Both my kids birthday’s are so close together- like 3 weeks apart to be exact. Every year I always have a hard time trying to decide what to get them for their birthdays. They get so many toys from family and friends, so I always like to get them something different, and a bit more special. So this year, we decided to surprise them with tickets to see The Magician’s Nephew at the Shaw Festival in Niagara-on-the-Lake. We thought it would be a fun day trip that would make a memorable experience for them, and something that we could all enjoy together as a family to celebrate their birthdays.
We kept the whole thing a surprise until the day of. We got the kids up early, put them in the car, and told them we were taking them on a little road trip to somewhere fun for their birthdays. They were so excited, and loved the suspense!
Once we arrived at the Shaw Festival to pick up our tickets for the show, we told the kids everything we had planned for the day. They were so thrilled! My son LOVES plays, he has been to a few over the years for school trips, and always enjoys them.
Prior to the show we attended a fun hands-on workshop, and helped create The Magician’s Nephew. It was a 1 hr interactive workshop where the kids got to build a keepsake prop, create a soundscape, learn a song from the show, and discover what a Dream Detective is. They even got their own Dream Detective badge which they were super excited about!
The cost of the workshop was only $5 with the purchase of a show ticket. It was held at the Court House on Queen Street, which was walking distance to the theatre, so it was very convenient. I highly recommend attending this workshop, it was so much fun for the kids. For an extra $5, it’s totally worth it. Plus, by attending the workshop, and learning one of the songs in the show, the kids felt extra special singing the songs in the show – unlike the others in the audience.
You can even participate in a Backstage Tour as well for only $5 more with purchase of a show ticket. That’s something I am definitely interested in doing next time.
Once the workshop was over, we walked back to the Shaw Festival for some lunch at their Cafe. They had a selection of sandwiches, salads, soups, and desserts to choose from. It was nice to sit outside on their patio, relax, and enjoy a bite to eat before the show.
They also have a 15 minute intermission half way through the show, and the cafe was open for that as well if you wanted a snack, or something else to eat later on.
When we walked into the beautiful theatre and took our seats, I looked around and could see there wasn’t a bad seat in the house. The stage is wider than the rows of seats, so it looked like everyone had a great view of the performance.
The Magician’s Nephew was such a good play. It’s all about a young boy, and his friend, who sneak into his odd uncle’s study and discover these rings that can transport them into another world. So, when the Uncle catches them, he decides to test the rings out on the kids, instead of using guinea pigs. Along the way, they awake a sorcerer that is very powerful, who tries to destroy the earth. You’ll have to go see the play to find out how it ends, as I don’t want to give everything away!
A perfect show for families to enjoy. It was so creative, and the acting was amazing! We loved all the costumes, props, and how they interacted with the audience as well.
After the show, we stayed in Niagara-on-the-Lake, and took the kids out for dinner. It was such a gorgeous night! We got to eat outside on a patio, walked the streets, and did a little shopping afterwards.
I can’t wait to take the kids back to The Shaw Festival to see another show. They had so much fun, and it’s a great memory for all of us to remember.
I was even thinking next time, we could bring both sets of grandparents, so they could enjoy the show with the kids as well.
The Magician’s Nephew is playing until Oct 13. To book a show, or for more information on The Shaw Festival, visit their website here.
Disclaimer: Thanks so much to The Shaw Festival for Sponsoring this post. All thoughts, and opinions are my own. Photos of the play courtesy of Shaw.