The Wardrobe Theatre
BEST FOR
Ages 3-8
ENTRY
from £12
WHERE
Bristol
What it’s like
Storytelling shows for young kids, from clowning cyclists to dinosaurs made of ice cream, in a proper theatre near Temple Meads.
This is small-scale theatre built for little imaginations rather than big spectacle. The family shows lean into daft, visual storytelling: a cycle-themed clown show, a time-travelling romp with ice-cream dinosaurs and talking pyramids, and a deep sea adventure with ocean creatures. None of it needs your child to sit still and follow a complicated plot, which is exactly right for the 3 to 8 age bracket the shows are pitched at.
£12 a ticket for the family shows feels fair for a proper live performance, and anyone 2 and under gets in free, so you're not paying full whack for a babe in arms who might sleep through half of it anyway. Performances run at various times between 10:45am and 7:30pm, which gives you some flexibility around naps and school runs, but you do need to book ahead rather than turn up on spec.
The building itself does double duty as a food stop. There's a restaurant, café, bar and pub on site through the building's partner. It's a five minute walk from Cabot Circus or NCP Bristol Broadmead if you're driving, and just outside the Clean Air Zone, or a ten minute walk from Temple Meads if you're coming by train.
Access is properly thought through: two wheelchair spaces on the back row nearest the entrance, a level access toilet, and step-free access throughout. There are also dedicated Parents & Babies performances for under-18-month-olds, with reduced capacity, lower lighting and quieter sound, where you're free to feed or wander about without worrying about disturbing anyone. Worth knowing those are adult shows though, not the family programme.
Facilities
Need to know
- Best for
- 3 to 8, with dedicated sessions for under-18-month-olds too
- Parking
- Cabot Circus Centre (BS2 9AB) or NCP Bristol Broadmead (BS1 3AF) both 5 minutes walk away
- Food
- Restaurant, café, bar and pub via building partner The Old Market Assembly
- Wheelchairs
- Two wheelchair spaces on back row nearest entrance
- Getting there by bus or train
- Bristol Temple Meads train station 10 minutes walk north
- Worth knowing
- Ages 2 and under go free to family shows
- Family shows are for ages 3 to 8, so check the listing suits younger siblings before booking
- Companion ticket discount needs an email to the theatre before you book, not after
- Restaurant, café, bar and pub all on site if you want to turn a show into lunch
- Performance times vary through the day, from 10:45am to 7:30pm
Plan your visit
How much are tickets?
£12 for the family shows aimed at ages 3 to 8. Adult shows are £14 and comedy shows are £18.
Do we need to book in advance?
Booking is required, you can't just turn up on the day.
What age are the family shows for?
Roughly 3 to 8 years old. Under-2s go in free.
Is there anything for a baby under 18 months?
There are separate Parents & Babies performances with reduced capacity, lower lighting and quieter sound, though these are adult shows rather than the family programme, and babies go free.
Is there parking nearby?
Cabot Circus Centre or NCP Bristol Broadmead are both about five minutes' walk, and the theatre sits just outside Bristol's Clean Air Zone.
What if we're coming by train or bus?
Temple Meads is a ten minute walk north, and several First Bus routes stop nearby at Old Market Street or West Street.
Is the theatre accessible?
Yes, there's step-free access throughout, two wheelchair spaces on the back row, and a level access toilet. Free companion tickets are available if you email ahead to get your account tagged before booking.
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