Welcome to the Etties 2025: the awards that care about the shows everyone else misses. We’ve worked with our reviewers to curate a list of gems that prove size isn’t everything. This isn’t a popularity contest; it’s a celebration of the art.
We believe we’ve been at the forefront of coverage for Theatre for Young Audiences over the past few years, and 2025 only reinforced that belief. We’ve now put together a dedicated team of reviewers who believe in the importance of TYA and love to spend their time watching and writing about it. In fact we reckon 2026 will be an even better year for our coverage of this highly important and underrepresented genre.
So, as well as a dedicated Etties Award for TYA shows, we thought we should also introduce an Ettie for TYA venues, those spaces made for the smaller members of the audience, venues that don’t mind having children run up and down their corridors or clap and cheer at the theatre crafted specifically for them. It might be a smaller field for venues but they are just as important as any of the fringe theatres we spend the rest of our time at.
You can read more about The Etties here. Winners will be announced during our first ever Instagram Live on 1 March, more details coming soon.
The Half Moon Theatre
A true pioneer in the East End, the Half Moon Theatre has spent 2025 reaffirming its status as a cornerstone of inclusive, high-quality theatre for young people. With its “creativity and community at its heart” ethos, it manages to feel like a neighborhood secret and a national powerhouse all at once.
Our visits this year have highlighted the venue’s extraordinary ability to cater to every developmental stage. We were moved by the “authentic and joyful” cultural storytelling of Grandad Anansi and the “whimsical revelation” of the beautifully crafted Little Gift. The theatre also showcased its knack for inventive physical performance with the delightful Shed-ache – featuring a dancing shed on wheels – and the sensory-rich, gentle wonder of evim [my home].
The venue further proved its commitment to bold, urgent storytelling for older teenagers with the “high-octane and poetic” The Chaos That Has Been and Will No Doubt Return, a raw exploration of youth and violence. With its welcoming atmosphere, affordable £9 ticket price, and a programming slate that never talks down to its audience, Half Moon remains a vital creative home that respects the complex emotional worlds of children and young adults alike, and is always open to conversation about how best to support it.
Little Angel Theatre
The undisputed home of puppetry in London, the Little Angel Theatre has had an incredible 2025. Whether in its iconic Dagmar Passage home or the nearby Studios, the venue continues to prove that puppetry is a sophisticated medium capable of capturing the hearts of both “toe-tapping tinies” and seasoned theatre-goers alike.
Our reviews this year have celebrated the venue’s gift for “pure, delightful puppet magic.” We were charmed by the “glorious celebration of playfulness” in We’re Going on a Bear Hunt and the “delightfully feel-good” footwear-based adventure of Shoe Baby. The theatre also showcased its range with the “delightful page-to-stage adaptation” of WOW! Said the Owl, the “snowy adventure” of Me…, and the “touching story” of a poetic bird in The Pigeon and the Peacock. We’ve also been there to see them support the vulnerable craft of marionette making, making active change.
Little Angel Theatre consistently fuels the imagination. It remains an inviting North London icon where craftsmanship and storytelling meet to create something truly “practically perfect.”
Polka Theatre
A world-class hub for children’s creativity, the Polka Theatre in Wimbledon has had a standout 2025. Following its major redevelopment, the venue has truly hit its stride, offering a vibrant, welcoming space where “child-centred thinking” is at the heart of everything, from the top-tier productions on stage to the creative play areas in the foyer.
Our reviews this year have highlighted the Polka’s impressive range and its willingness to champion diverse, innovative storytelling. We were enchanted by the “bewitching and beautifully crafted” eco-opera The Vanishing Forest and moved by the “tender and quietly nostalgic” festive treat Snowflake. The theatre also provided “joyful and heart-warming” experiences for the very young with the immersive Whipped Up! and the “beautifully gentle” garden adventure Baby Bird & Bee.
From the “naughtily subversive” and visually captivating I Want My Hat Back Trilogy to the “upbeat and energetic” Sisters 360, the Polka Theatre consistently and respectfully puts its audience at the centre of its programming. It is a space that doesn’t just entertain; it empowers, making it an essential pillar of the UK’s Theatre for Young Audiences landscape.
The Unicorn Theatre
With its sleek stages near London Bridge, this venue produces work that is as ambitious and high-spec as any West End production, while remaining fiercely dedicated to its young viewers.
Our 2025 reviews celebrated a year of “utter joy” and “dazzling” variety. We were transfixed by the “gloriously sensory and playful” Scrunch, which brought “heartwarming magic” to the very young through a beautiful exploration of festive textures and sounds. The theatre also showcased its gift for high-energy, “razzle-dazzle” musical theatre with the West-End-quality delivery of Three Little Pigs, a production full of “joyfully energetic performances”.
The venue further leaned into “clowning, physical comedy, and gently anarchic storytelling” with the mischievous festive treat How Does Santa Go Down the Chimney?, and provided a “nicely polished” and “culturally vibrant” revival of the beloved Anansi the Spider. In every production, the Unicorn Theatre treats its audience with the utmost respect, proving that children’s theatre can be both intellectually stimulating and purely magical.
