Top 4: Family shows at Waterside Arts ft. King Arthur & Body of Light

Waterside Arts Centre has plenty of family entertainment to keep young minds inspired. We’ve picked four highlights from their new season, including the drama of ancient Greece, the heroism of King Arthur, an eye-catching light show and a day of free family fun. From table-top puppetry to energetic dance sessions, there’s something for every age at the Waterside.

Cbeebies star show: There & Back Again – An Odyssey ft Patrick Lynch
CBeebies star Patrick Lynch brings a one-man show that takes us back to the thrilling world of ancient Greece. Using table-top puppetry magnified in eye-popping splendour, There & Back Again (Sat 9 Sep, 2.30pm, £9, www.watersideartscentre.co.uk – pictured) revives famous battles, magical islands and the one-eyed giants that once ruled all. This one-hour performance is brought to life with the help of designer Marcello Chiarenza, and is best suited to children aged 6 to 11.

Free fun: Waterside’s Big Family Open Day
Watch the Waterside come alive with a grand Family Open Day (Sat 16 Sep, 11am–4pm, FREE, www.watersideartscentre.co.uk) just two weeks into term – a great way to beat the new class blues. There’ll be dance and drama taster sessions, circus skills, balloon modelling – and face painting to turn your little tykes into tigers. Expect fast-paced improvisation games for toddlers from ComedySportz too. The full line-up for the day will be announced soon, but expect oodles of free fun.

Theatre: Michael Morpurgo’s King Arthur
The award-winning Story Pocket Theatre presents an epic tale of heroism and betrayal – Michael Morpurgo’s adaptation of the King Arthur legend (Sat 21 Oct, 2pm, £12, www.watersideartscentre.co.uk). Watch as the young king, under Merlin’s charge, pulls the sword from the stone and gathers his Round Table knights to save the future of Camelot. Story Pocket is on a national tour of this fast-moving show of adventure, puppetry and storytelling – don’t miss out.

Immersive experience for young children: Body of Light
A visual treat for younger eyes, Body of Light (Sun 22 Oct, 11.30am, 1.30pm, 3.30pm, £9, www.watersideartscentre.co.uk) is a never-ending landscape where graphics warp and weft around the arcs of a live dancer. This is a clever mixture of physical movement courtesy of Darren Pritchard Dance, a home-gaming device and a simple use of pixels. The performance itself is 20 minutes, followed by 30-minutes of stay-and-play for families mesmerised by the pretty shapes.