Kings Theatre
BEST FOR
Ages 8-16
ENTRY
from £10
SETTING
Indoors
WHERE
Southsea
What it’s like
Live musicals and pantomime in a proper old theatre, with the odd bit of admin around unaccompanied teens and card-only bars.
This is a night at the theatre rather than a soft play with a snack bar, and it shows in the prices: We Will Rock You starts at £10, while something like Christmas Carol Goes Wrong is £25 a seat. Babies on laps get in for £2.50 if you book that rate through the box office, which is a decent shout if you've got a toddler who'll sit still for panto but not much else.
The building itself is Grade II listed, which sounds charming until you realise it means level access only at Stalls level and stairs everywhere else, no lift. If you need a wheelchair space, there are four in the rear Stalls, and that's your lot. Pushchairs get stashed in the bars during the show, which at least saves you wrestling one up a staircase built before anyone thought about buggies.
Shows here suit kids from about 8 up to 16, and there's a genuinely odd little rule worth knowing: anyone 13 or under needs an adult with them, but 14 to 16 year-olds can come on their own as long as you tell the box office when booking and flag it again on arrival. Fine if you know it in advance, a faff if you turn up and get quizzed at the door.
Bars are card only, no cash, so don't bank on breaking a twenty for an interval drink. Parking is the real catch for a matinee: the nearest option is the Waitrose car park eight minutes' walk away, and it's capped at three hours, which is tight if the show and getting there and back eats into that. Tickets are non-refundable once booked, so a change of plan on the day costs you the ticket.
What’s on here
- THU8
Arrival: The Hits of ABBA
19:30 · from £23
- SAT10
One Night in Dublin
19:30 - 22:00 · from £26.50
- SAT17
We Will Rock You
from £10 · 7 more dates
- SUN25
Fun For Little Ones: A Tribute to Ms Rachel
12:30 · from £15.50
- MON26
Halloween Toddler Tour
10:00
- THU29
Luther UK: Celebrating the Music of Luther Vandross
19:30
- FRI30
Forbidden Nights
19:30
- SAT31
Opera Boys: Starring Paul Potts
19:30
- TUE24
Christmas Carol Goes Wrong
from £25 · 4 more dates
Ocean Film Festival World Tour
from £19
Facilities
Need to know
- Best for
- 8 to 16, with the odd exception for babes in arms on panto
- Booking
- Book online 24/7, by phone Mon-Fri 10am-5pm, or in person at box office 3pm on weekdays, 90+ minutes before performance at weekends
- Parking
- Waitrose car park (Outer ground level only) 8 mins walk, limited to 3 hours
- Pushchairs
- Can be stored in bars during performance
- Wheelchairs
- 4 wheelchair spaces in rear of Stalls, level access at Stalls entrance, no mobility scooters
- Dogs
- Assistance dogs only, pre-booking required
- Getting there by bus or train
- 20-minute walk from Fratton or Portsmouth & Southsea stations
- Bars are card or mobile only, no cash
- Lost your ticket? That's a £1.50 reprint fee
- Baby on lap tickets for under 2s are box office only, not bookable online
- Street parking nearby has permit restrictions from 4:30 to 6:30pm daily
Plan your visit
How much are tickets?
Depends entirely on the show. We Will Rock You is £10 a seat, Christmas Carol Goes Wrong is £25, and there's a student standby rate at £10 too.
Do we need to book ahead?
You don't have to, but for anything popular you'd be daft not to. Box office is open weekday afternoons and 90 minutes before weekend shows if you fancy turning up in person.
Can my 15 year-old come without an adult?
Yes, but ring the box office when you book and mention it again on arrival. Under 14s need someone 16 or over with them, no exceptions.
What if I need to cancel?
You lose the ticket. There's refund insurance you can add at checkout if you think plans might change.
Where do we park?
Waitrose on Marmion Road is the nearest option, an eight-minute walk, but you only get three hours before you're clocking up charges. Fine for an evening show, tighter for a matinee.
Is it wheelchair accessible?
Only at Stalls level, and there are four wheelchair spaces at the back of the Stalls. Everywhere else in the building is stairs, no lift, because it's a listed building nobody's been able to retrofit.
Can we bring a pushchair?
They'll store it in the bars for you while the show's on, so you're not folding it up in your lap.
Can we bring the dog?
Only assistance dogs, and you need to sort that with the box office when you book, not on the night.
Is there food and drink?
There's a café on site and bars during the show, but it's card or mobile payment only, so leave the cash at home.
How do we get there without a car?
It's a 20 minute walk from Fratton or Portsmouth & Southsea stations, or the number 18 bus drops you five minutes away at Outram Road.
Do they do group or school bookings?
Groups of 10 or more get a discount, and school groups get £15 tickets with one free ticket per ten booked. Ring the box office direct to sort it.
Are there accessible performances?
Some shows have BSL interpretation, and there's a free app for assisted listening through a hearing loop. Worth asking when you book which performances have it.
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