Family Friendly Shows in Dorset 2025
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Dorset has a number of fantastic theatres and venues in Dorset and through the year you can expect to find a whole host of family shows which include our children’s favourite characters, dinosaurs, science, bubbles, pirates and princesses, and much more!
To see what’s on near you, please see our list below.
• JULY •
THE WIZARD OF OZ
Info: Step into a world of wonder as the children of Swanage Primary School proudly present The Wizard of Oz! Get ready for an unforgettable journey filled with dazzling costumes, catchy songs, and a cast of lovable characters who will capture your heart.
Date: Thursday 17th July 2025
Address: The Mowlem, Shore Road, Swanage, Dorset, BH19 1DD
Website: The Mowlem
THE LITTLE MERMAID JR
Info: The Marine Youth Theatre presents this production. In a magical underwater kingdom, the beautiful young mermaid, Ariel, longs to leave her ocean home and her fins behind, and live in the world above. But first, she’ll have to defy her father, King Triton, make a deal with the evil sea witch, Ursula, and convince the handsome Prince Eric that she’s the girl whose enchanting voice he’s been seeking.
Date: Sunday 20th July 2025
Address: Marine Theatre, Church Street, Lyme Regis, Dorset, DT7 3QB
Website: Marine Theatre
RUDE SCIENCE
Info: The naughtiest, funniest, most revolting science show in the world. Brace yourselves for BBC Gastronaut Stefan Gates’ revolutionary, high-tech, highly-explosive new show, packed with outrageous science stunts.
Date: Tuesday 29th July 2025
Address: Bridport Electric Palace, 35 South Street, Bridport, Dorset, DT6 3NY
Website: Electric Palace
• AUGUST •
DINO TALES: JURASSIC RESCUE
Info: Flapping frills and dino thrills await as you set off on the ultimate wild rescue mission with state-of-the-art walking dinosaurs, some of which have never been seen on a stage before. You’ll encounter Freya the dancing Raptor, Dylan the Dilophosaurus, Angie the Ankylosaurus, Scar the Spinosaurus and Bruce the mighty T-Rex!
Date: Friday 8th August 2025
Address: Bournemouth Pavilion, Westover Road, Bournemouth, Dorset, BH1 2BU
Website: Bournemouth Pavilion
NATURAL HISTORY MUSEUM PRESENTS DINOSAUR LIVE!
Info: For the first time since 1881, the home of dinosaurs, London’s Natural History Museum, is going on tour! Ever since they were first identified in the 1800s, dinosaurs have sparked the imagination of kids and adults alike and for the first time ever, the world-renowned Natural History Museum has teamed up with Mark Thompson Productions to take you on a dinosaur adventure like no other.
Date: Friday 8th August 2025
Address: Weymouth Pavilion, Esplanade, Weymouth, Dorset, DT4 8ED
Website: Weymouth Pavilion
CIRQUE: THE GREATEST SHOW REIMAGINED
Info: Get ready for a dazzling fusion of musical theatre and jaw-dropping circus acts, taking the original circus meets musical theatre spectacle to thrilling new heights.
Date: Saturday 9th August 2025
Address: Bournemouth Pavilion, Westover Road, Bournemouth, Dorset, BH1 2BU
Website: Bournemouth Pavilion
THE PRINCESS PROMS
Info: Calling all Princesses and Princes, you are invite you to an enchanting concert singing the magical themes from your favourite Princess movies including Frozen, Cinderella, Little Mermaid plus many more.
Date: Sunday 10th August 2025
Address: Bournemouth Pavilion, Westover Road, Bournemouth, Dorset, BH1 2BU
Website: Bournemouth Pavilion
HORRIBLE HISTORIES: GERGEOUS GEORGIANS & VILE VICTORIANS
Info: Are you ready to swing with a Georgian king? Can you see eye to eye with Admiral Nelson? Does the Duke of Wellington get the boot? Dare you dance the Tyburn jig? Will you be saved by Florence Nightingale? Find out what a baby farmer did and move to the groove with party Queen Victoria! Don’t miss this horrible history of Britain with the nasty bits left in!
Date: Sunday 10th August 2025
Address: The Regent, 51 High Street, Christchurch, Dorset, BH23 1AS
Website: The Regent
CIRQUE: THE GREATEST SHOW REIMAGINED
Info: Get ready for a dazzling fusion of musical theatre and jaw-dropping circus acts, taking the original circus meets musical theatre spectacle to thrilling new heights.
Date: Sunday 10th August 2025
Address: Weymouth Pavilion, Esplanade, Weymouth, Dorset, DT4 8ED
Website: Weymouth Pavilion
SHREK THE MUSICAL
Info: Bridport Musical Theatre Company return to the Electric Palace Stage this summer with another ‘Shrektacular’ production! This award-winning ‘Shrek the Musical’ brings to life the world of Shrek live on stage in an unforgettable production to melt hearts of all ages.
Dates: Wednesday 27th August – Saturday 30th August 2025
Address: Bridport Electric Palace, 35 South Street, Bridport, Dorset, DT6 3NY
Website: Electric Palace
DINOSAUR WORLD LIVE
Info: Grab your compass and join our intrepid explorer across uncharted territories to discover a pre-historic world of astonishing (and remarkably life-like) dinosaurs. Meet a host of impressive creatures, including every child’s favourite flesh-eating giant, the Tyrannosaurus Rex, a Triceratops, Giraffatitan, Microraptor and Segnosaurus! A special meet and greet after the show offers all our brave explorers the chance to make a new dinosaur friend.
Date: Friday 29th – Sunday 31st August 2025
Address: Lighthouse Poole, 21 Kingland Road, Poole, Dorset, BH15 1UG
Website: Lighthouse Poole
• SEPTEMBER •
THE ZOO THAT COMES TO YOU
Info: The Zoo That Comes To You follows the impassioned attempts of two animal enthusiasts to share their love of and concern for animals with the world. They take in animals that need respite, care or a temporary home and have, accidentally, ended up with a whole sanctuary, but with no visitors! So everybody, animals and humans alike, have decided it is time to get out, see the world, and bring the zoo, to you. Featuring puppetry, live music and playful characters, Scarlet Oak Theatre welcomes you to join the conversation about animal conservation.
Date: Saturday 27th September 2025
Address: Lighthouse Poole, 21 Kingland Road, Poole, Dorset, BH15 1UG
Website: Lighthouse Poole
• OCTOBER •
THE VERY HUNGRY CATERPILLAR SHOW
Info: Created by Jonathan Rockefeller, this production of the critically acclaimed show features a menagerie of over 75 magical puppets. The production faithfully adapts four stories by author/illustrator Eric Carle: Brown Bear, Brown Bear, 10 Little Rubber Ducks, The Very Busy Spider and of course, the star of the show – The Very Hungry Caterpillar.
Dates: Saturday 4th & Sunday 5th October 2025
Address: Lighthouse Poole, 21 Kingland Road, Poole, Dorset, BH15 1UG
Website: Lighthouse Poole
DICK WHITTINGTON
Info: Join Dick and his trusty cat as they set off on a whirlwind adventure to London to seek their fortune, battle the villainous King Rat, and prove that good always triumphs over evil!
Dates: Thursday 9th – Saturday 11th October 2025
Address: The Barrington
Website: The Barrington
FRANKY
Info: It’s not easy being a Frankenstein. Prof has no friends, and the villagers won’t even speak to her. She thinks a baby might help, so one stormy night, with a flash of lightning, she creates Franky! Although Franky is not quite what Prof expected, he sets off on an adventure to win over the hearts of the villagers at the Halloween funfair with the hottest new dance craze ‘The Franky Walk!’
Date: Saturday 25th October 2025
Address: Lighthouse Poole, 21 Kingland Road, Poole, Dorset, BH15 1UG
Website: Lighthouse Poole
HALLOWEEN SPOOKTACULAR
Info: This Halloween, get ready for a spine-tingling adventure packed with hilarious comedy, toetapping tunes, and jaw-dropping magic as Halloween Spooktacular comes to town! Featuring impressive Ultra Violet puppetry, chart-topping Halloween hits, and tons of audience participation, Halloween Spooktacular is packed with tricks, treats, and laughter for all ages.
Date: Monday 27th October 2025
Address: The Tivoli Theatre
Website: The Tivoli Theatre
VILLAINS UNLEASHED
Info: This devilishly fun show brings together all your favourite Villains for the ultimate Halloween party. Losing their magic powers as the screams of Halloween fade away, the Villains plan the perfect Halloween party. Join them as they plot and scheme to conjure up a magical event, guaranteed to make everyone celebrate the most haunting time of year.
Date: Tuesday 28th October 2025
Address: Lighthouse Poole, 21 Kingland Road, Poole, Dorset, BH15 1UG
Website: Lighthouse Poole
STEVE BACKSHALL: DEADLY LIVE!
Info: Join Steve as he embarks on heart-pounding adventures, tackling daring stunts, mind-blowing experiments, and cutting-edge science. Brace yourself as he tracks down some of the world’s most formidable predators—the creatures most would never dare to face! From big cats and birds of prey to Dinomania dinosaurs, snakes, and more, this electrifying live show takes you across land, sea, and sky in an unforgettable wildlife spectacle.
Date: Tuesday 28th October 2025
Address: Bournemouth International Centre, Exeter Road, Bournemouth, Dorset, BH2 5BH
Website: Bournemouth International Centre
MARK THOMPSON’S SPECTACULAR SCIENCE SHOW
Info: You think science is boring, think again; this is science like you have never seen it before. Designed for children and adults alike, Mark’s Spectacular Science Show explores the strange and magical properties of matter with exploding elephant’s toothpaste, vortex-generating dustbins and even howling jelly babies.
Date: Wednesday 29th October 2025
Address: Lighthouse Poole, 21 Kingland Road, Poole, Dorset, BH15 1UG
Website: Lighthouse Poole
ANNIE
Info: Annie is presented by Bournemouth and Boscombe Light Opera Company. Set in 1930s New York during the Great Depression, brave young Annie is forced to live a life of misery at Miss Hannigan’s orphanage. Her luck soon changes when she's chosen to spend a fairytale Christmas with famous billionaire, Oliver Warbucks. Meanwhile, Miss Hannigan has other ideas and hatches a plan to spoil Annie’s search for her true family.
Dates: Wednesday 29th October – Saturday 1st November 2025
Address: Bournemouth Pavilion, Westover Road, Bournemouth, Dorset, BH1 2BU
Website: Bournemouth Pavilion
FUN FOR LITTLE ONES: A TRIBUTE TO MS RACHEL
Info: The UK’s Premier Tribute to Global Phenomenon… ‘Ms Rachel’! Bringing ‘Ms Rachels’ character to life in a FUN, interactive LIVE on stage performance with lots of audience participation for the little ones!
Date: Thursday 30th October 2025
Address: Electric Palace, 35 South Street, Bridport, Dorset, DT6 3NY
Website: Electric Palace
JUSTIN LIVE – JUSTIN TIME TO ROCK
Info: Justin and his friends are putting together a rock band. But with so many songs to choose from, they are going to need your help to choose the best songs to sing and dance to. Come and see CBeebies’ megastar Justin Fletcher live on stage, in an all-singing, all-dancing extravaganza packed full of well-known songs, lots of dancing, hilarious comedy and plenty of rocktastic fun!
Date: Thursday 30th October 2025
Address: Lighthouse Poole, 21 Kingland Road, Poole, Dorset, BH15 1UG
Website: Lighthouse Poole
SPOOKY SCIENCE SHOW
Info: Join mad scientist Ian B Dunne and his robotic assistants this Halloween for a thrilling journey through potions, sparks, and spectres! Expect spooky experiments, electrifying demonstrations, and plenty of hands-on fun in this science-packed show that’s perfect for all ages. Don’t miss this frightfully fun fusion of science and spooks!
Date: Friday 31st October 2025
Address: The Barrington Centre, Penny's Walk, Ferndown, Dorset, BH22 9TH
Website: The Barrington Centre
• NOVEMBER •
THE WIZARD OF OZ
Info: Follow the yellow brick road in this delightful stage adaptation of L. Frank Baum's beloved tale, featuring the iconic musical score from the Oscar-winning MGM film including, Over The Rainbow, Follow The Yellow Brick Road and We’re Off To See The Wizard. This spectacular production from Artisan Theatre School will be a magical experience for all the family.
Date: Sunday 2nd November 2025
Address: The Regent, 51 High Street, Christchurch, Dorset, BH23 1AS
Website: The Regent
THE GOOSE AND MRS FROST
Info: Mrs Holly Frost lives with her goose keeping an eye on the world below. When she bakes the sun shines, when she hangs up her washing it rains and when she shakes out her bedding soft feathery snowflakes fall, covering the earth in a blanket of snow. A gentle story of intergenerational friendship full of live action and puppetry combined with beautifully illustrated paper theatre to tell a heart-warming story about the changes in the seasons, working together to make amends and the transformative power of kindness.
Date: Saturday 22nd November 2025
Address: The Mowlem, Shore Road, Swanage, Dorset, BH19 1DD
Website: The Mowlem
LITTLE ROBIN RED VEST
Info: One frosty evening, a week before Christmas, Little Robin washes and irons seven warm vests for the chilly nights to come. As the days go by, he comes across lots of cold and shivering animals, and kindly gives them his vests to wear. But by Christmas Eve, Little Robin is cold and alone with no vests left. That is, until a mysterious friend arrives to reward his kindness with a perfect little red vest. This brand-new adaptation is aimed at children aged 2-6 and their families. Using original songs, puppetry and integrated Makaton, the playful performers will share this heart-warming tale of friendship, generosity, and the joy of giving.
Dates: Saturday 22nd November – Sunday 14th December 2025
Address: Lighthouse Poole, 21 Kingland Road, Poole, Dorset, BH15 1UG
Website: Lighthouse Poole
• DECEMBER •
CINDERELLA PANTOMIME
Info: You shall go to the ball! Get ready for our brand new panto at the Bournemouth Pavilion, Cinderella! Noel Brodie will return for his 11th year in panto as Buttons.
Dates: Saturday 6th December 2025 – Sunday 4th January 2026
Address: Bournemouth Pavilion, Westover Road, Bournemouth, Dorset, BH1 2BU
Website: Bournemouth Pavilion
SANTA AND THE PIRATES (THAT DON’T WANT CHRISTMAS)
Info: Father Christmas has a problem – somebody has robbed his reindeers, they’ve nicked his naughty list AND they’ve ‘elped themselves to his elves! When some very naughty pirates head to the North Pole and pinch the plunder of the century, is Christmas about to be cancelled? With pieces of eight at stake, a stolen red nose – and Santa all at sea – will Christmas be able to go ahead at all? You will have to join him to find out in an action-packed family show.
Date: Sunday 7th December 2025
Address: The Mowlem, Shore Road, Swanage, Dorset, BH19 1DD
Website: The Mowlem
DICK WHITTINGTON PANTOMIME
Info: Once again CBeebies’ favourite Chris Jarvis is back to write and direct a joyfully funny script that tells this magical rags to riches tale. This year’s show will be brimming with dazzling costumes, stunning scenery and a dose of feline flavour.
Date: Thursday 11th December 2025 – Sunday 4th January 2026
Address: Lighthouse Poole, 21 Kingland Road, Poole, Dorset, BH15 1UG
Website: Lighthouse Poole
BEST EVER CHRISTMAS PANTO
Info: Santa is back in town with a brand new show. This is a fantastic Christmas treat for all the family, providing laughs aloud, songs, dance and much, much more. Suitable for children of all ages. Free ice cream for every child in the interval and a chance to meet Father Christmas himself after the show.
Dates: Friday 12th – Wednesday 24th December 2025
Address: The Allendale Centre, Hanham Road, Wimborne Minster, Dorset, BH21 1AS
Website: The Allendale Centre
BEAUTY AND THE BEAST
Info: Suitable for the whole family, the show features spectacular scenery, glittering costumes, amazing special effects, toe tapping tunes and plenty of audience participation, as well as real panto pooches!
Dates: Saturday 13th - Sunday 28th December 2025
Address: The Regent, 51 High Street, Christchurch, Dorset, BH23 1AS
Website: The Regent
GOLDILOCKS AND THE THREE BEARS
Info: Goldilocks and the Three Bears takes centre stage in this all-new, action-packed panto production, where the classic tale is brought to life with a twist of circus magic! Follow the curious and adventurous Goldilocks as she stumbles upon the cozy home of The Three Bears – but that’s just the beginning… Enter the dazzling world of Dame Betty Barnum, the ringmaster extraordinaire, Joey the Clown and a whole host of hilarious characters who will have you rolling in the aisles and shouting for more!
Dates: Saturday 13th December 2025 – Sunday 4th January 2026
Address: The Tivoli Theatre, 19 West Borough, Wimborne, Dorset, BH21 1LT
Website: The Tivoli Theatre
ELF: THE MUSICAL
Info: This larger-than-life production brings the festive magic to the arena with unforgettable scenes, including Santa’s flying sleigh, an interactive snowball fight with the audience, and a giant candy cane journey from the North Pole, all set against breath-taking video-film backdrops on a massive LED screen.
Dates: Friday 19th & Saturday 20th December 2025
Address: Bournemouth International Centre, Exeter Road, Bournemouth, Dorset, BH2 5BH
Website: Bournemouth International Centre
JACK AND THE BEANSTALK
Info: Join the cast this Christmas in the land of fairy tales, where the poor hero Jack and his dotty mum Dame Trott are tricked into selling their beloved cow for a useless bag of beans. Laugh at Silly Simon, boo and hiss the wicked Fleshcreep and cheer-on the hero Jack as he climbs the Beanstalk to rescue his sweetheart Jill from the Giant‘s castle in the clouds. Packed with great songs, amazing dance routines and plenty of laughter for all the family.
Dates: Friday 19th December 2025 – Saturday 3rd January 2026
Address: Weymouth Pavilion, Esplanade, Weymouth, Dorset, DT4 8ED
Website: Weymouth Pavilion
SANTA LIVE!
Info: Get ready this Christmas as Darling Productions UK brings you Bridport’s brand-new festive extravaganza… SANTA LIVE! Disaster strikes in Christmas town when the Christmas spirit runs out and all the children’s names have mysteriously vanished from Santa’s naughty and nice list. Join the cheeky elves Tinsel, Snowflake, and Candy as they try to help Santa save Christmas with the power of song and dance. This hour-long interactive show is perfect for the whole family and will get everyone singing and dancing along.
Dates: Saturday 20th – Tuesday 23rd December 2025
Address: Electric Palace, 35 South Street, Bridport, Dorset, DT6 3NY
Website: Electric Palace
Please note that some performance dates or times may change. Check back for more shows being added through the year. If you know of a great show we’ve missed then please do Contact Us.
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Dorsetmums has made every effort to ensure the accuracy of the information contained in this site and does not accept liability for any errors or omission. Please also note that an event or venue may cancel or close at any time and you should consider contacting beforehand to check an event is running.
