Kidz R Us

The heart of theatre in St Ives

Kidz R Us began in December 1993 as a one-off concert for Save the Children, organised by Phil Barnett and Margaret Banfield of the St Ives Operatic Society. The response was so overwhelming that the pair formalised the group, and its first full production - Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat - opened in 1994. More than 30 years on, Kidz R Us has staged over 100 shows, working with upwards of 100 young people every year and giving them a genuine stage, cast and crew experience rather than just a school play.

The company performs from St Ives Theatre, a 350-seat venue converted from a Victorian Wesleyan chapel right in the centre of town. Kidz R Us stages musicals during school holidays and a traditional Christmas pantomime every year, alongside theatre workshops for young people during half-terms - and the building also hosts a wider programme of touring shows and events beyond the youth theatre's own productions. As of August 2026, forthcoming Kidz R Us productions include Our House - The Madness Musical, Disney's The Little Mermaid and Bake Off - The Musical.

The company's work has been widely recognised: Sir Tim Rice serves as patron, founder Phil Barnett received a British Empire Medal in the 2012 Birthday Honours for his services to the arts, and Kidz R Us has won a Queen's Award for Voluntary Service and been a finalist for Best Arts Project at the National Lottery Awards. For a small seaside town, it's a remarkable, entirely volunteer-powered slice of theatre.

Shows & Ticket Prices

Tickets are booked through TicketSource via the St Ives Theatre and Kidz R Us websites. Prices vary by production - musicals typically run during the Cornish school holidays, with the Christmas pantomime the highlight of the annual calendar.