This season at Polka offers a varied and diverse programme of theatre and dance, as the theatre continues its mission to empower, inspire and ensure theatre is accessible for all children in its 45th year.
Shows include An Ant Called Amy (Thursday 6 - Sunday 9 February), Let’s Build (Saturday 10 May – Sunday 29 June), The Vanishing Forest, (Saturday 24 May – Sunday 1 June), I Want My Hat Back Trilogy (Wednesday 9 July - Sunday 10 August)
Festive productions include an adaptation of Philip Pullman’s award-winning book The Firework-Maker’s Daughter (Saturday 15 November 2025 - Sunday 18 January 2026) and an adaptation of Benji Davies’ much-loved book The Snowflake (Saturday 29 November 2025 - Sunday 25 January 2026)
Polka is a sustainably minded community hub and vital resource, open 6 days per week, 50 weeks per year at a challenging time, with step-free access, free-to-access play spaces and a cosy and welcoming café and shop.
This is a story about an ant called Amy (an award-winning ant one might add), her brother Andy and a Brown Spider.
Amy the ant works very hard. When she wins the Employee of the Month Award, Amy feels a happiness that drives her to work even harder. But is she truly content? With the help of the Brown Spider, Amy learns to find true happiness by appreciating the world around her and celebrating her brother’s memory in the everyday.
Please note this show very gently refers to sibling loss.Â
What can we build? Where will our imaginations take us?
Follow two very curious builders who are committed to getting the job done, the only problem is, they’ve never built anything before! Join them as they work together exploring textures, objects and materials and transform them into wonderful creations that come to life. A mermaid, a rocket, a mighty elephant… the possibilities are endless!
Come on an interactive building adventure, embracing the magic of discovering things for the first time, where mistakes are a door to something new.
A bear has lost his hat. What if he never sees it again? WAIT! He has seen his hat.
A fish has stolen a hat. And he’ll probably get away with it. Probably.
Two turtles have found a hat. The hat looks good on both of them. But there are two turtles. And there is only one hat.
Following their hit digital series on Little Angel Theatre’s YouTube channel, and a sold out run at their venue, Ian Nicholson and Sam Wilde are back, showcasing their trademark cardboard design across the UK on the first ever tour of I Want My Hat Back Triology!
Jon Klassen’s beloved books, ‘I Want My Hat Back’, ‘This is Not My Hat’ and ‘We Found A Hat’, have found a new life of their own live on stage. All your favourites including Bear, Little Fish and the Turtles will be making an appearance in this one-of-a-kind trilogy.
Lila dreams of becoming a Master Firework-Maker just like her father. However, to become one, she must go on an epic journey that will push her to her limits. Only then can she discover the closely guarded secret to becoming a true firework master.
But when her father’s life depends on her winning the firework competition and pulling off the best display the world has ever seen, can Lila’s skills save the day and light up the skies?
Join Lila on the quest of a lifetime as she faces friend and foe on her illuminating journey of self-discovery. Polka Theatre present a brand-new production directed by Lee Lyford, based on the much-loved, award-winning book by Philip Pullman.
This is a brand-new production and information on the show may change. This page will be updated once we have more details.
Do you remember what happened in the Forest of Arden? 
Puck does. It’s been a while since ‘A Midsummer Night's Dream’ and Athens is changing. The forest is being chopped down, and with each tree felled, more magic disappears from the land!
Join Puck, Cassie and Mylas in their quest to find Oberon and Titania, stop the felling and restore the wonder to the beautiful forest. 
Written as a continuation of ‘A Midsummer Night's Dream’, The Vanishing Forest uses spells, puppetry and mystical flowers to educate children on the issue of deforestation and inspire them, through a brand-new Shakespeare infused opera.
Written by Jonathan Ainscough, composed by Michael Betteridge and directed by Victoria Briggs, The Vanishing Forest is the third and final installment in English Touring Opera’s climate change trilogy, preceded by ‘The Wish Gatherer’ (Best Opera at YAMAwards 2024) and ‘The Great Stink’.
Wherever the wind takes us, we all find a place to land…
Based on the timeless Christmas story by Benji Davies, The Snowflake tells the tale of a snowflake, a little girl and her Pappie, who are all longing for their own special place in the world.
Unwrap the magic at Polka next festive season and find out how everyone can find their way to shine like a star!
Our beloved festive production offers the perfect introduction to theatre for younger audiences.
This is a brand-new production and information on the show may change. This page will be updated once we have more details.
Polka Theatre, An Ant Called Amy, Let’s Build, The Vanishing Forest, I Want My Hat Back Trilogy, The Firework-Maker’s Daughter, The Snowflake