national tour until April with The Teddy Bears’ Picnic, a playful critique of new technologies.