Big Smiles on Little Faces at Hall for Cornwall

Cornwall Playhouse is ready and waiting to welcome you and the family to your next favourite show. With everything from dinos to drama, pop concerts to pantomime adventures, there’s something to bring out the biggest smiles from your little ones in the coming months.

Dinosaur World Live is bringing the dangers and delights to budding young explorers this summer holidays at this interactive show where you can discover a pre-historic world of dinosaurs. And afterwards, you can come along to a post-show meet and greet with your favourite, flesh-eating giants.

Start off back-to-school right with RSC First Encounters: King Lear, an 80-minute edited version of Shakespeare’s play from the Royal Shakespeare Company. First Encounters productions are made to be accessible and interactive, whilst keeping in tone with the key plot points and premise of the story. King Lear is a show to entertain pupils and teachers alike, bringing the magic of the Bard to the next generation.

Come October, mini adventurers can set sail with Pirates Love Underpants. Based on the book by Claire Freedman and Ben Cort, this swashbuckling, music-filled journey promises puppetry, laughter, and, of course, pants!

Bringing the ultimate pop concert to Cornwall this October is Flowers and Friendship Bracelets, featuring Taylor Swift’s Shake it Off, Miley Cyrus’ Flowers, Olivia Rodrigo’s Vampires, Sabrina Carpenter’s Espresso, and Chappell Roan’s HOT TO GO! And if you can’t get enough, the award-winning Taylor Swift tribute show Taylormania is returning to the Cornwall Playhouse in April 2026 after two sold-out shows in 2024.

Hall for Cornwall are warming up for the next Cornwall Playhouse Production, Aladdin, flying together with Cornwall Airport Newquay and in association with Falmouth University. Directed by Nick Evans (Billy Elliot, Rock of Ages, Jesus Christ Superstar) and written by Cornwall-based Richard Healey and Edward Rowe, Aladdin promises a fresh take on the classic tale, with a distinctly Cornish flavour. Settle in for a feast of family fun and get set to encounter a mysterious lamp, an enchanted carpet, and all manner of song-and-dance-filled fun in Cornwall’s must-see festive treat.

Next April, join CBeebies’ megastar Justin Fletcher (Something Special, Justin’s House, Gigglebiz, and Gigglequiz) in an all-singing, all-dancing extravaganza packed full of family-favourite sing-alongs.

From 28th April to 2nd May, the smash-hit and joyful drama, The Boy at the Back of the Class, is coming to Cornwall. Told from a child’s perspective, balancing heart and humour, this play highlights the power of good friends and courage in a world that doesn’t always make sense and reminds us that everyone needs a place to call home.

And don’t forget, HfC’s Get Creative team are on hand at Waterstones Truro with Toddler Time, starting back up this September from 10am on the first Tuesday of each month. Enjoy an hour of movement, story, dance, crafts and creative play based around a different story each month at this inclusive and accessible drop-in event.

See below for family listings.

SHOWS

Dinosaur World Live Tue 12 – Thu 14 Aug

Grab your compass and join our intrepid explorer across uncharted territories to discover a pre-historic world of astonishing (and remarkably life-like) dinosaurs, followed by a special meet and greet after the show that offers all our brave explorers the chance to make a new dinosaur friend.

RSC First Encounters: King Lear Mon 22 - Tue 23 Sep

A king announces that he will divide his kingdom between his three daughters according to how much they love him.

The RSC’s First Encounters Shakespeare production makes Shakespeare’s play about family, power, and betrayal relevant for a new generation of theatregoers, presenting Shakespeare’s work in a way that connects with young people through accessible storytelling, language, and narrative.

This 80-minute edited version of Shakespeare’s King Lear is a perfect introduction to his work and allows anyone – of any age – to have their first experience of Shakespeare’s work a memorable one.

Pirates Love Underpants Mon 06 – Tue 07 Oct
Join a swashbuckling party of pirates on their quest to find the fabled Pants of Gold for the Captain’s Treasure chest! Filled with music, puppetry, and glittering pants of gold… Cornwall, arrr you ready to set sail for a family adventure?

Flowers and Friendship Bracelets Tue 28 OctCome along to the Cornwall Playhouse for the ultimate pop concert and celebrate the biggest hits from the hottest artists of the moment featuring Taylor Swift’s Shake it Off, Miley Cyrus’ Flowers, Olivia Rodrigo’s Vampires, Sabrina Carpenter’s Espresso, and Chappell Roan’s HOT TO GO! Aladdin: Cornwall Playhouse Productions Fri 05 – Wed 31 Dec

A Cornwall Playhouse Production in association with Falmouth University.

Settle in for a feast of family fun and get set to encounter a mysterious lamp, an enchanted carpet, and all manner of song-and-dance-filled fun in Aladdin, Cornwall’s must-see festive treat!

Justin Live – Just in Time to ROCK Mon 13 Apr 2026See CBeebies’ megastar Justin Fletcher live on stage, in an all-singing, all-dancing extravaganza packed full of well-known songs, lots of dancing, hilarious comedy and plenty of rocktastic fun!

Taylormania – Taylor Swift Eras – The Ultimate Tribute Sun 19 Apr 2026This award-winning live show celebrates one of the biggest pop icons of our time. Fronted by self-confessed superfan Katy Ellis, with a full live band and dancers, it’s the closest thing you’ll get to the real Taylor Swift experience, from Shake It Off to Blank Space to Love Story. If you know every lyric, every outfit change, and every era, this is your night.

The Boy at the Back of the Class Tue 28 Apr – Sat 02 May 2026After learning that he has fled his own war-torn country, Ahmet’s classmates have ‘The Greatest Idea in the World’ – a magnificent plan to reunite Ahmet with his family. An unexpected and often hilarious adventure follows, all topped off with a terrific twist.