If you’re wondering what the best age for Hamilton is, whether Hamilton is suitable for children, or how to prepare your child before seeing the show, here’s everything I’d recommend after taking my 13-year-old.
Hamilton has become one of the most popular musicals in the world, and one of my firm favourites, thanks to it’s quick witted lyricism and characterisation.
There is very little spoken dialogue. Almost everything is sung or rapped, the lyrics move incredibly quickly, and unless you’re already familiar with American history, it can take a while to work out who everyone is.
After recently taking my 13-year-old to see Hamilton in London, I thought I’d share the things I wish every parent knew before booking tickets. If you’re wondering whether Hamilton is suitable for your child, what age children can follow the story, or how to help them get the most out of the experience, here’s what I’d recommend.
What is the best age for Hamilton?
If you’re wondering what age is best for Hamilton, my answer would be around 12 years old and up.
That’s not because of the mature content. It’s because Hamilton asks a lot of its audience.
Unlike many musicals, Hamilton is entirely sung through. There are no spoken scenes to slow the pace down or explain what’s happening. Children need to follow fast-paced rap lyrics, understand a fairly complicated historical storyline and keep track of relationships between multiple characters.
By around 12 years old, I think most children have the concentration and comprehension to really enjoy all of that.
I took my 13-year-old because he is studying Hamilton in Music at school, he has an interest in history, and I felt he was at exactly the right age to follow both the historical plot and the lyrics.
If your child is new to musical theatre, there are several other West End shows I’d recommend before Hamilton. You can read my full guide to the best West End shows for teenagers here.
If you’re looking for shows for younger children instead, here are my favourite West End shows for kids and families.
Could younger children enjoy Hamilton?
Absolutely.
If your child already loves the cast album or has watched the filmed version on Apple TV+, they’ll probably have an amazing time even if they’re younger than 12.
In that situation, they’re already familiar with the music and the story, so they can simply enjoy seeing it performed live.
If they’re going in completely fresh, though, I think around 12 years old is the sweet spot.
Is Hamilton difficult for children to follow?
Yes, it can be.
Even as an adult, Hamilton isn’t always easy to follow the first time.
Because everything is sung or rapped, there’s very little opportunity to pause and explain what’s happening. Add in the fact that most British children (and adults!) don’t learn much American history at school, and it’s easy to see why some people find the plot confusing.
That doesn’t mean children won’t enjoy it. It simply means a little preparation beforehand can make a huge difference.
In fact, if I had one piece of advice for parents, it would be this:
Spend five minutes explaining the basics of the story before the show starts.
It isn’t a spoiler. It helps children relax and enjoy the performance instead of spending the first act trying to work out who’s who.
What should you tell your child before seeing Hamilton?
I didn’t want to spoil the show for my son, but I did want him to understand enough that he could follow what was happening from the start.
These are the four things I explained beforehand.
1. Hamilton is completely sung through
This is probably the most important thing to know.
There is virtually no spoken dialogue, so if you stop listening to the lyrics for a few minutes, it’s very easy to lose track of the story.
I simply told my son that if he wanted to understand what was happening, he needed to pay close attention to the words.
2. The story has two distinct halves
The first act focuses on the American Revolution and the fight for independence.
The second act shifts to what happened afterwards, following the creation of the new American government and the political rivalries that shaped the country.
Knowing this beforehand makes the transition after the interval much easier to follow.
3. Aaron Burr shoots Hamilton
This sounds like a huge spoiler…
…except it really isn’t.
The very first song tells you exactly what happens.
I explained that Hamilton is an exploration of two men with similar ambitions whose relationship gradually changes over many years before ending in a tragic duel.
I also took a moment to explain what a duel actually was. Children may never have come across the concept before, so understanding that it was once considered an accepted way of settling disputes helps the plot make much more sense.
4. Some actors return as different characters
Several actors who play major characters in the first act return after the interval playing completely different people.
You may not want to give this much info before you watch, but I thought that was a good way to hold his intrigue for the second act of the show.
Where are the best seats for children at Hamilton?
I’ve seen Hamilton from several different parts of the theatre over the years, and in my opinion, no matter your age, I’d choose the first six rows of the Dress Circle every time. Even more so for children as it’s the best vantage point with the least obstructions.
Why I recommend the Dress Circle
The biggest advantage is the rake.
Because each row is higher than the one in front, children are much less likely to have their view blocked by a taller adult.
You also get a fantastic view of Hamilton’s famous revolving stage. While you can still enjoy the show from the Stalls, you don’t fully appreciate the choreography around the revolve in quite the same way, as the revolve is not visible from the stalls.
Another bonus is that Dress Circle tickets are often cheaper than premium Stalls seats, particularly if you’re happy to sit slightly towards the sides. Even from the very edge of the side sections, the view is excellent.
Are the Stalls good for children?
They certainly can be.
We sat in the middle of the Stalls (Row L) and were incredibly lucky to have another child sitting directly in front of us, which meant my son had an excellent view throughout. However, if it had been an adult, his view would have been impaired.
If you’re choosing the Stalls, I’d recommend booking from around Row G onwards.
The slight elevation from this point gives you a much better viewing angle than the very front rows.
Personally, I wouldn’t choose the front few rows with a child. The stage is quite high, so you’re looking upwards for much of the performance, and it can be harder to appreciate the staging as a whole.
Our view from Stalls row L at the Victoria Palace Theatre for Hamilton
Are booster seats available?
Yes.
Booster seats are available from the cloakroom before the performance.
How long is Hamilton?
Hamilton runs for approximately 2 hours 45 minutes, including a 15-minute interval.
It’s one of the longer musicals currently playing in the West End.
For most children aged 12 and over this shouldn’t be a problem, but it’s worth bearing in mind if you’re considering taking younger children.
The first act lasts around 80 minutes before the interval, so make sure everyone has been to the toilet beforehand!
Hamilton content warnings for parents
Although Hamilton is recommended for children aged 10 and over, there are a few themes that parents may want to know about before booking.
These include:
- Swearing. The stage version of Hamilton contains three F-bombs, along with several sh*ts.
- References to war, death and violence.
- Several duels resulting in death.
- A storyline involving an extramarital affair.
- A depiction of a sexual encounter.
- References to alcohol.
Personally, none of this felt inappropriate for my 13-year-old, and most of it is handled in a theatrical rather than graphic way.
That said, every child is different, so it’s worth knowing what’s included before deciding whether the show is right for your family.
Practical tip: don’t waste the interval!
One thing I wish I’d known beforehand…
The queue for the women’s toilets in the Stalls was enormous.
My son was in and out of the men’s toilets within a couple of minutes, while I spent the entire 15-minute interval standing in the queue for the ladies.
If you’re using the women’s toilets, I’d recommend heading there as soon as the curtain comes down.
There really isn’t time to queue for the toilet and do anything else in the interval.
Is Hamilton worth seeing with a teenager?
Absolutely.
In fact, I think teenagers are the perfect audience for Hamilton.
They’re old enough to appreciate the clever lyrics, the humour, the emotional story and the historical themes, but they’re also young enough to be completely captivated by the energy of the show.
For my son, studying Hamilton in Music lessons made the experience even more enjoyable because he already recognised many of the songs. Seeing them performed live gave him a whole new appreciation for the musical.
Even if your teenager hasn’t studied Hamilton at school, I’d still recommend giving them a little background information beforehand. I genuinely think those few minutes of preparation help them enjoy the performance much more.
Frequently asked questions about taking children to see Hamilton
Still deciding whether Hamilton is the right musical for your child? These are some of the questions parents often ask before booking.
Is Hamilton suitable for a 10-year-old?
It depends on the child.
The official recommendation is for children aged 10 and over, and plenty of confident 10-year-olds will enjoy it, particularly if they’re already fans of the cast album or the filmed version.
However, for a child seeing Hamilton for the first time, I think most will get much more out of it from around 12 years old, simply because of the complexity of the story and the show length.
Do children need to know American history before seeing Hamilton?
No.
My son certainly didn’t know much!
However, I do think it helps to explain a few basics before the show starts:
- The first act is about the American Revolution.
- The second act focuses on the creation of the new American government.
- Aaron Burr and Alexander Hamilton eventually fight a duel.
That small amount of context makes the story much easier to follow.
Should children listen to the Hamilton soundtrack before seeing the show?
If they’re already fans, definitely.
If they’re completely new to Hamilton, I don’t think it’s essential.
Personally, I’d rather spend five minutes explaining the story than expect them to memorise the cast album. Understanding what’s happening is much more important than recognising every song.
Is Hamilton too complicated for children?
For younger children, it can be.
Hamilton moves at an incredible pace, and because it’s entirely sung through, there are very few moments to catch up if you’ve missed an important lyric.
That’s why I think it works best for older children and teenagers, who are more likely to keep up with both the story and the lyrics.
Are booster seats available?
Yes.
Booster seats are available from the cloakroom before the performance.
Is Hamilton worth seeing with teenagers?
Absolutely.
In fact, I think teenagers are the ideal audience.
They’re old enough to appreciate the clever wordplay, humour, emotional story and historical references, and many secondary schools now study Hamilton in Music, Drama or English, making the experience even more meaningful.
Final thoughts
Hamilton is unlike any other musical in the West End.
It’s clever, funny, emotional and incredibly rewarding, but it also asks a lot of its audience. If your child is seeing it for the first time, I genuinely think a little preparation beforehand makes all the difference.
Although the official recommendation is for ages 10+, my own recommendation would be around 12 years old and over for most children. By then they’re much more likely to follow the fast-moving lyrics, understand the historical plot and appreciate the emotional impact of the story.
And if you spend five minutes giving them the basic outline before the lights go down, I think they’ll enjoy the experience even more.
