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The Choir of Man Review – A Fun and Unique Theatre Trip to Manchester Opera House On Friday 8th May, I headed into Manchester with my parents to see the 4pm performance of The Choir of Man at the Opera House Manchester. I got the tram into St Peter’s Square where I met up with my mum and dad before heading for lunch at Bishopsgate Table Table. My mum and I both ordered the smothered chicken and chips with garlic bread, whilst my dad went for the steak. After lunch, we made our way over to the theatre, arriving at around 3:15pm. Even outside the theatre, there already felt like there was a real buzz surrounding the show, with plenty of people arriving early and chatting excitedly before doors opened. Arriving at Manchester Opera House for The Choir of Man Before heading into the auditorium, I stopped to look at the cast list displayed on the TV screens near the box office before naturally making my way over to the merchandise stand. There was quite a good range of merchandise available including: 📖 Programme – £6.50 👕 Logo T-Shirt – £30 👕 “I Sang” T-Shirt – £30 🧥 “No Judgement” Hoodie – £55 🧢 “No Judgement” Cap – £25 👜 Tote Bag – £25 📍 Pin Badge – £9 🧸 Beast Bear – £16 ☕ Mug – £16 Unfortunately the magnets had already sold out by the time I arrived, which was disappointing as they are usually what I collect from shows. They would have been £10. I did however pick up a programme before heading inside. Our Seats at Manchester Opera House Once the auditorium opened at 3:30pm, we headed down towards our seats. My parents were seated together in the stalls in Row T Seats 8 and 9, whilst I initially thought I was seated in Stalls Row F Seat 9 — only to realise I was actually in the Circle! Although the view itself was still very good, I did find the legroom a little tight and the seats felt quite close together, meaning I felt a little squashed during the first half. One of the most unique things about The Choir of Man is that audience members are allowed up onto the stage both before the show and during the interval. My dad and I headed up onto the stage before the performance started to take some photos and soak up the atmosphere inside “The Jungle”, the show’s fully working on-stage pub. Audience members could also buy drinks directly from the bar whilst on stage, which really helped blur the line between theatre and immersive experience. Before the show started, one of the cast members also came into the Circle chatting with audience members, which immediately helped create a really relaxed and welcoming atmosphere. What is The Choir of Man About? Created by Nic Doodson and Andrew Kay, with musical supervision by Jack Blume, The Choir of Man first premiered at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe in 2017 before becoming an international hit with a hugely successful West End run and performances around the world. Now touring the UK for the very first time, the Olivier-nominated production transforms the stage into a lively local pub called The Jungle, where a group of men come together through music, storytelling and friendship. Rather than following a traditional storyline, the show focuses more on themes of community, connection, loneliness and friendship, all brought together through live music, spoken word and audience interaction. Whilst there is plenty of humour and pub-style chaos throughout the evening, there are also several surprisingly emotional and reflective moments woven into the show. Set Design, Music & Atmosphere The set design is absolutely brilliant and easily one of the production’s biggest strengths. The Jungle genuinely feels like a real pub rather than a theatre set, helping audiences feel immediately immersed in the world of the show from the moment they walk into the auditorium. From beer mats flying through the audience to cast members casually pouring pints behind the bar, the entire production feels lively, welcoming and full of energy. Musically, the show is an absolute crowd-pleaser. Featuring songs from artists including Queen, Katy Perry, Sia and Paul Simon, the arrangements feel fresh and exciting whilst showcasing the cast’s incredible harmonies. The choreography throughout is energetic and inventive, blending tap dancing, live instruments and clever movement seamlessly together. The first act lasted around an hour before a 20-minute interval. During the interval, audience members were once again allowed back up onto the stage whilst the cast encouraged everyone to sing and dance along to performances including “The Wild Rover” and Livin' on a Prayer. Although I didn’t head back up onto the stage during the break, I did move seats and joined my parents in the stalls where there happened to be a spare seat next to them in Row T Seat 7. I actually enjoyed the second half much more from this seat as the extra legroom made things much more comfortable, and the atmosphere in the stalls felt much more immersive. With cast members regularly moving through the audience and bringing people up onto the stage during the performance itself, it really felt like you became part of the experience. The second act lasted approximately 40 minutes, with the show finishing at around 6pm. Performances The cast of The Choir of Man are genuinely exceptional and the chemistry between them feels completely authentic throughout. Oluwalonimi Owoyemi is outstanding as the Poet, delivering the show’s spoken word narration with warmth, sincerity and emotional depth. Gustav Melbardis brings huge energy to the stage as Maestro, whilst Rob Godfrey delivers some wonderfully intimate musical moments throughout the evening. Every cast member gets their own opportunity to shine and it is impossible not to be impressed by just how multi-talented they all are. Not only do they sing brilliantly, but they also play instruments, dance, tap dance and interact effortlessly with the audience throughout the performance. More importantly though, the camaraderie between the cast feels completely genuine, and that real sense of friendship becomes the emotional heart of the production. Lawrence’s Evening Performance Experience After the show finished, I had to rush home so that Lawrence could head back into Manchester to see the evening performance which started at 8pm. Lawrence was seated in the stalls in Row B Seat 9 and said he had an excellent view with plenty of legroom. He also headed up onto the stage both before the show and during the interval, getting some lovely photos with members of the cast whilst joining in with the singing and dancing during the interval performances. Hearing how much Lawrence enjoyed the evening performance honestly made us both even more excited for the show’s upcoming run at The Lowry later this year. Final Thoughts on The Choir of Man The Choir of Man is unlike any traditional musical theatre experience I’ve seen before. It feels far more like spending the evening inside a lively local pub with live music, audience interaction and a huge sense of community running throughout. Whilst the show is packed with humour, singalongs and high-energy performances, it also carries a genuinely heartfelt message about friendship, connection and looking out for one another. The immersive atmosphere, incredible musical talent and infectious energy of the cast make it almost impossible not to get swept up in the spirit of The Jungle. Warm, lively and packed with personality, The Choir of Man delivers a wonderfully feel-good theatre experience from start to finish. Packed with heart, harmony and plenty of pub spirit, The Choir of Man is feel-good theatre worth raising a glass to. Further Information & Tour Dates The Choir of Man will be at The Lowry from 13th – 17th October 2026. Tickets are available to purchase through The Lowry website. For more information about the show, including future tour dates, visit the official The Choir of Man tour website. If you’d like to read my more theatre-focused review, you can also head over to All About Theatre. 🎥 Watch Our Visit in Weekly Vlog #450 If you’d like to see what we got up to during our visit to see The Choir Of Man, you can watch it in Weekly Vlog #452 below. Our trip to the show begins at 22:04 in the video, although the vlog also includes some other family moments from our week. At a Glance 📍 Venue: Opera House Manchester 📅 Date Visited: Friday 8th May 2026 ⏱️ Runtime: Approx. 2 hours including interval ☕ Interval: Approx. 20 minutes 🎟️ Seat: Circle Row F Seat 9 / Stalls Row T Seat 7 🛍️ Merchandise Purchased: Programme (£6.50) 🚋 Travel: Tram to St Peter’s Square 🍴 Lunch: Bishopsgate Table Table 🎭 Genre: Musical / Live Music / Immersive Theatre 🌍 Further Dates: The Lowry, October 2026

Family Weekly Update This week was a nice mix of family time, theatre trips and trying to get organised for some upcoming shows and holidays. We had a quieter start to the week with the bank holiday before things became much busier later in the week with Bank of Dave: The Musical at The Lowry and The Choir of Man at Manchester Opera House. Here is this week’s family weekly update, sharing everything we got up to throughout the week. 🎬 A Quiet Bank Holiday Monday Monday was a bank holiday, so the children were off school, although Lawrence was still working. We ended up having quite a relaxed day at home. The children spent most of the day playing with their toys, and later on we watched the Matilda The Musical movie together, which is one of my favourites. After such a busy few weeks recently, it was actually really nice to have a slower day at home. 🛍️ Trafford Centre Trip, Haribo Shop & Krispy Kreme On Tuesday, Lawrence had the day off work, so while the kids were at school we got the bus to the Trafford Centre. The first place we headed to was the Haribo shop because I wanted to pick up some sweets that you can’t usually find in the supermarkets. After that, we stopped at Krispy Kreme and bought a dozen doughnuts as I had a voucher for 12 for £12, which felt like a really good deal. We then had a look around Primark to pick up a few T-shirts for the children ready for our holiday in June before having a quick browse around the Primark Home store as well. Once we’d finished shopping, we headed home and made some lunch before it was time to collect the children from school. 🎟️ Paddington Tickets & Beetlejuice Booking Success Wednesday morning was surprisingly stressful because I was trying to get tickets for Paddington The Musical. On the first Wednesday of every month, Mastercard customers can access special front-row tickets for selected performances through Mastercard Priceless, and they sell incredibly quickly. The tickets went on sale at 10am and included an ice cream voucher as part of the booking. Luckily, I managed to get tickets for the exact date we wanted, which I was really pleased about. Afterwards, I spent the rest of the day uploading seat-view photos onto the website SeatPlan so I could earn enough reward points to get vouchers towards tickets for Beetlejuice The Musical. Thankfully, I managed to earn enough points to get £40 worth of vouchers, which we then used towards booking our tickets. 🎭 Leo’s Parents Evening & Bank of Dave: The Musical Thursday was definitely the busiest day of the week. In the morning, Lawrence and I took Leo to speech therapy before dropping him back off at school afterwards. We then spent the afternoon catching up on house jobs before collecting the children from school. Later that evening, the kids went to my parents’ house while Lawrence and I attended Leo’s parents’ evening before heading straight over to The Lowry for the press night of Bank of Dave: The Musical. As always, my dad dropped us off at our usual spot opposite the Imperial War Museum North before we made the familiar walk across the bridge towards the theatre. After arriving, we stopped to take some photos outside in front of the show posters before heading towards the special press entrance through the old Pier 8 restaurant entrance, where a red carpet had been set up for invited guests and press. Just inside the entrance was the press desk where we collected our tickets, programmes and wristbands for the interval drinks reception. There was also a fun little photo opportunity area set up with props inspired by the show, so Lawrence and I took turns taking photos for each other before heading back outside. The atmosphere around the theatre already felt really exciting, with lots of people gathering outside waiting for the arrival of Dave Fishwick himself. Dave Fishwick arrived outside The Lowry in one of his famous minibuses alongside his wife Nicky and a live brass band, which instantly created a real sense of occasion around the world premiere. The band played several songs while Dave and Nicky posed for photos before walking the red carpet into the theatre. Afterwards, creators Rob Madge, Pippa Cleary and Nikolai Foster also posed for photos alongside the band and minibus, which added even more excitement surrounding the production. We stayed outside watching the band for a while before eventually heading back inside to take our seats. Once inside the auditorium, the pre-show soundtrack was presented as a local Burnley radio station complete with adverts for local businesses, which was such a clever touch and instantly helped immerse the audience into the world of the show. We were seated in Row P in the stalls and had a fantastic central view of the stage. Bank of Dave: The Musical tells the true story of Burnley businessman Dave Fishwick and his fight to create a community-focused bank after seeing ordinary people repeatedly failed by traditional banks. One of the things I really loved about the production was how naturally it balanced humour, warmth and emotion throughout. Although the musical touches on bigger themes like class divides and financial struggles, it never feels too heavy. Instead, it stays uplifting, funny and genuinely heartfelt throughout. During the interval, Lawrence and I headed to the press area for drinks before returning for the second act. By the end of the evening, the audience inside The Lowry were cheering loudly, and when the real Dave Fishwick and his wife Nicky came onto the stage after curtain call, it made the whole evening feel even more emotional and special. It really was such a lovely theatre trip together. 👉 You can read more about our visit and a short review HERE 👉 And you can find my full review on All About Theatre 🍽️ Lunch with My Parents & The Choir of Man On Friday morning, I spent some time writing up my review for Bank of Dave: The Musical before heading out for lunch with my parents. We went to a Table Table restaurant in town where I ordered smothered chicken with chips, garlic bread and a Diet Coke. After lunch, we headed over to the Manchester Opera House for the 4pm performance of The Choir of Man. We arrived at around 3:15pm, which gave us enough time to have a look at the merchandise before the auditorium opened. I picked up a programme for £6.50, although unfortunately they didn’t have any magnets, which is usually what I collect from theatre trips. One of the most unique things about The Choir of Man is that audience members can actually go up onto the stage before the show and during the interval. Before the performance started, my dad and I went up onto the stage and took some photos while people around us enjoyed drinks from the on-stage bar. The atmosphere inside the theatre was brilliant and the whole show felt really fun and interactive. After the performance finished, I had to rush home quickly so Lawrence could head out to see the evening show himself. He ended up having such a good time too — he got photos with the cast and even joined them on stage during the interval while they sang songs together. 🛋️ A Quiet Weekend at Home After such a busy few days, I decided to keep the weekend fairly quiet. We spent most of the time at home watching movies, playing on the Nintendo Switch and playing with toys while I also tried to catch up on little bits of housework around the house. Sometimes quieter weekends are definitely needed after such busy weeks. 🎥 Watch Our Weekly Vlog If you’d like to see everything we got up to this week, including our trips to Bank of Dave: The Musical and The Choir of Man, you can watch this week’s family weekly update vlog over on YouTube

Bank of Dave: The Musical Review – A Funny, Heartfelt and Proudly Northern Night at The Lowry On Thursday 7th May, Lawrence and I headed to The Lowry for the press night of Bank of Dave: The Musical — the brand new British musical based on the true story of Burnley businessman Dave Fishwick. With the Netflix films already proving hugely popular, there has been so much excitement surrounding this world premiere production, particularly here in the North West where Dave’s story already feels so well known. As someone who loves new British musicals, I had been really looking forward to finally seeing how the story would translate to the stage. As always, my dad kindly dropped us off at our usual spot opposite the Imperial War Museum North before Lawrence and I made the familiar walk across the bridge towards The Lowry. Even before we reached the theatre itself, there already felt like there was a real buzz surrounding the evening. Arriving at The Lowry for Bank of Dave: The Musical After arriving, we stopped to take some photos outside in front of the show posters before heading towards the special press entrance through the old Pier 8 restaurant entrance, where a red carpet had been set up for invited guests and press. Just inside the entrance was the press desk where we collected our tickets, programmes and wristbands for the interval drinks reception. There was also a fun little photo opportunity area set up with props inspired by the show, so naturally Lawrence and I took turns taking photos for each other before heading back outside. The atmosphere around the theatre already felt really exciting, with lots of people gathering outside waiting for the arrival of Dave Fishwick himself. Dave Fishwick’s Arrival & Brass Band Atmosphere And honestly, this was such a fun way to begin the evening. Dave Fishwick arrived outside The Lowry in one of his famous minibuses alongside his wife Nicky and a live brass band, instantly creating a real sense of occasion around the world premiere. The band played several songs while Dave and Nicky posed for photos before walking the red carpet into the theatre. Afterwards, creators Rob Madge, Pippa Cleary and Nikolai Foster also posed for photos alongside the band and minibus, which added even more excitement surrounding the production. We stayed outside watching the band for a while before eventually heading back inside to take our seats. There didn’t appear to be a full merchandise stand for the production, although programmes were available to purchase, which I believe were around £6. Our Seats at The Lowry We entered the Lyric Theatre through Door A and headed to our seats in Row P, Seats 28 and 29. The view from our seats was absolutely excellent. We had a really clear central view of the stage, and despite being slightly further back in the stalls, we still felt very connected to the production throughout. It’s definitely a seating area we would happily choose again. As we entered the auditorium, a pre-show soundtrack presented as a local Burnley radio station was already playing, complete with adverts for local businesses. It was such a clever touch and immediately helped immerse the audience into the world of the musical before the show had even begun. The Story of Bank of Dave: The Musical Bank of Dave: The Musical tells the true story of Burnley businessman Dave Fishwick and his fight to create a community-focused bank after seeing ordinary people repeatedly failed by traditional banks. After spending years helping struggling local businesses and residents by offering loans himself, Dave decides to take on Britain’s banking system and attempt the seemingly impossible — opening his own bank designed to help people rather than profit from them. However, standing in his way are banking laws, financial regulators and the powerful elite determined to stop him. When London lawyer Hugh is sent north to investigate Dave’s operation, he initially arrives expecting failure, but quickly finds himself drawn into both Dave’s mission and the Burnley community surrounding him. One of the things I really loved about Bank of Dave: The Musical was how naturally it balanced humour, warmth and emotion throughout. Although the show explores class divides, financial struggles and the north-south divide, it never feels overly heavy or preachy. Instead, it remains consistently funny, uplifting and genuinely heartfelt, with the audience regularly switching between laughter and emotional moments throughout the evening. Set Design, Music & Atmosphere Amy Jane Cook’s set design does such a fantastic job of bringing Burnley to life on stage while constantly reinforcing the strong sense of community running throughout the production. Much of the action takes place inside the local pub, The Talbot, which instantly feels warm, lively and lived-in. Above the stage, the Burnley skyline looms over the set, helping establish the musical’s working-class roots from the very beginning. The digital screens surrounding the set are also used incredibly effectively throughout the evening, helping transition smoothly between locations while adding humour, movement and atmosphere to the production. The music and lyrics by Rob Madge and Pippa Cleary are packed with personality, humour and heart. Opening number Burnley Born and Bred immediately establishes the strong sense of northern pride running throughout the show, while songs like Past the M25 bring huge laughs through their observations about the north-south divide. While many of the songs are huge fun, the musical also knows exactly when to slow things down emotionally. Lauryn Redding’s Patience becomes one of the standout moments of the evening, while Lucca Chadwick-Patel shines during What Heroes Do. The choreography adds even more energy and personality to the production, with the larger ensemble numbers helping create the lively atmosphere that runs throughout the show. Performances Sam Lupton is absolutely superb as Dave Fishwick and completely anchors the emotional heart of the production. He brings warmth, humour and vulnerability to the role, making Dave instantly likeable and incredibly easy to root for throughout. Rather than portraying Dave as some larger-than-life hero, Lupton keeps the character grounded and relatable, which makes the emotional moments connect even more strongly. Hayley Tamaddon is wonderful as Nicky, bringing warmth and sincerity to Dave’s wife while helping ground many of the show’s more heartfelt moments. Lucca Chadwick-Patel is hugely charming as Hugh, the London lawyer who slowly finds himself emotionally invested in both Dave’s mission and the Burnley community surrounding him. His character arc becomes one of the strongest parts of the story. Lauryn Redding also delivers one of the evening’s standout performances as Alex, with stunning vocals throughout, particularly during some of the show’s more emotional moments. Samuel Holmes is also a real scene-stealer throughout the production, perfectly capturing the arrogance and elitism of Sir Charles Denbigh. The ensemble deserve enormous credit too, constantly filling the stage with energy, humour and personality while helping create the strong sense of community that makes the production feel so special. Interval & Curtain Call Atmosphere Act One ran for approximately 70 minutes before a 20-minute interval. During the break, Lawrence and I headed to the press and guest area of the bar where we both got an orange juice while discussing how much we were enjoying the show so far before heading back to our seats for Act Two. The second act ran for around 65 minutes, bringing the total running time to approximately 2 hours 35 minutes including the interval. By curtain call, the audience inside The Lowry were cheering loudly and completely invested in Dave’s story. Following the curtain call, the real Dave Fishwick and his wife Nicky came onto the stage, where Dave gave a short speech to the audience, which made the evening feel even more special and emotional as the production acknowledged the real people behind the story. After the show, my dad picked us up and drove us home after such a genuinely lovely night at the theatre. Final Thoughts on Bank of Dave: The Musical What makes Bank of Dave: The Musical work so well is that, despite the larger themes surrounding banking, politics and class divides, the production never loses its warmth, humour or strong sense of community. Combined with fantastic performances, memorable songs and a huge amount of northern charm, the musical creates a feel-good theatre experience that leaves audiences smiling long after the curtain call. It’s funny, heartfelt, uplifting and proudly northern from start to finish. And honestly, by the end of the evening, it really did feel like the audience inside The Lowry had become one big community themselves. If you enjoy uplifting British musicals filled with humour, heart and community spirit, Bank of Dave: The Musical is absolutely worth banking on. Further Information & Tour Dates Bank of Dave: The Musical is at The Lowry until Saturday 16th May 2026. Tickets are available to purchase through The Lowry website. If you can’t catch it in Salford, the good news is that the production then heads to Curve Leicester from 20th – 30th May 2026. For full tour information and updates, visit the official Bank of Dave: The Musical website. If you’d like to read my more theatre-focused review, you can also head over to All About Theatre. 🎥 Watch My Theatre Trip in Weekly Vlog #453 If you’d like to see what Lawrence and I got up to during our press night trip to see Bank of Dave: The Musical at The Lowry, you can watch it in Weekly Vlog #453 below. Our Bank of Dave: The Musical theatre trip begins at 7:11 in the vlog, although the video also includes some other family moments from our week. At a Glance 📍 Venue: The Lowry, Salford Quays 📅 Dates: Until 16 May 2026 🎟️ Tickets: Available via The Lowry website 💺 Seats: Stalls Row P seats 28 & 29 (excellent central view) 📖 Programme: Approx. £6 ⏱️ Running Time: Approx. 2 hours 35 minutes including interval ☕ Interval: Approx. 20 minutes 🎭 Genre: British Musical / Comedy Drama 👦 Recommended Age: 12+ 🚋 Getting There: Easily accessible by tram, bus or car. Nearby parking is available at Quayside MediaCityUK. 🌍 Further Dates: Playing at Curve Leicester from 20th – 30th May 2026 🔗 Official Website: Visit the official Bank of Dave: The Musical website for full show information and updates.

Family Weekly Update This week definitely didn’t go to plan and ended up being a much slower week than usual. After having some dental work done at the start of the week, I started feeling really unwell and spent most of the week trying to rest and recover while juggling normal family life at home. Here is this week’s family weekly update, sharing everything we got up to throughout the week. 🦷 Dentist Appointment & A Rough Start to the Week On Monday, I had a dentist appointment to have a filling done as well as a tooth extraction. I was already quite nervous about going, so I was relieved once it was finally over and I could head home and try to relax for the evening. Unfortunately, later that night the filling fell out completely, which definitely wasn’t what I wanted after already having such a stressful appointment earlier in the day. 📞 Trying to Get Back Into the Dentist The next morning, I rang the dentist to explain what had happened. Unfortunately, because I needed to see the same dentist who had done the filling, they couldn’t fit me back in until Saturday as she only works Mondays and Saturdays. At that point, I was already starting to feel quite unwell, and the gum where the tooth had been extracted was becoming really painful. 🛋️ A Very Quiet Week at Home As the week went on, I started feeling worse and worse. The pain in my gum was horrible, and on top of that I also seemed to develop what felt like a sinus infection, with a really blocked nose and a lot of pressure in my face — which may well have been connected to the tooth extraction. I just felt completely run down and exhausted, so I spent most of the week on the sofa watching TV and trying to rest as much as possible. It definitely ended up being a much quieter week than usual, but sometimes your body really does force you to slow down. Thankfully, the kids were really good while I was feeling rough, and Lawrence helped out where he could around work. 💊 Back to the Dentist & Finally Getting Antibiotics By Saturday, I was feeling really fed up and relieved that my dentist appointment had finally arrived. When I went back, the dentist confirmed what I had suspected — the gum where the tooth had been extracted had become infected. She prescribed me some antibiotics straight away, but because it was a Saturday and the Monday was a bank holiday, my usual pharmacy wasn’t reopening until Tuesday. Lawrence was at work and I had the kids with me, so I rang my parents to see if they could help find an open pharmacy because I really didn’t feel like I could wait several more days for the medication. Thankfully, they managed to find one that was open and picked the prescription up for me, which I was so grateful for. 🌿 Starting to Feel Better By Sunday, after starting the antibiotics, I was finally beginning to feel a little bit better. I was still tired and not fully back to normal, but it definitely felt like things were starting to improve again. After such a rough week, it was honestly just a relief to finally start feeling a bit better again.

Family Weekly Update This week was such a busy one as we celebrated both Leo’s birthday and my mum’s birthday, so most of the week ended up revolving around party prep, baking, crafting and family celebrations. Leo had asked for a Super Mario themed birthday party this year, so I spent a huge amount of time creating decorations, themed treats and personalised party bits to make it really special for him. Here’s everything we got up to this week. 🎬 Editing, Birthday Shopping & Late-Night KFC Monday started with some editing as I spent the morning working on YouTube videos and wrapping Leo’s birthday presents. Later that evening, my dad took me to ASDA to pick up everything I needed to make Leo’s birthday cake. I also ended up finding a few last-minute birthday presents for him because loads of the Claire’s Accessories items had been reduced to just £1. I managed to pick up a Pikachu backpack and a matching Pikachu water bottle for £1 each, which felt like such a bargain. The backpack was supposed to include stationery, but even without it I still thought it was an amazing deal. I also bought him a Super Mario Shake Tower game for around £20. By the time we finished shopping it was getting quite late, so on the way home we stopped at KFC for dinner before heading home. 🎂 Mario Birthday Cake & Party Prep Begins Tuesday was all about birthday prep. I started making Leo’s birthday cake, which was a two-tier Mario-themed cake with an 8-inch Madeira cake on the bottom tier and a 6-inch Madeira cake on top. I layered both cakes with buttercream and strawberry jam before giving them a buttercream crumb coat and leaving them in the fridge overnight ready to decorate the next day. While the cakes were chilling, I made some Super Mario themed shortbread biscuits using cookie cutters shaped like Mario, Luigi, Yoshi, Bowser, Princess Peach and Toad. Once cut out, I chilled the biscuits in the fridge before baking them, which helps them keep their shape better. I also made a batch of vanilla cupcakes and started working on Leo’s piñata, which he wanted to look like one of the yellow question mark blocks from the Mario games. By the end of the day, the kitchen looked like complete chaos, but it felt good getting so much done. ✂️ Cricut Crafts, Party Decorations & Feeling Run Down By Wednesday, I’d developed quite a bad cold and was feeling really run down, which honestly wasn’t ideal with still so much left to do before the party. As I wasn’t feeling great, I decided not to work on the food that day and instead focused on some of the Cricut projects and decorations. Making personalised birthday T-shirts has become a bit of a tradition for the kids’ birthdays now, so I started by designing Leo’s Mario birthday T-shirt in Photoshop before cutting it out using my Cricut machine and pressing it onto the shirt with my heat press. I then designed his birthday banner using a font similar to the Super Mario logo before cutting all the letters out and assembling it together. After that, I finished the piñata by adding the question marks and hanging string, before moving on to making party bag extras including Mario and Luigi slap bands, personalised pens and sticker sheets. It ended up being one of those days where I spent hours crafting and creating things, but I was really happy with how everything turned out. 🍄 Decorating the Cake & Making Party Treats Thursday was another full day of party prep. I started the morning by decorating Leo’s birthday cake, covering it in blue fondant before adding edible images, fondant characters and little background decorations. Once the cake was finished, I moved on to decorating the cupcakes. Some had blue buttercream and sprinkles, while others featured edible toppers with Mario characters and “Happy 7th Birthday Leo” printed onto them using my edible printer. I then made star-shaped Rice Krispie treats, Mario hat treats, chocolate-covered breadsticks and chocolate lollies. Everything looked so colourful and fun once it was all finished. 🎉 Leo’s 7th Birthday Party Friday was finally Leo’s birthday 🎂🍄 While he was at school, Lawrence and I spent the day getting everything ready for the party. I wrapped the last few presents that had arrived late, while Lawrence focused on putting up streamers and balloons. Meanwhile, I worked on the party bags and created a Pin the Moustache on Mario game. Once everything was ready, I filled the helium balloons and set out Leo’s presents ready for when he got home. He was so excited when he walked through the door and saw everything set up for him, and he absolutely loved the birthday T-shirt I had made. We then sat down together while Leo opened all of his presents, which was such a lovely moment to watch. He was so excited about everything he got, and it was really nice seeing both him and Alice playing together with all the new toys afterwards. While the children played, I got started on the party food. I made chicken and chorizo skewers, potato wedges, chicken goujons, sausage rolls, pizza, cheesy garlic bread and fruit skewers designed to look like Mario piranha plants using grapes and strawberries. Once the guests arrived, Leo opened more presents before we all tucked into the food. Afterwards, we played lots of party games including: ❓ The question mark block piñata 🪙 Find the coin game 🎁 Pass the parcel 👨 Pin the Moustache on Mario 🎵 Musical statues Once the games finished, I brought out all the themed treats including the cupcakes, biscuits, Rice krispie treats, chocolate sticks and Mario hats. We then all sang Happy Birthday before Leo blew out the candles on his cake. By the end of the night everyone was exhausted, so the kids went straight to bed while I stayed up tidying before finally heading to bed myself. 🍔 Family BBQ for My Mum’s Birthday Saturday was my mum’s birthday, so we headed over to my parents’ house for a family BBQ. The kids rode their scooters there, which they loved, and my dad was very excited to try out his new BBQ. We had burgers, sausages, chicken and peppers before spending the afternoon chatting and catching up together. After such a busy week, it was nice having a slower afternoon with family. 🐱 Gabby’s Dollhouse Live in Liverpool Sunday was another really special day as we travelled to Liverpool to see Gabby’s Dollhouse Live! as one of Leo’s birthday treats. We kept the trip a surprise until his birthday, which made it even more exciting for both kids. We got the tram into Manchester before catching the train to Liverpool, and thankfully managed to grab a table seat which made travelling much easier with the children. Once we arrived in Liverpool, we headed towards the M&S Bank Arena, although we did have a small detour when Leo suddenly needed the toilet! Inside the arena, the kids were immediately drawn to the merchandise stand. Alice chose a cuddly Pandy plush, while Leo desperately wanted one of the light-up bubble wands. Unfortunately they sold out just before we reached the front of the queue, which definitely caused a few tears. Luckily, we managed to save the day with a light-up baton instead. The show itself was bright, colourful and full of energy. Alice especially loved CatRat, while Leo’s favourite part was Cakey’s Sprinkle Party. And when Dance Like a Gabby Cat started, the whole arena was up dancing. After the show, we headed to St John’s Shopping Centre for dinner before making our way home after such a busy but lovely week. 🎥 Watch Our Weekly Vlog If you’d like to see everything we got up to this week, you can watch this week’s family weekly update vlog below — including Leo’s Super Mario birthday prep and our trip to see Gabby’s Dollhouse Live!.

Family Weekly Update Some weeks feel really full, and this was definitely one of them. Between catching up on editing, a lovely theatre night with my mum, Easter prep, and a busy weekend of baking and celebrating, it ended up being a week packed with both productive moments and really special family time. Here’s everything we got up to this week. 🎬 Editing Catch-Up & A Late Night Monday was all about catching up on editing. I spent most of the day finishing the weekly vlog that should have gone up the week before, along with writing the blog post to go with it. Once that was done, I made a start on editing the next weekly vlog, which ended up taking much longer than expected. I didn’t finish until around 11pm, so I decided to leave uploading it until the next day so I could get everything ready properly. 🤒 A Poorly Day & Theatre Night at The Lowry Tuesday was a bit of a mixed day. Leo was poorly with what seemed like the same stomach bug Alice had the week before, so the morning was spent looking after him and keeping him comfortable on the sofa. As he was too ill to walk to school, my parents kindly stepped in to take Alice, which was such a big help. While Leo rested, I managed to finish writing my weekly update blog post and got everything ready to go live just in time before heading out. That evening, my mum and I went to the press night of Top Hat The Musical at The Lowry, and it was such a lovely night. We were dropped off near the Imperial War Museum North and did our usual walk across the bridge, which always feels like the perfect start to a theatre trip. Once inside, I collected our programme and drinks vouchers, had a quick look at the merch stand (and added another magnet to my collection!), and then we headed into the auditorium. Our seats were brilliant — really central and a great distance from the stage, which worked perfectly for the tap numbers. The show itself completely surprised me. It’s such a light, glamorous and feel-good musical, full of incredible dancing, classic songs and plenty of humour. The storyline is simple and easy to follow, which makes it perfect for just sitting back and enjoying the experience. What made it even more special was sharing it with my mum — she absolutely loved it, and it was just such a lovely evening together. 👉 You can read more about our visit HERE 👉 And my full review HERE When I got home, I attempted to start writing my review but ended up falling asleep on the sofa and finally heading to bed at around 5am! ✍️ Reviews, Reels & Easter Hat Making On Wednesday, Leo was still off school as he needed to stay home for 48 hours, but he was starting to feel much better. I spent the morning finishing my Top Hat review for All About Theatre, then wrote up my Sarah Monaghan blog review and created a reel to go with it. After school, Alice and I started working on her Easter hat for a school competition. We made pom pom chicks and rabbits, and she absolutely loved getting involved. We didn’t quite finish it before bedtime, so I carried on working on it afterwards… and didn’t realise quite how long it would take! I ended up finishing it at around 5am. 🛍️ Shopping Struggles & Piñata Prep Thursday was the kids last day at school before the Easter holidays, and I headed out to B&M with my parents. Getting there was a bit of a nightmare with roadworks, and unfortunately they didn’t have what I was looking for. I was hoping to find some Mario Hot Wheels cars for Leo’s birthday, but there wasn’t much choice. We then tried Home Bargains, where I had a bit more luck picking up some Easter party bits like plates, napkins and balloons. Once I got home, I started working on the Easter piñata, which this year was a chick hatching from an egg. 🧁 Easter Holidays, Baking & Party Prep Friday marked the start of the Easter holidays, so the kids and I spent the day baking cupcakes and biscuits while I continued working on the piñata. On Saturday, we carried on with the baking, making cornflake cakes, chocolate pretzel nests and chocolate-covered breadsticks, as well as decorating everything we had made the day before. It felt like full-on Easter prep mode, but the kids were loving it. 🐰 Easter Sunday & Family Celebrations Easter Sunday was such a lovely day from start to finish. The kids woke up to a surprise from the Easter Bunny, and while they were busy playing, I finished off the piñata and got everything ready for the day. While they had lunch, I filled all the eggs for the Easter egg hunt, and later the kids helped me fill the piñata with sweets, which they were very excited about! Lawrence got busy tidying the house and putting up decorations while I prepared the food, and by the time our guests arrived, everything was ready. The afternoon was filled with food, games and lots of fun. We had an Easter egg hunt in the garden, did egg and spoon races, played party games, and of course finished with the piñata — which was definitely a highlight. It was such a lovely way to spend Easter together as a family. 🎥 Watch Our Weekly Vlog If you’d like to see everything we got up to this week, you can watch this week’s family weekly update vlog below — including our theatre trip, Easter prep and party fun..

Family Weekly Update This week was the second week of the Easter holidays, so things ended up feeling very busy — but in the best possible way. We had lots of family theatre trips, days out across Manchester and Liverpool, and some genuinely special moments that I know we’ll remember for a very long time. From dragon-sized adventures at The Lowry and magical puppets at Z-arts to an unforgettable backstage tour at Manchester Palace Theatre, this week honestly felt packed from start to finish. Here’s everything we got up to this week. 💻 Editing, Blogging & A Quiet Start to the Week Monday ended up being a fairly quiet day at home after such a busy first week of the Easter holidays. While the children spent most of the day happily playing with their toys and watching Toy Story films together, I spent the day catching up on video editing for YouTube alongside writing blog posts and social media content. Honestly, it felt like one of those much-needed slower days before the rest of the week became incredibly theatre-heavy. 🛹 Sisters 360 at Waterside Arts On Tuesday, Lawrence joined me and the children for a family theatre trip to see Sisters 360 at Waterside Arts before heading into work for his late shift. We got the tram there, which honestly makes Waterside Arts such an easy venue for us to visit as it’s only two stops away and directly opposite the tram stop. We arrived around 11:15am for the 11:30am performance and picked up one of the free little programmes from the box office before heading inside. We were seated on the front row (Seats 13–16), which meant the children got some lovely interaction during the performance. Alice and Leo both received a handshake from Salima at the start of the show, while Alice also got a fist bump at the end, which she absolutely loved. The show itself was so much fun and both children were completely engaged throughout. After the performance, Lawrence headed off to work while I planned to grab lunch nearby with the kids. We originally tried KFC close to the theatre, but as there were no seats available we ended up getting the tram back home and going to McDonald’s instead. The children were VERY excited because the Happy Meals currently included Mario Galaxy toys, and they both ended up getting little Luma figures. 👉 You can read more about our visit and a short review HERE 👉 And you can find my full review on All About Theatre 🐉 A Roaring Day at The Lowry Wednesday ended up being a very busy theatre day as Alice and I had not one but two separate trips to The Lowry. Zog at The Lowry In the afternoon, my mum joined me and the children for the press performance of Zog in the Quays Theatre. We had previously seen and loved the show back in 2023, so everyone was very excited to return for more dragon-sized fun. Before the show began, the children were each given a free programme and sticker, which was such a lovely touch, and while we waited for the auditorium to open they enjoyed some of the free activity sheets. Alice proudly brought along her pink dragon plush from our previous visit, while Leo picked out a little Zog keyring from the merch stand so he could hold his own dragon during the performance. The show itself was every bit as fun, lively and heartwarming as we remembered. Alice especially loved roaring along during dragon school, while Leo’s favourite moment was seeing Zog finally earn his golden star. One of the standout moments came right at the end when invited guests were given the opportunity to meet members of the cast and puppets, including Zog himself and the pink dragon. Alice absolutely loved this and gave the Zog puppet a huge hug afterwards before proudly announcing it was “the best day ever.” 👉 You can read more about our visit and a short review HERE 👉 And you can find my full review on All About Theatre 📚 An Emotional Evening at The Lowry Later that evening, Alice, my brother and I headed back to The Lowry to see The Boy at the Back of the Class. I had seen the production previously in 2024 and remembered just how emotional and impactful the story was, so finally being able to bring Alice this time felt really special. From the moment the show began, Alice was completely transfixed by the stage and followed the story really closely throughout. By the interval, she was already telling me how much she loved the show and how kind the children were being towards Ahmet. Watching her connect so strongly with the themes of kindness, empathy and friendship genuinely made the whole theatre trip feel even more meaningful. During the interval, we also queued for ice cream after discovering the nearby concession stand had closed — and the queues were definitely very busy! 👉 You can read more about our visit and a short review HERE 👉 And you can find my full review on All About Theatre 💖 A Solo Theatre Trip to Liverpool for Legally Blonde On Thursday, I travelled to Liverpool Empire for a solo theatre trip to see Legally Blonde The Musical. As someone who absolutely loves this musical, this was a show I had been looking forward to for such a long time. I first saw Legally Blonde back in 2010 in London’s West End starring Sheridan Smith and Richard Fleeshman, and it has remained one of my all-time favourite musicals ever since. After getting the tram into Manchester Victoria, I travelled over to Liverpool Lime Street before grabbing lunch at The North Western Wetherspoons inside the station. I was especially pleased to see that Hannah Lowther had returned to the role of Elle Woods after being off sick the previous day with tonsillitis. Thankfully she was back for this performance and honestly she was absolutely sensational. The production itself was so much fun, with brilliant choreography, fantastic performances and all the pink chaos and energy you could possibly want from Legally Blonde. Before heading home, I also managed to pick up a dozen Krispy Kreme doughnuts using a voucher, which definitely felt like a nice little bonus treat after such a lovely theatre day. 👉 You can read more about my visit and a short review HERE 👉 And you can find my full review on All About Theatre 🍽️ Family Lunch & A Very Special Matilda Theatre Trip Friday started with lunch at Coppice Wood Farm with my parents. The children spent lots of time in the little play area while waiting for food and made the most of the free kids meals available during half term. Later that evening, Lawrence and I took Alice to see Matilda The Musical at Manchester Palace Theatre while Leo stayed overnight with my parents. This theatre trip honestly felt incredibly special because Lawrence and I have loved Matilda for years and had wanted to bring Alice for such a long time. The production itself was fantastic, but what made the evening completely unforgettable was the backstage tour Richard Hurst very kindly arranged for us afterwards. Meeting Richard was such a lovely experience and he was absolutely wonderful with Alice throughout. He showed us around backstage, including Trunchbull’s desk, wigs, costumes, quick-change areas and even explained how the famous blackboard trick works. Alice also got to hold Trunchbull’s magnifying glass and stand on stage itself looking out into the auditorium, which honestly felt surreal. Before we left, Richard also signed Alice’s souvenir brochure, making the whole evening feel even more magical. It genuinely became one of those theatre memories I know we’ll treasure forever. 👉 You can read more about our visit and a short review HERE 👉 And you can find my full review on All About Theatre 🐻 Mika and the Polar Bear at Z-arts On Saturday, the children and I headed to Z-arts to see Mika and the Polar Bear. As soon as we arrived, the children spotted the adorable “Today I Met the Bear” photo board in the foyer, which immediately added to the excitement of the day. Inside the auditorium, the performance had already gently begun before we’d even fully settled into our seats, with a performer quietly writing beside softly lit icy set pieces. The show itself was absolutely beautiful and combined puppetry, dance, animation and music to tell such a lovely, hopeful story. Both Alice and Leo were completely transfixed throughout and audibly gasped when the polar bear first appeared on stage. After the show, children were invited to meet Mika and the polar bear puppet in the café area, which completely made the experience for Alice, who absolutely loves puppets. Before heading home, we also spent some time playing on the big red bus downstairs — something the children always love whenever we visit Z-arts. 👉 You can read more about our visit and a short review HERE 👉 And you can find my full review on All About Theatre 🍝 Birthday Meal at Pesto We finished the week on Sunday with a meal at Pesto to celebrate one of our friend’s birthdays. After such a busy week filled with theatre trips, travelling and late nights, it felt like a lovely relaxed way to round off the Easter holidays. 🎥 Watch Our Weekly Vlog If you’d like to see everything we got up to this week, you can watch this week’s family weekly update vlog below — including our theatre trips, family days out and Easter holiday moments.

Legally Blonde The Musical UK Tour – Finally Seeing This Beloved Musical Again at Liverpool Empire On Thursday 16th April, I headed to Liverpool for a solo theatre trip to see Legally Blonde The Musical at Liverpool Empire — and as someone who absolutely adores this show, this was a theatre day I had been looking forward to for a long time. Legally Blonde has been one of my favourite musicals for years. I first saw it back in 2010 in London’s West End starring Sheridan Smith and Richard Fleeshman, and since then I’ve also seen both of its previous UK tours. It’s a musical I know incredibly well, so seeing this latest revival felt particularly exciting. There’s something so special about returning to a show you’ve loved for years, especially one that holds such wonderful theatre memories. With its empowering story, iconic songs, and unapologetically pink energy, Legally Blonde has always been a musical that leaves me smiling — and I couldn’t wait to see how this latest touring production compared. My Journey to Liverpool Empire for Legally Blonde The Musical As this was a 2:30pm matinee performance, I set off mid-morning, catching the tram into Manchester Victoria Station around 10:50am and arriving shortly after 11:15am. With some time before my train, I stopped at Greggs for a quick snack, picking up a sausage roll and a bottle of Ribena while I waited. After eating, I headed to Platform 3 ready for my 11:53am train — only for the platform to suddenly change to Platform 4 just minutes before departure, causing everyone to rush up the stairs and over the bridge to make it in time. Thankfully, I made it onboard and settled into my reserved seat in Carriage A, Seat 7. The journey itself was smooth, and I arrived in Liverpool Lime Street at around 12:30pm. Pre-Show Lunch at Liverpool Lime Street As I knew I wouldn’t have much time to eat after the show, I decided to grab lunch before heading to the theatre. I opted for The North Western Wetherspoons inside Lime Street Station, which is always a convenient option when travelling through Liverpool. I ordered my usual buttermilk chicken burger with cheese and bacon, served with chips and a Diet Coke — a reliable choice and perfect pre-show meal. After lunch, I made my way over to Liverpool Empire, which is conveniently located right next to the station. Arriving at Liverpool Empire Theatre Before heading inside, I spent some time taking photos outside the theatre before joining the queue when doors opened at 1:30pm. Once inside, my first stop was naturally the merch stand, where there was already a bit of a queue forming. I ended up purchasing: 📖 Brochure – £12 🧲 Magnet – £7 📓 Notebook – £10 Other available merchandise included: Mug – £12 Pin Set – £15 Cap – £22 Shoe Charms – £10 T-Shirt – £25 Hoodie – £55 Tote Bag – £16 (sold out) As always, I love checking out theatre merchandise, and Legally Blonde had some lovely options for fans. After purchasing my merch, I also stopped to read the cast change notice pinned to the wall, which listed a few role changes for this particular performance. While Hannah Lowther had been scheduled to play Elle Woods for the Thursday matinee, she had unfortunately been off sick the previous day with tonsillitis, so I was especially pleased to see that she was back for this performance. As a huge Legally Blonde fan, I was really looking forward to seeing her take on such an iconic role. My Seat at Liverpool Empire At 2pm, the auditorium opened and I headed up to my seat in the Circle: Row S, Seat 73 (Back Row) For just £15, I was genuinely very impressed. Although the seat was naturally quite far from the stage, the Circle is extremely well raked, meaning I still had a clear and unobstructed view throughout the performance. For the price, I honestly thought this was fantastic value and I would absolutely sit here again. The Story of Legally Blonde The Musical Legally Blonde follows Elle Woods, a fashionable sorority president whose seemingly perfect life is turned upside down when her boyfriend Warner breaks up with her. Determined to prove herself, Elle follows him to Harvard Law School, only to discover her own intelligence, resilience, and self-worth along the way. What begins as a fun rom-com evolves into an empowering story about refusing to be underestimated and learning that success comes from staying true to yourself. It’s a story that remains every bit as uplifting, funny, and relevant as ever. Set Design, Music & Choreography This latest touring production fully embraces the bright, bold energy that Legally Blonde is known for. The vibrant set design, dazzling lighting, and fabulous costumes perfectly capture both Elle’s glamorous Malibu world and the contrasting world of Harvard. Leah Hill’s choreography is particularly impressive, with huge high-energy numbers including “Omigod You Guys,” “Whipped Into Shape,” and “Bend and Snap” delivering exactly the kind of spectacle audiences hope for. The musical score remains irresistibly catchy, balancing comedy, emotion, and empowering anthems beautifully. For long-time fans, this production feels both fresh and faithful. Performances Hannah Lowther’s performance as Elle Woods was absolutely sensational. She brought warmth, humour, vulnerability, and powerhouse vocals to the role while fully capturing Elle’s incredible journey. Karen Mavundukure was another standout as Paulette, delivering huge laughs alongside phenomenal vocals. George Crawford’s Emmett brought genuine warmth, while Adam Cooper commanded attention as Callahan. The Delta Nu trio brought plenty of sparkle and energy throughout, while Sprout as Bruiser was, of course, utterly adorable. Overall, this cast delivered a hugely polished, energetic, and thoroughly entertaining production. Heading Home Following the show’s 4:50pm finish, I had some time before my return train at 5:54pm. To pass the time, I made a quick stop at Krispy Kreme in Lime Street Station, where I used a voucher to pick up a dozen doughnuts for £12 — definitely a great little bonus treat. My train boarded early at 5:45pm, and after another smooth journey home, plus the tram back, I arrived home around 7:30pm. Final Thoughts on Legally Blonde The Musical UK Tour Review This was such a fun and nostalgic solo theatre trip. Returning to Legally Blonde after so many years — and after seeing multiple previous productions — felt incredibly special, and I’m so pleased to say this latest UK tour absolutely does the musical justice. Liverpool Empire was a fantastic venue, my budget-friendly seat offered excellent value, and the show itself delivered all the heart, humour, and pink-powered energy I could have hoped for. For me, Legally Blonde remains one of the most uplifting, empowering, and feel-good musicals around. Whether you’re revisiting it like I was or seeing it for the first time, this latest tour is a fabulously fun theatre experience that’s well worth booking. Bright, bold, and bursting with charm, Legally Blonde The Musical continues to prove exactly why it remains such a beloved fan favourite. Further Information & Tour Dates Legally Blonde The Musical is at Liverpool Empire until Saturday 18th April 2026. Tickets are available to purchase through The ATG Tickets website. If you can’t catch it there, the good news is that this fabulous production continues touring across the UK and Ireland throughout 2026. For full tour dates and venue information, visit the official show website. If you’d like to read my more detailed theatre-focused review, you can also head over to All About Theatre. 🎥 Watch My Theatre Trip in Weekly Vlog #450 If you’d like to see what I got up to during my trip to see Legally Blond The Musical in Liverpool, you can watch it in Weekly Vlog #450 below. My trip to the show begins at 15:20 in the video, although the vlog also includes some other family moments from our week. At a Glance 📍 Venue: Liverpool Empire Theatre 📅 Date Visited: Thursday 16th April 2026 ⏱️ Runtime: Approx. 2 hours 20 minutes (including interval) ☕ Interval: 20 minutes 🎟️ Ticket Price Paid: £15 💺 Seat: Circle Row S, Seat 73 🚆 Travel: Train from Manchester Victoria 🛍️ Merch Purchased: Brochure, Magnet & Notebook 🍴 Lunch: North Western Wetherspoons 👩 Solo Friendly: Absolutely Watch The Trailer

A Squash and a Squeeze at Waterside Arts We were kindly invited to review A Squash and a Squeeze at Waterside Arts on Wednesday 8th April, and it ended up being such a lovely, easy morning out with the kids. Lawrence was working, so my brother came along with me and the children, and my dad very kindly dropped us off at the venue. We arrived at around 10am for the 10:30am performance, which gave us plenty of time to settle in before the show. 🎨 A Calm Start in the Creative Corner Before heading into the auditorium, the children spent some time in the little creative corner at Waterside Arts—and this was such a lovely touch. There’s a low table with bean bags for the children to sit on, along with pots of pencil crayons and paper ready for drawing. There are also small shelves on the wall filled with books, so children can sit and read while they wait. Alice and Leo were both really happy here, quietly drawing and looking at books, while my brother and I grabbed a seat in the café area nearby. It made the whole experience feel really relaxed and family-friendly from the moment we arrived. 🎭 Heading Into the Theatre The auditorium opened at around 10:15am, and after getting our tickets scanned, we headed to our seats. We were sat in Row G, seats 5–8, and the view was really good. The seating is nicely raked, so you tend to get a clear view no matter where you’re sitting, which is always reassuring when you’re taking little ones. One of the things I really liked was that the experience actually started before the show officially began. The Wise Old Man came out into the audience, chatting to the children and handing out his “easy peasy solutions” business cards. It was such a fun, interactive way to draw the children in right from the start. 🐄 The Show – A Story Brought to Life The show itself runs for around 60 minutes, which felt like the perfect length for younger children—long enough to tell the story, but without losing their attention. It follows the familiar story of the little old lady who feels her house is far too small, and the rather unusual advice she’s given to fix it. Watching it unfold on stage is so much fun, especially as the animals are gradually brought into the house and the chaos builds. What really stood out was the creativity in the puppetry. Each animal is made from everyday objects, which gives the whole show a really imaginative, handmade feel. It’s simple but so effective, and it really captures children’s attention. The set is equally clever, with the cottage opening up to reveal the inside, which adds a lovely visual element and keeps things engaging throughout. There’s also a great mix of songs, movement, and audience interaction, which keeps the energy up and the children involved. Alice especially loved the pig with its love of biscuits, while Leo couldn’t get enough of the moment the cow danced on the table—those little character moments really stayed with them afterwards. 💛 Final Thoughts This was such a lovely, easy theatre trip and one I’d definitely recommend for families with younger children. Everything about the experience felt really well thought out—from the relaxed pre-show setup to the interactive elements within the performance itself. It’s the kind of show that feels welcoming and accessible, especially if you’re introducing little ones to theatre for the first time. Although the run at Waterside Arts was only for a couple of days, A Squash and a Squeeze is continuing to tour until the end of May, including a stop at Leeds Playhouse. If you’re interested in catching it, it’s definitely worth checking the official show website for full tour dates and venues. If you’d like to read our more detailed theatre-focused review of A Squash and a Squeeze, you can head over to our sister site, All About Theatre. 🎥 Watch Our Visit in Weekly Vlog #450 If you’d like to see what we got up to during our visit to see Zog at The Lowry, you can watch it in Weekly Vlog #449 below. Our trip to the show begins at 2:47 in the video, although the vlog also includes some other family moments from our week. 📍 At A Glance Location: Waterside Arts (The Robert Bolt Theatre) Duration: 60 minutes Age Guidance: 3–8 years Performance Times: Tue: 16:30 Wed & Thu: 10:30 & 13:30 Ticket Prices: £17 Adult £15 Child £60 Family Ticket (1 adult + 3 children or 2 adults + 2 children) *Our tickets for this show were kindly gifted in exchange for an honest review. Watch The Trailer

A Roaring Family Day Out: Our Zog UK Tour Visit at The Lowry 🐉 We were kindly invited to the press performance of Zog at The Lowry on Wednesday 15th April, and after previously loving this show when we saw it here in 2023, we were all very excited to return for more dragon-sized fun. With Lawrence working, my mum joined me and the children for this theatre trip, while my dad kindly dropped us off at our usual spot opposite the Imperial War Museum. From there, we made the familiar walk over the bridge to The Lowry—a route that always adds to the excitement of a family day out at the theatre. We arrived around 12:40pm, giving us plenty of time before the 1:30pm performance to enjoy the pre-show atmosphere. Arrival, Merch and Pre-Show Fun Zog was once again staged in The Lowry’s Quays Theatre, which always feels like the perfect setting for this type of family production. Its smaller, more intimate space works brilliantly for younger audiences, creating an engaging atmosphere while still offering fantastic views. After collecting our tickets from the press desk, the children were each given a free little programme and a sticker by the staff, who were handing them out to all the children. It was such a lovely touch and immediately added to the excitement for Alice and Leo. We then stopped for some fun photos with the Zog selfie frame before heading over to the merch stand. There was a fantastic selection of merchandise available for little dragon fans, including: Princess Pearl plush – £24.99 Pink Dragon plush – £14.99 Green Dragon plush – £14.99 16” Large Zog plush – £64.99 11” Zog plush – £29.99 Zog plush keyring – £14.99 Zog paperback book – £7.99 Zog activity book – £6.99 Pins/Badges – £5 Alice had proudly brought along her own pink dragon plush from a previous visit, so we decided to buy Leo a Zog plush keyring so he could have his own dragon-themed toy to hold during the performance too. While waiting for the auditorium to open, the children enjoyed some of the free activity sheets provided. Leo tackled a Zog word search, while Alice happily coloured in a picture of Zog. We also made the most of the wait by enjoying the packed lunch I’d brought along, which kept things simple and budget-friendly. Seats, Booster Seats and View Once the auditorium opened, we headed downstairs to the stalls, where booster seats were conveniently available just by the stalls entrance doors—always a helpful touch when visiting with younger children. We picked one up before making our way to our seats in Row K. Although we were seated towards the back, the Quays Theatre is so well designed that the view was still excellent. The seating felt nicely raked, meaning the children could see comfortably, and we never felt too far from the stage. There was also plenty of legroom, which is always a big bonus on family theatre trips It’s definitely a seating area we’d happily choose again. The Show Zog remains every bit as fun, lively and heartwarming as we remembered. Based on Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler’s much-loved book, the story follows Zog, an eager but accident-prone young dragon, as he navigates dragon school under the guidance of Madam Dragon. From learning to fly and roar to capturing a princess, Zog’s journey is packed with humour, catchy songs and plenty of valuable life lessons about perseverance, friendship and finding your own path. The stage adaptation perfectly captures the charm of the original story, combining colourful costumes, puppetry, energetic performances and audience interaction to create a show that feels both magical and accessible for younger audiences. The songs are incredibly catchy and lots of fun, with both children fully engaged throughout. Alice especially loved joining in roaring like a dragon with Zog during his lessons, while Leo’s favourite moment was seeing Zog finally earn his golden star—a moment that felt particularly rewarding after cheering him on throughout the show. One of the standout interactive moments came when children from the audience were selected to become princesses, complete with crown headbands, before the dragons ventured into the audience to find them. This was such a lovely touch and had the children absolutely captivated. And of course, by the finale, both Alice and Leo were up on their feet dancing along—always the sign of a truly successful family show. Post-Show Meet and Greet As an extra special treat for invited guests, we were also given the opportunity to meet members of the cast after the performance—including Zog himself and the pink dragon. Alice and Leo absolutely loved this experience, and it was such a lovely way to round off an already fantastic day. Alice was especially thrilled and gave the Zog puppet a huge hug, which was such a sweet moment to watch. Afterwards, she declared it “the best day ever,” which really says it all. For young Zog fans, experiences like this make the magic of theatre feel even more real, and it was a truly memorable ending to our family trip. Final Thoughts Zog is everything you could want from a family theatre trip—funny, engaging, interactive and packed with heart. From the warm pre-show atmosphere and thoughtful family-friendly touches to the joyful songs, gorgeous puppetry and uplifting story, this production once again proved why it remains such a firm favourite for families. Whether you’re catching Zog at The Lowry or another venue on its wider UK tour, this is a brilliant introduction to theatre for younger children and an equally enjoyable experience for grown-ups too. We had such a lovely afternoon, and it’s safe to say that this Zog UK tour review still earns a golden star from our family. More Zog Fun: Tickets, Tour Dates and Watch Our Visit 🐉✨ Zog will be at The Lowry until Sunday, 19th April 2026. Tickets are available for purchase through the Lowry's website. If you can’t make it to The Lowry, the good news is that this fantastic family show is touring the UK and Ireland until August 2026. You can find upcoming venues and tour dates on the official website If you’d like to read our more detailed theatre-focused review of Zog, you can head over to our sister site, All About Theatre. 🎥 Watch Our Visit in Weekly Vlog #450 If you’d like to see what we got up to during our visit to see Zog at The Lowry, you can watch it in Weekly Vlog #450 below. Our trip to the show begins at 3:30 in the video, although the vlog also includes some other family moments from our week. At a Glance 🐉✨ 📍 Venue We Visited: The Lowry, Salford – Quays Theatre ⏱️ Running Time: Approx. 1 hour 👶 Recommended Age: 3+ 💺 Our Seats: Row K, Stalls 🪑 Booster Seats: Available just by the stalls entrance doors 🛍️ Merch Prices: From £5 🎁 Freebies: Free programme and sticker for children on arrival 🚋 Getting There: Easily accessible by tram, bus or car. Nearby parking is available at Quayside MediaCityUK. 🌍 UK Tour: Touring until August 2026 🔗 Official Website: https://zogonstage.com/ Watch The Trailer

Our Family Theatre Trip to See Sisters 360 at Waterside Arts On Tuesday 14th April, we headed to Waterside Arts in Sale for a family theatre trip to see Sisters 360 — and it ended up being such a lovely, easy day out. We got the tram there, and it’s honestly so convenient for us — only two stops away. Once you get off, Waterside Arts is right across the road, which makes it ideal when you’re travelling with kids (no long walks or complicated directions!). We were going to the 11:30am showing and arrived at around 11:15am. I picked up a free little programme from the box office, which is always a nice touch, and not long after we arrived the auditorium opened, so we headed straight in to find our seats. We were sat on the front row (seats 13–16) and had such a fantastic view. It also meant the children got a bit of interaction during the show, which made it even more special — Alice and Leo both got a handshake from Salima at the beginning, and Alice also got a fist bump at the end, which she absolutely loved. What Is Sisters 360 About? Sisters 360 follows step-sisters Fatima and Salima, two young skateboarders who dream of winning a big competition together. They’re full of energy, determination and sisterly chaos — and you can really feel how close they are. But when their family situation changes and they’re faced with the possibility of living apart, everything suddenly feels uncertain. Their dream is put at risk, and they have to find a way to hold onto both their goal and their bond as sisters. It’s a story that mixes humour with some more emotional moments, and it explores themes of family, change and resilience in a way that still feels very accessible for children. What We Thought This was such a high-energy, feel-good show. The performances were full of personality, and the relationship between the two sisters felt really natural and believable — lots of playful moments, a bit of bickering, and plenty of warmth. The set was designed like a mini skatepark, with ramps and levels that gave the show a really fun, urban feel. The lighting was bold and colourful, which helped bring lots of energy to the stage, and the costumes felt modern and expressive. There were also some really fun visual moments throughout — including a bright, colourful bat puppet that both Alice and Leo absolutely loved. For Alice, this was a really special theatre experience. She was completely transfixed on the stage from start to finish and fully immersed in the story. Getting that interaction with Salima at the beginning and end just made it even more memorable for her. Leo enjoyed it too, especially the fun and energetic moments, although he did say afterwards that he wished there had been some actual skateboard tricks on stage. Final Thoughts Overall, this was a lovely, uplifting theatre trip for us. It’s fun, full of energy and has a really positive message about sisterhood and sticking together through change. It’s also really refreshing to see stories like this on stage, with characters that feel relatable, modern and full of personality. If you’re looking for a family-friendly show that’s easy to get to (especially if you’re local to Sale or Manchester), this is definitely one to consider. Booking & Tour Information Sisters 360 is at Waterside Arts, Sale until Wednesday 15th April 2026. Tickets are available for purchase Here Sisters 360 is touring the UK until the end of June 2026. If you’d like to find out more or see if the show is visiting a venue near you, you can find full tour dates and venues on the official Turtle Key Arts website. If you’d like to read our more detailed theatre-focused review of Sisters 360, you can head over to our sister site, All About Theatre. 🎥 Watch Our Visit in Weekly Vlog #450 If you’d like to see what we got up to during our family theatre trip to see Sisters 360 at Waterside Arts, you can watch it in Weekly Vlog #450 below. Our visit to the show begins right at the start of the vlog (0:00), along with some other family moments from our week. Click Me 🎟️ At a Glance 📍 Location: Waterside Arts, Sale (right opposite the tram stop) 📅 Dates at Waterside Arts:Tuesday 14th – Wednesday 15th April 2026 🚋 Getting there:We travelled by tram — only 2 stops for us, and super easy with kids. Once you get off, the venue is just across the road. ⏰ Show times:11:30am & 2:30pm 💷 Ticket prices:Adults £14Children £12(10% discount available for Waterside members) ⏱️ Duration:55 minutes (no interval) 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Age recommendation:Ages 8–12 (but suitable for families) 🎭 Our seats:Front row (Seats 13–16) — fantastic view and great for interaction with the performers ✨ Good to know: Free programmes available at the box office Smaller, relaxed venue — easy to navigate with children Some audience interaction from the stage *Our tickets for this show were kindly gifted in exchange for an honest review. Watch The Trailer

A Surprise Birthday Treat and a Rainbow-Filled Family Adventure Sunday 26th April saw us heading to Liverpool for a very special family day out as part of Leo’s birthday treats, taking Alice and Leo to see Gabby’s Dollhouse Live! at the M&S Bank Arena. With Leo’s birthday having been just two days earlier on 24th April, this felt like the perfect way to continue the celebrations. We had kept the trip as a surprise until his birthday, making the whole experience feel even more exciting for both children. With an early start, train journey, plenty of excitement and a spectacular rainbow-filled live show, it turned out to be such a fun family adventure from start to finish. Our Journey to Liverpool We were up bright and early and started the day by catching the tram into Manchester Piccadilly. We arrived at the station around 10:25am, giving us plenty of time before our 11:10am train from platform 14 — which, as anyone familiar with Piccadilly knows, always feels like one of the furthest possible walks! Before boarding, we made a quick stop at Sainsbury’s for drinks and donuts for the train journey, which kept everyone happy during the roughly hour-long trip. Thankfully, we managed to grab a table seat so we could all sit together, which always makes travelling with the kids much easier. We arrived in Liverpool just after midday and began making our way towards the arena, although not without a slight detour when Leo suddenly needed the toilet. While Lawrence took him back to the station, Alice and I grabbed Greggs sausage rolls, which turned into a handy little lunch stop while we waited. Once reunited, we continued on to the arena and arrived at around 1pm, ready for the 1:30pm show. First Impressions & Merchandise As soon as we entered the arena, the excitement levels instantly ramped up. Alice and Leo were immediately drawn to the merchandise stand. Alice had her heart set on a cuddly Pandy, while Leo desperately wanted one of the light-up bubble wands. At £16 each, the prices actually felt fairly reasonable compared to some recent arena shows we’ve attended (Disney on Ice prices were definitely much steeper). Unfortunately, after queueing for around 20 minutes, disappointment struck when the family directly in front of us bought the final two bubble wands. Poor Leo was absolutely gutted, and there were definitely a few tears. Thankfully, staff suggested more may arrive at interval, which helped calm things down a little — although sadly, none appeared. In the end, we opted for a light-up baton for £8 instead, which thankfully saved the day. Merchandise Prices: T-Shirts: £25 15-inch Plush (Cakey or Mercat): £22 12-inch Plush (Pandy, Cakey, Mercat or Gabby): £18 10-inch Pandy Plush: £16 Light-Up Bubble Wand: £16 Cat Ear Headbands (Pandy, Kitty Fairy or Mercat): £14 Bucket Hats (Mercat or CatRat): £10 Bag Clips (Pandy, Cakey or Mercat): £8 Light-Up Baton: £8 Poster Programme: £5 Badge: £4 Our Seats & Venue Experience We were seated in Block 10, Row MM, seats 239–242. Thanks to a discount code, we paid just £15 per ticket, which felt like fantastic value. At full price, however, these seats would have cost over £50 each — and honestly, for a 75-minute production (including a 15-minute interval), I do think that would feel quite expensive, particularly given the distance from the stage. For £15 though, we were really happy. The view was still good, and the kids were completely engrossed throughout. On the way to our seats, children were handed friendship flower flyers, which became an interactive part of the show and was such a lovely added touch. Gabby’s Dollhouse Live! — Our Family’s Honest Review Gabby’s Dollhouse Live! was bright, energetic and completely captivating for young fans. The story follows Gabby as she works to restore a shattered rainbow after CatRat causes a colourful cat-astrophe, travelling through favourite dollhouse locations like Mermaid-Lantis, the Cat-O-Sphere and more. For Alice, the standout moment was definitely CatRat’s solo You Can’t Spell Meow Without Me — no surprise there, as CatRat is her favourite character. Leo, meanwhile, absolutely loved Cakey’s Sprinkle Party. And when Dance Like a Gabby Cat began, the whole arena was up dancing. The puppetry was hugely impressive, the visuals were vibrant and magical, and the interactive elements helped make younger audience members feel like a real part of the adventure. After the Show The show finished around 3pm, and after all the excitement, we made our way to St John’s Shopping Centre for some well-earned dinner before heading back to the station. Lawrence and I grabbed KFC, while the kids were more than happy with McDonald’s Happy Meals. We arrived home at around 6:30pm after such a fun-filled family day. Final Thoughts Gabby’s Dollhouse Live! was such a brilliant family experience and a really lovely choice as one of Leo’s birthday treats. While merchandise queues were frustrating and full-price tickets may feel a little steep, the show itself absolutely delivered when it came to entertainment, energy and magic for younger audiences. For Gabby fans, this is a colourful, engaging and joy-filled live experience packed with favourite songs, beloved characters and meaningful messages. From train snacks and sausage rolls to friendship flowers, dancing and birthday treat memories, this was a day out we’ll all remember fondly. Tour Information Gabby’s Dollhouse Live! continues its UK tour throughout 2026, bringing Gabby, Pandy Paws and the Gabby Cats to venues across the country. For more information about upcoming tour dates, venues and ticket availability, you can visit the official Gabby’s Dollhouse Live! website. If you’d like to read my more detailed All About Theatre review of the production itself, including full staging, cast and performance insights, you can also head over to All About Theatre for the full five-star review. At a Glance: Venue: M&S Bank Arena Liverpool Date Attended: 26th April 2026 Runtime: Approx. 75 minutes (including 15-minute interval) Best For: Preschool and early primary-aged Gabby fans Our Highlights: CatRat’s solo, Sprinkle Party, Dance Like a Gabby Cat, friendship flowers Top Tip: Arrive early for merchandise if your child has their heart set on something specific! Overall, Gabby’s Dollhouse Live! delivered a joyful, rainbow-filled family day out and was a wonderful addition to Leo’s birthday celebrations.