Beauty and the Beast JR

Beauty and the Beast JR comes to The Playhouse at the Civic Theatre Newcastle on Thursday 25 November, brought to the stage by Newcastle's own What Theatre Company. It's the junior version of the Disney story we all know, the one about a cursed prince and a girl who looks past the beast to see the person underneath, and it's put together as a family-friendly musical, so it works as much for the kids as it does for the adults.

What Theatre Company are bringing the original Broadway production of the show, which means it's the same script and music that went through the professional run rather than a local rewrite. It's a full musical, so you'll get the songs and the dancing alongside the story, and it's staged in The Playhouse, the smaller, more intimate space within the Civic Theatre complex. If you've seen the larger main stage there, The Playhouse is a bit more enclosed, which usually suits a show like this where you're close to the action.

Because it's a junior production, it's built for a younger cast, and it's aimed at families, so it's an easy one to bring the whole house along to. It's a single performance on the night, not a long run, so if you're planning to go, you'll want to get your tickets sorted well before the date. You can find all the details and book through the Civic Theatre Newcastle website at civictheatrenewcastle.com.au/what-s-on/all-shows/beauty-the-beast-jnr. The show runs on Thursday 25 November at The Playhouse, part of the Civic Theatre Newcastle.