Book tickets to a stage show or concert and enjoy a memorable outing with your kids. This guide brings together the best kids shows and family-friendly theatre experiences happening across Newcastle, Lake Macquarie, the Central Coast and the Hunter region.
From live theatre and musical shows to interactive performances and family concerts, these local stage events are designed to entertain children of all ages. Whether you’re planning a special day out, a school holiday treat or a first theatre experience, you’ll find plenty of kid-approved options close to home.
Looking to make a weekend of it? We’ve also included a selection of family-friendly kids shows in Sydney, with major theatre productions and concerts playing throughout 2026 — perfect for a day trip or a short family getaway.
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Newcastle, Lake Macquarie & Hunter Valley
Young People’s Theatre Presents: The Sound of Music
One of the most beloved musicals of all time comes to Hamilton’s Young People’s Theatre this July and August, performed by a cast of local young performers alongside the Lindsay Street Players. With multiple weekend sessions to choose from, it’s a great school holidays or winter outing for the whole family.
Date: Friday 17 July – Saturday 15 August 2026
Location: Young People’s Theatre, Hamilton
Age Group: All ages
Cost: Tickets from $28
Website
Scrambled
Presented by Catholic Schools – Diocese of Maitland-Newcastle. After a fall, Beth has lost her memory. She remembers pieces of things: the date she broke her arm, the books her mum read to her when she was little, and the kid at school who never had a hat. However, bigger things — like who she is, what she’s like, and even who her older sister is — are missing. Featuring a host of contemporary hits, this trip down memory lane for Gen Z and Gen Alpha asks, ‘Do you like the person you’re becoming?’ and ‘If you had the chance to change, would you?’
Date: Wednesday 29 July – Saturday 1 August 2026
Location: Civic Theatre
Age Group: All ages
Cost: Standard tickets $45
Website
Come From Away
Come From Away tells the true story of when 7,000 people from across America and around the world landed on the doorstep of Gander, Newfoundland… and the people of Gander… “put the kettle on”. While the world witnessed the worst acts of humankind, the stranded passengers had their faith in humanity restored by the spirited people who comforted those who had come from away.
Date: Friday 7 – Saturday 15 August 2026
Location: Civic Theatre
Age Group: All ages
Cost: Tickets from $79 (Adult), $69 (Child Under 17)
Website
CLUE
Presented by Hunter Drama. On a dark and stormy night, six unique guests, plus a butler and a maid, assemble for a dinner party at the home of Mr. Boddy. When their host turns up dead, it is clear that no one is safe! Soon the guests are racing to find the killer and keep the body count from stacking up. Based on the popular board game and adapted from the cult classic film, Clue is the comedy whodunit that will keep you guessing (and laughing) to the very end.
Date: Thursday 20 – Sunday 23 August 2026
Location: Civic Theatre Playhouse
Age Group: Recommended for ages 10+
Cost: Opening Night Standard $55, Standard $59, Concession $49
Website
Emma Memma’s Jungle Picnic
Emma Memma brings her Jungle Picnic album to life on stage at the Civic Theatre, with dancing, singalongs and sign language woven throughout — a great pick for toddlers and preschoolers. Every session includes an Auslan interpreter, and babes in arms under 12 months are welcome.
Date: Sunday 30 August 2026
Location: Civic Theatre, Newcastle
Age Group: All ages (babes in arms welcome under 12 months)
Cost: $42.50 per ticket (fees may apply)
Website
The Bugalugs Bum Thief
Hold onto your bums – The Bugalugs Bum Thief steals into the Civic Theatre this August. Civic Theatre Newcastle and Red Line Productions are delighted to present The Bugalugs Bum Thief, a musical adaptation of Tim Winton’s award-winning children’s book of the same name. This literacy-based play with music, vividly brings to life the colourful characters and quirky adventures from Winton’s beloved book.
Date: Tuesday 25 August 2026
Time: 10am & 12:30pm
Location: Civic Theatre Newcastle
Age Group: Ideal for kids 4 – 10
Cost: From $30 per person.
Website
The Bugalugs Bum Thief
The Bugalugs Bum Thief takes audiences on a whimsical journey through the imaginative world created by Australian author and National Treasure, Tim Winton.
Date: Thursday 3 September 2026
Location: PACC Cessnock
Age Group: All ages
Cost: All tickets $20
Website
Bluey’s Big Play The Stage Show
The return of the hit stage show. This is Bluey’s Big Play, For Real Life. Join the Heelers in their first live theatre show made just for you, featuring brilliantly created puppets, this is Bluey as you’ve never seen it before, brought to real life.
Date: Saturday 19 & Sunday 20 September 2026
Location: Civic Theatre
Age Group: All ages
Cost: Tickets from $54.90
Website
Disney’s FROZEN – The Broadway Musical
The phenomenon that melted hearts around the world is coming to the Civic Theatre! Disney’s Frozen the Broadway Musical brings the beloved animated classic to life on stage in a dazzling theatrical experience that will captivate audiences of all ages.
Date: Saturday 10 – Sunday 18 October 2026
Location: Civic Theatre
Age Group: All ages
Cost: Tickets from $69 (C Reserve)
Website
Radium Girls
Presented by Hunter Drama. In the 1920s, hundreds of young women found work in factories painting luminous watch dials — a symbol of progress, elegance, and American ingenuity. But when their bodies began to fall apart, they were met with silence, denial, and a powerful company determined to protect its reputation. Based on true events, Radium Girls is a searing and heartbreaking play about courage in the face of corporate greed.
Date: Thursday 5 – Saturday 7 November 2026
Location: Civic Theatre Playhouse
Age Group: Recommended for ages 10+
Cost: Opening Night Standard $55, Standard $59, Concession $49
Website
The Wiggles Sparkle! BIG SHOW 2026
The Wiggles are bringing their all-new Sparkle! BIG SHOW to Newcastle Entertainment Centre, with three sessions across the day so you can pick the time that suits nap schedules and little ones’ energy levels. Expect big singalongs, favourite characters like Dorothy the Dinosaur and Wags the Dog, and plenty of chances for kids to get up and dance.
Date: Saturday 7 November 2026
Location: Newcastle Entertainment Centre, Broadmeadow
Age Group: Toddlers to primary school age (littlest ones under 12 months free on a lap)
Cost: Tickets from $28
Website
Peter and the Wolf and other tales
Join brave Peter and meet the instruments in the orchestra in this enchanting musical journey! This fun and magical musical adventure is headlined by Peter and the Wolf by Sergei Prokofiev. Follow brave little Peter as he outsmarts the wolf and saves the day! A program of musical story telling for the whole family. A magical introduction to the symphony orchestra and a joyful journey through beloved favourites. The perfect way for kids to discover the magic of music and meet the instruments of the orchestra.
Date: Sunday 22 November 2026
Location: Warners Bay Theatre
Age Group: All ages
Cost: GA $50 plus booking fee, Child (12 and under) $35 plus booking fee
Website
Pevan & Sarah in Concert
If your kids know every word to a Pevan & Sarah song (and chances are they do), this live show at the Civic Theatre is worth putting in the diary. It’s an interactive 50-minute concert with all their favourite songs, and kids under 2 get in free on the knee.
Date: Tuesday 1 December 2026
Location: Civic Theatre, Newcastle
Age Group: Kids (under 17)
Cost: Ticketed – check website for prices
Website
Sydney & Central Coast
The Lion King
Giraffes strut. Birds swoop. Gazelles leap. The entire Serengeti comes to life as never before. And as the music soars, Pride Rock slowly emerges from the mist. This is Disney’s THE LION KING, making its triumphant return to Sydney!
Date(s): From April 2026
Location: Capitol Theatre, Sydney
Age Group: All ages
Cost: TBA
Website
Antarctica!
A whimsical, icy adventure performed in the Opera House’s intimate Utzon Room, following adventurers across a frosty, imaginative landscape. A cosy winter school holiday outing for younger kids.
Date: Saturday 25 July – Sunday 2 August 2026
Location: Utzon Room, Sydney Opera House
Age Group: Suitable for 4+
Cost: Standard tickets $39
Website
Andy Griffiths Live: You & Me and the Gigantic Knucklehead
Andy Griffiths and illustrator Bill Hope bring drawing, storytelling and plenty of giant-sized silliness to the stage in this interactive live show. Great for early primary kids who love a laugh.
Date: Saturday 1 August 2026
Location: York Theatre, Seymour Centre, Chippendale
Age Group: All ages
Cost: $18 (plus booking fee)
Website
The Bugalugs Bum Thief
Based on Tim Winton’s book, this cheeky musical play follows the town of Bugalugs as they try to solve the mystery of their missing bums. Expect plenty of giggles, original songs and a great first “big kid” theatre outing.
Date: Tuesday 11 & Wednesday 12 August 2026
Location: The Art House, Wyong
Age Group: Recommended for ages 4 – 10
Cost: From $20 (Family tickets available)
Website
Emma Memma’s Jungle Picnic Tour
Bring the picnic basket and get ready to dance. Emma Memma and her Memma mates bring catchy songs, movement and Auslan sign language to this joyful live show, perfect for little ones.
Date: Saturday 15 August 2026
Location: Coliseum Theatre, Rooty Hill (Western Sydney)
Age Group: Recommended for all ages
Cost: All tickets $42.50
Website
Room on the Broom
Adapted from the award winning picture book by Julia Donaldson & Axel Scheffler. Following sell-out seasons across Australia, the team behind The Gruffalo and The Gruffalo’s Child return with songs, laughs and scary fun.
Date(s): Thursday 20 – Saturday 22 August 2026
Location: Riverside Theatre, Parramatta
Age Group: 3+
Cost: From $32
Website
Ballet of Lights: Sleeping Beauty
Classical dance meets glow-in-the-dark costumes in this sparkling, family-friendly retelling of Sleeping Beauty and Cinderella. A lovely introduction to ballet for kids who love a bit of shimmer.
Date: Runs until 21 August 2026
Location: York Theatre, Seymour Centre, Chippendale
Age Group: Recommended for ages 5+
Cost: $45 – $79
Website
ARCO
ARCO is Adam Kelly’s award-wining show about living with autism, or, in Fin bar the fish’s case, living in water. The show takes a heartfelt look at the life and struggles of a young man trying to make connections with the people and world around him. Along the way Adam asks gently of his audience to consider life from his perspective. Please note: Available for Education Bookings only.
Date(s): Tuesday 25 & Wednesday 26 August 2026
Location: PHIVE, 5 Parramatta Square, Parramatta
Age Group: 8 – 12 years
Cost: From $28
Website
The Bugalugs Bum Thief
The Bugalugs Bum Thief takes audiences on a whimsical journey through the imaginative world created by Australian author and National Treasure, Tim Winton. This literacy-based play with music, vividly brings to life the colourful characters and quirky adventures from Winton’s beloved book.
Date(s): Tuesday 8 & Wednesday 9 September 2026
Location: The Seymour Centre, Chippendale
Age Group: Recommended for ages 4 – 10
Cost: From $34
Website
Carnival of the Animals
Sydney Symphony Orchestra brings Saint-Saëns’ playful musical menagerie to life, with elephants, kangaroos and more climbing all over the score. A fun and gentle introduction to orchestral music.
Date: Saturday 12 September 2026
Location: Concert Hall, Sydney Opera House
Age Group: Young children and families
Cost: $47 + booking fee
Website
Bluey’s Big Play The Stage Show
This is Bluey’s Big Play, For Real Life. Join the Heelers in their first live theatre show made just for you, featuring brilliantly created puppets, this is Bluey as you’ve never seen it before, brought to real life.
Date(s): Wednesday 23 September 2026
Location: The Art House, Wyong
Age Group: All ages
Cost: $59.90 (24 months+), Family of 4 (2A, 2C or 1A, 3C) $219.60
Website
Date: Saturday 26 September 2026
Location: Riverside Theatres, Parramatta
Age Group: All ages
Cost: $59.90
Website
Where is the Green Sheep?
Presented by Monkey Baa Theatre Company. Blending puppetry and animation, this beautiful production invites young audiences to join three farmers on their quest to find the elusive green sheep. Co-created with students from Bankstown West Public School, this production integrates their voices as narrators, ensuring the work resonates deeply with young audiences.
Date(s): Tuesday 6 – Friday 16 October 2026
Location: Riverside Theatre, Parramatta
Age Group: Recommended for ages 1 – 6
Cost: From $32
Website
Cirque du Soleil: KOOZA
A spectacular circus production combining jaw-dropping acrobatics, comedy and vibrant costumes. While not traditional theatre, KOOZA is a huge hit with families and older kids who love big performances.
Date(s): Saturday 17 October – Sunday 22 November 2026
Location: The Big Top, Entertainment Quarter, Moore Park
Age Group: All ages
Cost: From $79
Website
Where is the Green Sheep?
Presented by Monkey Baa Theatre Company. Blending puppetry and animation, this beautiful production invites young audiences to join three farmers on their quest to find the elusive green sheep. Co-created with students from Bankstown West Public School, this production integrates their voices as narrators, ensuring the work resonates deeply with young audiences.
Date(s): Thursday 29 & Friday 30 October 2026
Location: The Seymour Centre, Chippendale
Age Group: Recommended for ages 1 – 6
Cost: From $34
Website
Ready, Set Listen! The Planets
Sydney Symphony Orchestra takes young audiences on a musical journey through the solar system, pairing Holst’s famous score with playful storytelling.
Date: Saturday 31 October 2026
Location: Studio, Sydney Opera House
Age Group: Designed for chilren aged 0-5 years
Cost: $25 + booking fee
Website
What the Ocean Said
An immersive, visual storytelling show exploring the sea and its secrets, staged in the Opera House’s Centre for Creativity. A gentle, imaginative pick for younger kids.
Date: Saturday 31 October & Sunday 1 November 2026
Location: Centre for Creativity, Sydney Opera House
Age Group: Suitable for 4+
Cost: $28 + booking fee
Website
Young Refugee
An unforgettable performance of Treehouse Theatre’s Young Refugee. Experience the powerful narratives of child refugees, now teenagers, as they bravely share their real-life journeys of escaping war and persecution to start anew in Australia. Young Refugee invites audiences to engage and connect with the refugee experience, fostering empathy and understanding.
Date(s): Thursday 12 – Saturday 14 November 2026
Location: The Seymour Centre, Chippendale
Age Group: Recommended for ages 12+
Cost: Adult $30, Concession $25
Website
The Sydney Symphony Performs Forces of Nature
A family concert exploring the power of nature through orchestral music, presented as part of the Coliseum’s family entertainment program.
Date: Saturday 28 November 2026
Location: Coliseum Theatre, Rooty Hill (Western Sydney)
Age Group: All ages
Cost: Tickets from $47
Website
The Nutcracker on Ice
A festive, ice-skating retelling of the Christmas classic, combining figure skating with the Tchaikovsky score. A lovely way to kick off the holiday season with the kids.
Date: Thursday 10 December 2026
Location: Coliseum Theatre, Rooty Hill (Western Sydney)
Age Group: All ages
Cost: TBC — check website (waitlist currently open)
Website
The Very Cranky Bear
A stage adaptation of the much-loved picture book, following four animal friends trying to cheer up a very cranky bear. A cosy summer holiday show for preschool and early primary kids.
Date: Tuesday 15 – Wednesday 23 December 2026
Location: Playhouse, Sydney Opera House
Age Group: Young children and families
Cost: Tickets from $28 + booking fee
Website