Ride the Cyclone
Southwark Playhouse Borough, 77-85 Newington Causeway, SE1 6BD.
Southwark Playhouse opens around an hour before performances.
Tube: Elephant & Castle (Northern/Bakerloo); Borough (Northern) London Bridge Bus:1, 12, 35, 40, 45, 68, 133, 171, 176 all stop nearby. Train: London Bridge and Elephant & Castle
90 minutes - No interval.
Yes – Southwark Playhouse is generally good with: Step-free access to the main space Accessible loo Friendly staff who genuinely know their set-up Best to call ahead if you need a wheelchair space – they’re helpful, but the venue is compact so it’s worth arranging early.
From £22pp
About Ride the Cyclone
Ride the Cyclone – the cult musical your teens may already know from social media – finally lands in London. It follows six high-school choir kids who die in a freak rollercoaster accident and must compete in a surreal talent contest for a chance to return to life. If it sounds dark, that’s because it is. But it’s also incredibly funny, wildly imaginative and packed with bangers your teens will be singing for weeks afterwards.
Weird, witty and unexpectedly moving, older kids will love the quirky humour and emotional gear changes, while parents will appreciate how cleverly it deals with the big themes of identity, grief and second chances.
Top tip from the KidRated team:
If your kids really don’t know anything about the show, try and keep it that way, because – the less you know the bigger the impact.
Quick Inspiration
Honestly? Not really. The sweet spot is teens. Even though the themes of death, afterlife and existentialism are handled with humour, younger kids may find it all a bit much.
The premise (a fatal rollercoaster accident) is dark, but the tone is irreverent, funny and often quite silly. There are eerie bits, but nothing jumpy. If your teen likes weird and edgy, they’ll be absolutely fine.
Yes! It sounds bonkers, but the structure is actually really simple: six kids tell their stories in turn, the audience learns who they were, and the show builds to a big emotional payoff.
If they’re cool, curious, and enjoy slightly offbeat theatre, then yes. But if they prefer traditional musicals maybe give it a miss.
Loads – The Old Operating Theatre Museum is one of London’s quirkiest. Plus Borough Market and The Sgard are on your doorstep.
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