Lawrence Batley Theatre

What it’s like

Proper theatre seats and a stage full of pantomime, puppets or dinosaurs, with tickets from £16 and under-2s free on a lap.

This is a sit-down, lights-down theatre rather than a soft play or a farm, and that's the appeal. Kids watch full family productions here, things like Dinosaur World Live, alongside pantomimes and the theatre's own community shows that let local children perform on the actual stage. There are workshops and classes too if your child wants to be up there rather than watching.

Tickets for a family show like Dinosaur World Live run around £16, and under-2s can sit on your lap for free without a ticket, though that doesn't stretch to the front rows of Tier 1 or Tier 2, worth knowing if you've booked those seats hoping to smuggle a baby in cheap. Concessions apply for under-16s and over-65s, and Kirklees Passport holders get tickets from £5, which is a decent saving if you qualify. Most shows have a 20-minute interval built in, useful for a toilet dash or an ice cream with a younger child who won't sit still for two hours straight.

Doors open 90 minutes before a show for box office queries, though you're not actually let into the theatre space itself until about 30 minutes before curtain, so there's a bit of a wait in the foyer either way. E-tickets come free to your phone, no printing needed, though getting them posted or collected in person costs a small fee. It's a 10-minute walk from Huddersfield's train and bus stations, and the Free Town Bus stops right outside on Queen Street, which beats hunting for parking near the town centre.

Step-free access and accessible toilets are in place throughout, and there are relaxed and captioned performances for families who need them. Birthday parties can be booked through the venue, with packages from £400 to £650 covering up to 100 people, though that's clearly built more for bigger celebrations than a quiet tea for six.

Facilities

Need to know

Best for

Good for babies upward on a lap, best from about 3 for sitting through a full show

Booking

E-tickets by email (free), physical collection at box office (£1 fee), or posted (£3 fee)

Parking

Kingsgate Shopping Centre car park nearby

Getting there by bus or train

10-minute walk from Huddersfield Train Station and Bus Station

Parties

Party packages from £400-£650 for up to 100 people

Worth knowing

Under-16s and over-65s concession tickets available on select shows

• Getting e-tickets posted costs £3, or £1 to collect them at the box office instead
• Under-2s go free on a lap but not in the front rows of Tier 1 or Tier 2
• Membership starts from £30 a year if you're going to be a regular
• There's an Under 30s discount scheme alongside the usual concessions

Plan your visit

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