Imagine sitting in the front-row at a West End theatre, watching a live performance of a show for adults, while your baby nestles comfortably in your arms.
Maybe your baby starts to fuss but nobody hushes you – you can even change nappies without anybody blinking an eye!
This is the vision behind Soho Screamers, a brand new season of baby-friendly performances that debuts at Soho Theatre this week.
The daytime shows, aimed at parents with children under one year old, are modelled after popular parent and baby cinema screenings across London.
Just like at baby cinema, the lights are kept brighter so you can feed your child if needed and there’s room to park your buggy or walk around if your baby needs quieting. Soho Screamers is also providing extra changing stations and bottle-warming facilities, as well as a special meal deal in the Soho Theatre bar for ticket holders.
There are other theatres around town, like Polka Theatre in Wimbledon and Little Angel Theatre in Angel that offer baby-friendly performances. But most of their shows are geared towards families anyway; Soho Screamers is the first I’ve heard of that caters to new mums and dads who want more grown-up content.
I think it’s a brilliant concept and hopefully it will spark a trend. Thanks to Stephanie Moore of Mother’s Play for working with Soho Theatre to make this happen.
What’s On at Soho Screamers
Soho Screamers opens with Bridget Christie’s Foster Award-winning show A Bic for Her (Wed 20 Nov); Soho Theatre’s dark and delicious Christmas musical from Anthony Neilson, Tom Mills and Soho Artistic Director Steve Marmion, The Night Before Christmas (Wed 11 Dec); Soho Theatre’s Associate Company Late Night Gimp Fight (Tue 18 Dec); and seeing in the New Year is Luisa Omeilan’s mega-hit show What Would Beyoncé Do?! (Wed 8 Jan). All performances begin at 11am. Ticket range £10-£25/babies FREE.
NB: The first performance of Soho Screamers on Nov 20 is SOLD OUT, so book early for upcoming shows to avoid disappointment!
Soho Theatre is at 21 Dean St, W1D 3NE (Tottenham Court Rd tube). Tel: 020 7478 0100. Visit www.sohotheatre.com/news/soho-screamers
Check out our Parent & Baby Cinema page for details of where to watch a film near you with your infant!