Anyone who has ever been to a play or a children’s concert with their child and seen their bright eyes and open mouth will want to go back again and again. It is a wonderful experience for parents to see the child so amazed. And for the little ones it is an almost unbelievable experience that raises many questions during and afterwards.
The city’s go-getters know this, of course, which is why children’s performances are never dead quiet. Nobody expects that either. Questions, explanations and laughter are allowed, noses have to be cleaned, crying siblings have to be rocked in the carrier. All of that is part of it. That’s life with children, also in the theatre.
We have found some of the most beautiful pieces and events for you. Productions that are fun for the whole family and from which you float away with a feeling of comfort – simply because so much dedication and attention to detail was put into making sure that we had a nice morning or afternoon.
“The Dream Magic Tree” in the planetarium
At the very top, in the 360-degree dome of the planetarium hall, the story of the “magic dream tree” seems like a real journey into the crown of leaves. You are right in the middle of the action, discovering something to marvel at everywhere.
The two forest spirits Waldwuffel and Moosmutzel are lovingly animated and lead through the story. Sometimes the whole thing looks like a comic, sometimes like a kaleidoscope. There are no hectic images as you know them from classic cartoons, but moving visualizations that are understandable, especially for small children.
ZGP exterior viewё SPBNatalie Toczek
However: When the projection rotates and hovers in a circle around you, you should be free from giddiness. Children like to call out: The planetarium is moving! Not true of course; that’s just an exciting effect.
Songs as well as animations are all original from the year 1980, which is also a nice journey through time for parents who grew up with the “Dream Magic Tree” themselves. But don’t worry: Even if you don’t know or like the story, you will leave this beautiful performance completely enthusiastic.
Zeiss Planetarium, Prenzlauer Allee 80, 10405 Berlin (Prenzlauer Berg); five minutes’ walk from Prenzlauer Allee S-Bahn station (including Ringbahn, S8, Tram M2). The magic dream tree lasts about 50 minutes and is suitable for children aged four and over. Admission: 9.50 euros, reduced 7.50 euros.
“Peter Pan” at the Deutsche Oper
Standing ovations for the children’s ballet of the Deutsche Oper: The little ones (6 to 18 years) dance and play the classic “Peter Pan” so wonderfully that there is always applause and at the end a beaming audience that hardly wants to stop clapping.
Children dance – Peter PanMarcus Lieberenz
The story of the forever boy Peter Pan, who takes Wendy and her two brothers to Neverland, where they adventure together with Tinkerbell – all to the enchanting music of Edvard Grieg, Alexander Konstantinovich Glazunov and Herman Severin Løvenskiold. Around 50 children dance a ballet that touches the heart. You can see the hard work and the hours of rehearsal, even if everything seems light as a feather. How they dance, jump, soar!
The ensemble harmonizes with each other, the costumes are as imaginative as the piece itself. Great: Hook is played by a girl, there are small and big children, the composition is as diverse as Berlin itself.
For the children in the audience, it takes a little getting used to the fact that there is no speech, so it is advisable to explain the story to them in advance so that they can understand the plot. Although, you can also describe in a few words what is happening during the staging. An oversized book leads through the play, which also determines the stage design.
Deutsche Oper, Bismarckstrasse 35, 10627 Berlin (Charlottenburg); directly at the subway station Deutsche Oper (U2). The ballet is suitable for children from the age of four and lasts a good hour. Tickets cost 20 euros, concessions 10 euros.
“Peter and the Wolf” in the Felicio Children’s Theater
How good that the small puppet theater stage is so high. You also have the best view from the rear seats. Actually, every piece in the Felicio is worth a visit, but “Peter and the Wolf” is something very special. This is because the music is recorded by Prokofiev. A music fairy tale.
But of course the hand puppets also speak. Theater owner Karsten Ackermann lends them his voice, gives them humor and warmth. There’s a lot of laughter at Felicio, and there’s also shouting, because the puppets like to ask the children in the audience for advice. The play is told in an entertaining manner, has exciting moments, but without causing fear. It is the ideal introduction for all children who have never been to the theater because it is so much fun to watch.
Felicio Puppet Theater, Schivelbeiner Strasse 45, 10439 Berlin (Prenzlauer Berg); three minutes on foot from the Schönhauser Allee train station (including Ringbahn, S8, U2, Tram M1). The play is suitable for children from the age of four and lasts just under an hour. Admission is €8 for adults and €6 for children.
“Oh, how beautiful is Panama” in the Atze Music Theater
No silly costumes, a very simple set design and a handful of props, of which a tiger duck-style car is the secret star of the play – these are the ingredients for a beautiful production of a tiger and a bear who want to travel to Panama. To the country where it smells like bananas everywhere.
Oh how nice is PanamaJorg Metzner
The three-person play leaves plenty of room for the imagination, does not overload the children with impressions, so that they can concentrate well on the plot. There is music and singing, but also slapstick moments. “Oh, how beautiful is Panama” is shown on the small studio stage, where the facial expressions of the actress and her two colleagues can be observed at any time. For children, that’s not entirely unimportant. The facial expressions on stage are just too weird too!
Special effects are also included. For example, the tiger duck smokes heavily, then there is a thundering storm, and when the car drives through a tunnel, it goes dark in the hall for a moment and you only see the headlights.
Atze Musiktheater, Luxemburger Str. 20, 13353 Berlin (Wedding); two minutes walk from the underground station Amrumer Straße (U9). The play is suitable for children from the age of four and lasts one hour. Admission: Depending on the size of the group, you pay between 8 and 10 euros per person.
