By Lauren Dowey
Have you got a budding star of the stage on your hands? Then don’t miss the Royal Albert Hall’s new Storytelling & Music Sessions.
Hosted by seasoned storytellers, these 35-minute sessions are designed to inspire your little one using music, song and stories.
The Royal Albert Hall was one of my favourite places to visit when I was footloose and baby-free so I was excited to rock up to the world-famous concert hall with bub in tow. My enthusiasm was only slightly dampened when I realised the session was held in a side annex rather the hall itself – still a pretty awe-inspiring spot.
After settling in with around 20 other under-4s and their carers, our host Sam got the fun under way with a couple of energetic songs before the story began. Each session varies but the children on my visit were enraptured by the question of whether the little caterpillar would conquer his nerves and sing on the Royal Albert Hall stage.
Spoiler: he gets there eventually, but not before taking the children on a journey through a musical wonderland. They played with all sorts of instruments from tambourines and bells to maracas and drums. Sam even impressed us all with a turn on the accordion. Add in some puppets, a dance or two and lots of laughs, and you’ve got a recipe for a fun-filled day out.
As the sunlight burst through the high stained glass windows of the beautiful Victorian porch, it felt like a very special place to be.
With sessions at 10am, 11am or midday, you can time your visit to fit in with your baby’s routine. And though it’s only 35-minutes long, it soon tired my bub out. She snoozed all the way through my well-deserved coffee in South Kensington afterwards. Win, win!
Storytelling sessions at the Royal Albert Hall are running on Tuesdays and Wednesdays until 25 April and cost £5 per child.
Click here for more information
