I spy with my little eye...half term fun

12:58pm Thursday 23rd October 2008

Your lovely little children may well exhaust you in the half term holidays but at least you won’t have to think too hard about what to do with them or where to take them. JAMES MURPHY has very kindly done it all for you.

COMEDY

Murray Lachlan Young – Modern Cautionary Tales

Comedian and poet Murray Lachlan Young, who shot to fame in the 1990s, brings a mix of poetry, stand-up and storytelling, especially for children, to the Soho Theatre.

His half-term residency will keep the kids laughing, and will no doubt tickle the adult funny bone as well.

- 1pm, Monday October 27 - Saturday November 1. Soho Theatre, 21 Dean St, W1D 3NE.

Tickets are £10, or £30 family ticket for four. Telephone 020 7478 0100 or visit sohotheatre.com.

THEATRE

Hairspray

The 2007 film of the hit musical had teen heart-throb Zac Efron and John Travolta in a fat suit and dress, and struck a chord with old and young audiences.

The stage is where this spectacle really comes alive, with its colour, choreography and all important show tunes.

- All week, Shaftesbury Theatre, 210 Shaftesbury Avenue, WC2H 8DP. Prices start at £22.50, and can be booked through www.lastminute.com

Disney On Ice’s

Finding Nemo

No one would have ever thought that putting fish on ice could look so elegant, and captures all the magic of the Disney Pixar film, as well as adding a new dimension to it through the score and astounding choreography. All the lovable characters are back, including Nemo, Dory and a star turn by Crush the turtle.

- All week, The O2. Tickets £16.50 and £41, Tel: 0844 856 0202 or through ticketmaster.co.uk.

DAYS OUT

HALF TERM AT THE SCIENCE MUSEUM

As well as the usual array of curiously excellent exhibitions, the Science Museum is showcasing two special events. The Science of Survival is set in the year 2050, where the virtual tour guides explore how the world changes, and how we change with it. Choices will have to be made, but will you help heal the planet, or destroy it?

Then the Dan Dare exhibition follows the Eagle comic hero as he traces the reinvention of Britain from 1945 onwards.

- All week. Dan Dare is free, Science of Survival £6-£12, South Kensington. For more information call 0870 870 4868 or visit www.sciencemuseum.org.uk

National Portrait Gallery: Brilliant Women

Mums, just how brilliant are you? And do your children realise this? Why not educate them at the National Portrait Gallery, where the theme of Brilliant Women runs into children’s activities, where they are encouraged to create their own portraits inspired by the greatest women in their life.

They can also make journals inspired by the exhibition and create Victorian style silhouette portraits.

- All week. National Portrait Gallery, St Martins Place. Tickets are free but must be collected from the box office. For more information call 0871 971 4234 or visit www.npg.org.uk

Discover: Festivals Of Light

At the Discover Centre’s new exhibition, the focus is on winter festivals Diwali, Hanaukkah and Christmas. Children are encouraged to explore a world of light and dark through interactive activities, shadows, sounds and enchanting stories.

- All week. Discover, Stratford. Entry is £4 per adult/child. For more information call 020 8536 5555 or visit www.discover.org.uk

Half Term at Tate Modern

The Start Art Team invite children to the Tate to make strange art pieces of their own, inspired by the expressionist works in the gallery. They can try out an array of different materials, as well as play with jigsaws, board games and more.

- October 28-31, Tate Modern, Bankside. Entry is free. Visit www.tate.org.uk for more information.

V & A Museum of Childhood

The Museum of Childhood provides a superb half term day out with its usual mix of story telling sessions and workshops.

But this year activities are themed around the new Top to Toe fashion exhibition, where children can learn about the clothes they’re wearing and also they canhear all about the Emperor’s New Clothes, and make their own fashion accessories.

- All week. V& A Museum of Childhood, Bethnal Green. Tickets range from free to £5. For more information call 0871 971 4232 or visit www.vam.ac.uk/moc

Lee Valley Park

An array of activities feature at Lee Valley Park over half term. National Apple Day kicks off proceedings, with an orchard planting day at Waltham Abbey Gardens on Saturday.

Lee Valley Park farms host a Spooky Spectacular all week, offering visitors the chance to make their own scarecrows and masks, embark on a broomstick hunt, watch a pig and a lamb racing and take a tractor ride to see cows being milked.

- Orchard planting day is from 11am to 3pm on Saturday October 25, tickets are free.

Family Fun Conservation Day is from 10am to 3pm on Wednesday October 29, tickets are free.

Gunpowder, Treason and Plot Boat is on Thursday October 30. The boats leave from the Lady of Lee Valley Mooring in Broxbourne at 10am and 1pm. Tickets are £4.50 and must be booked in advance. Call the Information Service on 0845 677 0600. Information on all activities can be found at leevalleypark.org.uk

Ashlyns Organic Farm

Ashlyns hosts its annual pumpkin party, with the usual activities that include pumpkin carving, a hunt, tractor rides and a bouncy castle.

For the grown ups there’s a full farmer’s market and homemade snacks.

- 10am 4pm on Wednesday October 29, Ashlyns Farm Shop, Epping Road. Entry is free. For more information call 01992 525146 or visit www.ashlyns.co.uk