You are:

  • Home
  • Magic Box - North East London

Magic Box - North East London in London

  1. Magic Box was started in December 2013 by Lottie Allen, a professional actor with almost 20 years experience of working in theatre, film, television and radio. The main aim of the sessions is to provide a relaxed setting where young children can feel free to use their incredible imaginations, helping to tell a fun story.

    Some children sit next to their carer(s)  - who are present throughout the session - and want to listen to the story. Others join in the telling of the story. Others contribute to the story, taking it in unexpected directions! Each child is different and willing/able to participate in different ways. There is no right or wrong, no should or shouldn't - every child takes something away from the session, whatever level they have participated at.

    Each session starts by peeking inside the Magic Box to see what old bits of junk can be found...and what they could be turned into! A character then emerges, who has a story to tell or a journey to take - and the children join in, becoming whoever or whatever they want to be. Music and singing plays a part - and the stories are flexible enough for children to add to them, or lead them in a different direction.

    All stories were originally written and dramatised by Lottie. In May 2014, Rebecca Purton - a wonderful children's writer - came on board to write with Lottie, and provide creative assistance, including making beautiful books that are part of one party package.

    Yes, Magic Box has started doing parties. We offer 3 packages, details of which will soon be on the new website - or can be got by emailing Lottie at magicboxe17@gmail.com

    Magic Box is a new venture that has already created a bit of a buzz. And we have plans for more exciting ventures in the future.
    Magic Box has only just opened its lid...watch what comes out next...!

    • New session coming soon! From Wednesday 9th September, Magic Box will be running an afternoon session at That Place on the Corner in Newington Green, N16. Drop-in session, 2:15pm start! Come join us!

      14 August 2015 - More announcements

    Areas covered

    Currently, Walthamstow and Stoke Newington.

    View timetable

    Locations

    • London Church Street Stoke Newington London N16 9HJ
      • Baby changing room
      • Child menu/food and drink
      • Buggy/Disabled Access
      • Lift
    • Walthamstow Mothers Hub 133 Wood Street Walthamstow E17 3LX
      • Toddler play area
      • Buggy/Disabled Access

    Activities

    Activity classes for early years settings, Activity Clubs, Baby, toddler and pre-school classes, Baby, toddler and pre-school Communication, Baby, toddler and pre-school Movement, Baby, toddler and pre-school Music/singing, Baby, toddler and pre-school Theatre, Drama party

    Pricing & Other Information

    Sessions are drop-in - no booking required. We do our best to fit everyone in!

    Price: see www.magicboxstories.com for price info. Price includes cake!

  2. Magic Box - North East London has 4 reviews with an average of 4.9
    • Quality of Service 5.0
    • Value for Money 5.0
    • What the Kids Think 5.0
    • What the Adults Think 4.8

    Reviews

    Order by

    This recommendation was made verbally by a parent speaking to the KalliKids team and confirmed in writing.

    • Tansy Mum to Martha (age 4)

      Martha and I have attended the sessions at Mothers Hub and have also had Lottie perform a story for Martha' s 4th birthday party. Lottie’s sessions are unique- there are no other local story telling classes that I am aware of. Lottie is great at capturing the children's imagination and ideas and developing the story around that. She does a brilliant job, especially being able to keep the attention of the younger ones whilst stimulating the older ones. It's definitely my daughter's favourite class that we attend.

      Tansy 04 Jul 2014

      4.8
      The kallikids reputation
    • Walthamstowe Parent

      I have been going once a week for nearly 8 months and have loved it from the start. It combines professionalism and high quality with a local and friendly approach. My son is nearly 4 years old and Lottie manages to capture his imagination and hold his attention. She responds to the children in her group on any given day and in doing so the group is varied, inclusive and tailored. It has been very good for my son's confidence. Also as a parent it gives me time to rest, cuddle my youngest child and chat to other mum's whilst enjoying a free cup of tea and piece of cake. I found out about the group by popping into the Mother's Hub shop and I am so glad I did. Lottie's imagination is inspirational and I have found myself doing more creative things with the kids at home. The venue could do with being a bit bigger but that is only because the group is so popular.

      Hannah 24 Jun 2014

      5.0
      The kallikids reputation
    • Jess, Mum to Olivier (aged 2)

      Lottie is talented, imaginative and very engaging with the kids and they love it!

      Jess 20 Jun 2014

      5.0
      The kallikids reputation
    • Aga , mum to Gabriela (4)

      Love it. My dd can be shy to start with, but she got more and more confident every we went. And Lottie is just so super nice! Also, the price is very competitive. Worth a visit x

      Aga 13 Mar 2015

      5.0
    Magic Box - North East London has 4 reviews with an average of 4.9
    Rating form

    Select the amount of star out of 5 you would like to give

    • Quality of Service
    • Value for Money
    • What the Kids Think
    • What the Adults Think
    • For example, "Karen, Mum of Peter (5) and Liz (3) in Lindfield" or "Mum of two, Lindfield"

    Share your experience with other families and activity providers by rating them on the four family-focused criteria and adding explanatory comments.

    Families particularly want to know what the kids like, learn, have fun with and what words you think best describe this activity whether a tutor, photographer, farm, karate club or baby class.

    Please remember to be fair and honest in your comments and that your review is subject to the KalliKids acceptable use policy and moderation or investigation where determined necessary by KalliKids.

    KalliKids is word of mouth with a megaphone.... thank-you for sharing your experience with other families.

     

     

    Thank you for your review, this has been sent to Magic Box - North East London

    Why not sign up for a KalliKids account?

    Simply add a password and you are good to go!

  3. Latest from Magic Box - North East London

    • New session coming soon! From Wednesday 9th September, Magic Box will be running an afternoon session at That Place on the Corner in Newington Green, N16. Drop-in session, 2:15pm start! Come join us!

      14 August 2015

    • Saturday 18th July: Magic Box will be at the Walthamstow Garden Party (http://walthamstowgardenparty.com/)! Find us in the Mini Garden Party area - free sessions at 1pm & 3pm!

      14 July 2015

    • Saturday 13th June - MB will be at the Chingford Festival! Come join us for a free session, running throughout the afternoon.

      08 June 2015

    • This week is Nepal fundraising week at Magic Box. At every session, pay what you want and every single penny will go the Red Cross relief fund. Come and enjoy a lively story - and help those in desperate need... Thankyou.

      11 May 2015

    • Magic Box has arrived in Stoke Newington! Classes started on Wednesday 18th March at the beautiful Clissold House, at 11am. Sessions are drop-in. www.magicboxstories.com

      18 March 2015

    • Here it is! Magic Box is listed in the top 10 kid-friendly (and hip!) things to do in east London! Wow! http://www.cntraveller.com/recommended/cities/kid-friendly-east-london

      10 October 2014

    • Keep your eyes peeled - Magic Box gets a thumbs up from Conde Nast Traveller as one of the best things to do with kids in east London! Woohoo! Will post the link when it's live!

      30 September 2014

  4. Magic Box - North East London Timetable

    Contact provider
    • Mon
    • Tue
    • Wed
    • Thu
    • Fri
    • Sat
    • Sun
    •  
    • 10:00am
    • 11am
    • 10:00am
    •  
    •  
    •  
  5. Lottie Allen

    Lottie is a professional actor who studied English and Drama at Hull University, and went on to train at Mountview Academy of Theatre Arts. Here, she also continued to practise dance and developed a passion for physical theatre. She has many years’ experience of performing on stage, in film, television, and on radio. Now, with two little girls of her own, she has remembered how much she loves pretending. Pretending to be anything. And so she has decided to share her pretendings and her making-ups with more little ones. And, hey presto…Magic Box! She likes tap dancing and reading, but has never tried them at the same time…

    Rebecca Purton

    Rebecca Purton is a person who likes writing stories. She lives in a very small house and that is where she writes them. She is a grown-up but she has a feeling her stories aren’t. In her grown-up life, she has done a few different things. First, she tried to learn French and Italian at a university in Manchester. Then, she taught English to people from all sorts of places. Then, she opened envelopes, ticked things off and put things away in a cinema archive. And then, she flew to Tokyo where she stayed almost forever and forgot any French and Italian that was still in her head from Manchester. She found she was quite good at forgetting things so in the end she decided to come back to England in case she forgot that too. She likes reading children’s books, things that seem a little bit mysterious and dinosaurs. She has a small problem with spiders that are bigger than a two-pence piece.

Suitable for ages

  • Pre-natal
  • 0-12 months
  • 12-24 months
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5
  • 6
  • 7
  • 8
  • 9
  • 10
  • 11
  • 12+
  • 14+

Customer Reviews (4)

4.9
  • Quality of Service
  • What the Kids Think
  • What the Adults Think
  • Value for Money

Information for Parents

  • Gender: Mixed
  • Operates during: Weekly , Weekdays , During school , Term time , School holidays
  • Grouping: With others (group, class or team)

Useful Documents

Contact Details

  • Name Lottie Allen
  • Telephone 07958 772669
  • Email UsEmail us