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AD - Our writer Gaia received press tickets If you're looking for something a bit different to do with little ones this summer that's fun and educational then check out 'This Show is Rubbish'. Pay as you feel - whatever you can afford (booking essential) Small theatre near the Discovery Museum Aimed at 3-8 year olds Lots of songs and interactive bits Relaxed performance, not too loud Eco-puppets made of recycled rubbish Runs until 13th August, plenty of tickets currently available Pay As You Feel Scheme At Alphabetti Theatre, most tickets are 'pay as you feel' and this show is part of that scheme. When you book your tickets, you don't pay anything at time of booking and then on the day of the performance you make a donation of whatever you afford. I love this idea! Alphabetti Theatre is a registered charity and independent charity supporting local theatres and popping along to see a show there / making a donation really does help to support their work. Find out more and book here: https://www.alphabettitheatre.co.uk/this-show-is-rubbish Alphabetti Theatre Location Alphabetti Theatre, St James' Blvd, Newcastle upon Tyne NE1 4HP Alphabetti Theatre is super easy to find if travelling from Newcastle Central Station - you just exit the station, walk towards Life Science Centre and cross the road near Discovery Museum. You should be able to see the entrance this way. Remember, kids aged 11 or under travel for free with a fare paying adult on the Metro and on buses this summer. There is a Metro Station at Central Station. This Show is Rubbish is a fun 50 minute show that kept a theatre full of mostly preschoolers entertained (it's aimed at 3-8 year olds) but it's also much more than that. It's an early years educational show about climate change but it's never preachy. My four year old was kept entertained throughout the performance by the songs and raps that the two actors performed accompanied only by guitar and sometimes by a loop pedal playing beach-related sounds. It started off with a chat about being 'happy sad" - and how you can feel both emotions at once. "Like being sad something is over but happy that it happened." We were then transported to Longsands beach which was filled with lots of …. rubbish. A jellyfish turned out to be a plastic bag and a seagull tried to eat a crisp packet, delivering a poignant reminder of what plastic is doing to wildlife. The audience was asked to participate a number of times, joining in with a Mexican wave to power a lightbulb and making the sound of rain which the kids loved. There was also a very sweet song that included all the names of the children in the audience. Our favourite song though was Transformer - you'll be humming it all day it's that catchy! The actors are great singers so it was really enjoyable to watch as an adult too. One of the highlights of the show were the eco-puppets - a dog and a seagull which had somehow been made using old umbrellas and recycling! The theatre itself is a lovely small venue opposite the Discovery Museum so you could pop in there before or after the show for a very cheap day out. There's a small cafe/bar area with colouring-in sheets on all the tables to keep the kids occupied before the show. On the bus home my four year old and I had a chat about being "happy sad" and about recycling, and I hope the messages in the show will stay with her. It's a great show for little kids and adults alike and we definitely recommend it. Find out more and book here. Looking for things to do nearby? Check out the following options: Visit the Discovery Museum - it's free to visit with no booking required. They have a full programme of free / low cost events taking place across the summer too. Book Life Science Centre - we were really impressed with our last visit ( read our review here ) and this summer they are running a 3 visits for the price of 1 deal. Book a workshop / science performance at The Common Room - located next door to Central Station, there is a full programme of events planned across the summer from Science Shows to Printing Workshops. They're all FREE but you do need to book. The Toon Tour Bus departs from Central Station and will give you a guided tour of our city
