Family Festival – Norwich Theatre

Get ready to dive into creative family fun from 23 – 25 July with Family Festival! Stuffed with free and low-cost activities suitable for all generations, it will be a day the whole family remembers. Here’s a full guide to the activities so you can plan your visit.

Norwich Theatre Royal and Stage Two opens their doors at 10am on Tuesday 23 July. You can head straight into drop-in sessions or take a breather in the bar area, with plenty of seating and space for curious little ones! You can bring your own packed lunches, and drinks will be available to purchase at the café from 8.30am – 4pm.

Throughout the festival, you can pop along to the Sensory Story Space Drop-In (23 – 25 Jul) at the Long Bar, which has books and a sensory toolkit to help unwind. Free crafting activities and Bluey-inspired games will also be available, including a dressing-up area, colouring stations and a puppet stand!

Tuesday 23 July

Free and drop-in

Get into the rhythm of the Family Festival with the Drumming Circle Drop-In at Norwich Theatre Royal from 10am – 4pm. Get groovy with all generations of the family with Sin Cru – Street Dance Pop-Up Performances outside The Forum at 10.30 – 11.30am and in Norwich Theatre Carpark at 12noon – 1pm. You are also welcome to join Pete’s Family Jam Drop-in throughout the week on Tuesday 23, and Wednesday 24 July for more groovy fun in the carpark!

Spread kindness and craft something for a loved one with Kindness Installation Family Festival Drop-In in the Long Bar from 11am – 1pm. Use clay and your imagination to design something special to be displayed for an installation at Stage Two! You can even join in the fun at home with Crafting Kindness at Home Digital Resource.

 Bookable activities 

Parents and pre-schoolers can explore music in Parents Singing Circle in the Long Bar from 10.30am – 12noon.

Get creative with words in the Family Poetry Workshop in Stage Two from 11.30am – 12.30pm. Take a break for lunch, then get groovy with Street Dance Workshop (11-16) in Stage Two’s Studio 2 at 1.30 – 2.30pm.

Meanwhile, let the little one’s curiosity run wild with Imagination Walk (Ages 2-5) in the Meeting Room at 2 – 3pm.

Wednesday 24 July

Free and drop-in

Continue to get creative throughout the day with Painting with Pride with the Norwich Dandies in the Norwich Theatre Car Park at 10am – 4pm. Or build your own magical character with the Puppet Making Drop-In sessions running from 10am – 4pm.

Bookable activities

Budding actors can join the Drama Workshop in Studio 1 at Stage Two at 2.30 – 3.30pm. Be sure to sign up for Sensory Stories or SEND (7-11) between 1.30 – 2.30pm and 2.45 – 3.45pm in the Meeting Room.

Thursday 25 July

Free and drop-in

Sculp plants with the Creative Gardeners at The Paper Allotment Drop-In session at Prelude between 9.30am – 3.30pm. Or have fun at Family Singing at 11am – 12pm in Studio 1 at Stage Two!

Bookable activities

Tired parents can end the week with Creating Kindness with Norfolk and Waveney Mind: Nurturing Parents at 4 – 5.30pm in Studio 2, Stage Two.

Catch a show

Make the week even more memorable with a trip to see Bluey’s Big Play at Norwich Theatre Royal from 23 – 25 July, with shows at 10am, 1pm and 4pm.

(Sensory Story Space Drop-In)