These theaters program for kids all year, not only at Christmas. Watch acrobats from seats wrapped around a real circus ring at the Price, kids' operas at the Retiro's own theater, touring puppet companies at Tarambana and resident musicals at Sanpol. On weekends, a different company plays the puppet stage in the Retiro park. Here's what we checked, from baby theater to an illusionist who calls kids on stage.
The city's permanent circus is built around a true round ring, 12.9 meters across, with about 1,700 seats circling it, so kids watch acrobats, aerial acts and clowns from close up. The program changes through the year: family circus, touring troupes, magicians and concerts, plus a big Christmas circus.
Between shows it runs kids' programs, from a clown-led tour of the building to shadow-theater workshops and Saturday circus classes.
The Teatro Real opera house's own stage for children and teens, inside the Daoíz y Velarde cultural center. The season mixes operas for kids, ballet, concerts, musical stories, silent films with live music and family music workshops.
Shows play in two halls, the main hall and the smaller Sala Pacífico, with Teatro Real artists and visiting companies.
A small neighborhood theater run since 2004 by its resident company, Tarambana Teatro. Next to adult plays and Friday concerts, its family program brings puppet and object theater, clown, shows for babies and the company's own comedies, often from touring companies around Spain.
Some shows offer live audio description, captions or sign language, marked on each show's page.
A family theater by the Manzanares near Príncipe Pío, home to Compañía La Bicicleta, which has staged children's musicals here since 1983: The Wizard of Oz, Little Red Riding Hood, A Christmas Carol. Visiting companies add concerts, puppets and shows for toddlers.
The 600-seat hall has stalls and a mezzanine, and every seat has a clear view of the 12-meter stage.
A small two-room theater with a bar in Lavapiés, a 10-minute walk from Sol, known for close-up shows where performers stand a couple of meters from the front row. On weekend and holiday mornings and afternoons it runs hour-long trick and illusion shows for ages 3 and up, where kids get called on stage.
Babies from 6 months to 4 years get 30-minute shows of music, dance and color.
The city's puppet theater sits inside El Retiro park: an outdoor stage with bleachers and floor space for kids up front. Each weekend a different company plays, from Madrid to Argentina, with marionettes, hand puppets and music. The Halloween weekend brings a variety show with a dancing skeleton and a skateboarding witch. Shows are short and in Spanish.
These theaters program for kids all year, not only at Christmas. Watch acrobats from seats wrapped around a real circus ring at the Price, kids' operas at the Retiro's own theater, touring puppet companies at Tarambana and resident musicals at Sanpol. On weekends, a different company plays the puppet stage in the Retiro park. Here's what we checked, from baby theater to an illusionist who calls kids on stage.
The city's permanent circus is built around a true round ring, 12.9 meters across, with about 1,700 seats circling it, so kids watch acrobats, aerial acts and clowns from close up. The program changes through the year: family circus, touring troupes, magicians and concerts, plus a big Christmas circus.
Between shows it runs kids' programs, from a clown-led tour of the building to shadow-theater workshops and Saturday circus classes.
The Teatro Real opera house's own stage for children and teens, inside the Daoíz y Velarde cultural center. The season mixes operas for kids, ballet, concerts, musical stories, silent films with live music and family music workshops.
Shows play in two halls, the main hall and the smaller Sala Pacífico, with Teatro Real artists and visiting companies.
A small neighborhood theater run since 2004 by its resident company, Tarambana Teatro. Next to adult plays and Friday concerts, its family program brings puppet and object theater, clown, shows for babies and the company's own comedies, often from touring companies around Spain.
Some shows offer live audio description, captions or sign language, marked on each show's page.
A family theater by the Manzanares near Príncipe Pío, home to Compañía La Bicicleta, which has staged children's musicals here since 1983: The Wizard of Oz, Little Red Riding Hood, A Christmas Carol. Visiting companies add concerts, puppets and shows for toddlers.
The 600-seat hall has stalls and a mezzanine, and every seat has a clear view of the 12-meter stage.
A small two-room theater with a bar in Lavapiés, a 10-minute walk from Sol, known for close-up shows where performers stand a couple of meters from the front row. On weekend and holiday mornings and afternoons it runs hour-long trick and illusion shows for ages 3 and up, where kids get called on stage.
Babies from 6 months to 4 years get 30-minute shows of music, dance and color.
The city's puppet theater sits inside El Retiro park: an outdoor stage with bleachers and floor space for kids up front. Each weekend a different company plays, from Madrid to Argentina, with marionettes, hand puppets and music. The Halloween weekend brings a variety show with a dancing skeleton and a skateboarding witch. Shows are short and in Spanish.