A shout-out to all West End and Broadway-lovin’ mamas prone to belting out the classics from behind closed shower curtains: well worth catching, the small group of principal performers that make up Beyond the Barricade are currently on UK tour with their “Theatre Concert”.

Nonstopmama loved the show, which features back-to-back songs from musicals including Phantom Of the Opera, Les Miserables, Miss Saigon, The Lion King, and lots more. Definitely an end of the hols/back to school treat.

Upcoming dates include Worthing, West Sussex (this Saturday, 28 August), The Pavilion Theatre, Bournemouth (Sunday 29 August), St Peter Port, Guernsey (Sunday 5 September) and Bromley, Kent (Monday 13 September). For more info and a full list of tour dates, visit beyondthebarricade.com.

Meet the new Joseph! Last night, nonstopmama went along to see Keith Jack make his debut in the lead role of the UK tour of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat, by Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice and directed by Bill Kenwright (we didn’t take much persuading. We love a great show and left with the programme, cast CD and fridge magnet. The t-shirts were tempting, but you’ve got to stop somewhere).

Keith, who shot to fame as the popular runner-up for Joseph in the BBC series Any Dream Will Do, got a fab reception as the curtain went up at the Bournemouth Pavilion Theatre - after an announcement over the PA that ‘there weren’t any cameras or mobile phones in the book of Genesis, so please switch them off’ – and a standing ovation when, finally, it came down (as finales go, it’s definitely grand. We loved it).

Keith has toured in the show before in the role of Narrator, a part played in this run by Trina Hill, who has just joined the cast. She does a great job, being on stage for most of the performance and constantly running up and down a staircase whilst singing (beautifully) at the same time. Impressive.

Keith takes over the title role in Bournemouth (book tickets here), where the show is currently running until 14 August (check all UK tour dates).

Hot on the cowboy heels of Toy Story 3 (hitting UK big screens on 19 July), a new land devoted to the much-loved movies – Toy Story Playland – is due to open at Disneyland Paris on 17 August. Featuring a Slinky Dog Zigzag Spin, RC Racer (a sky-soaring, authentically luminous orange Hot Wheels track, inspired by the film) and more, it was still under wraps when nonstopmama paid a flying visit last month, but we found lots more going on to thrill small and big kids alike as part of Disney’s New Generation Festival.

Now in full swing, the New Generation celebrations continue all year, with new characters to meet and catch in the parades (back tickle from Buzz Lightyear, anyone?).

Old meets new at the must-see Disney Showtime Spectacular, where you can catch Mickey, Minnie and co. getting down with newbies including characters from Ratatouille, Mr Incredible and Elastigirl, Mike and Sully of Monsters Inc. and others.

Our hot tip if you’re visiting with Toy Story fans? Head for Woody’s Roundup Village at the Disneyland Park, where at specific times you can meet the hero himself, along with the rootin’ and tootin’ Jessie (check the schedule for times and details).

And, finally, if you’re thinking about revisiting the first two Toy Story movies and have a DVD player that’s Blu-Ray compatible, the Toy Story/Toy Story 2 (Blu-Ray) Special Edition box set is nothing short of fantastic in terms of clarity, sound and overall recreate-the-cinema experience (even on our not-enormous screen). To infinity, etc. etc. …

Hot on the heels of our Half Term Hot List last week, nonstopmama recommends checking out the National Family Week website, where you can snag some fab deals and discounts on a wide range of family activities and days out from 31 May until 6 June. Offers include theme parks, zoos, wildlife parks, museums and heritage sights and the ever-popular Go Ape! high-wire adventure (kids go half price at selected locations nationwide, find your nearest and get the booking code here).

As part of the event, the Family Week Film Day on Sunday 6 June offers an opportunity to catch the upcoming Shrek Forever After in 3D (scheduled for release on 2 July), at one of many exclusive screenings nationwide – for more info and to book, click here.

Best to be upfront about this: we’re not your born ‘big riders’ when it comes to theme parks. Waving from a steam train going at 2 MPH we can do. Anything nippier or higher and we’re holding the ice creams and on photo duty (both important roles, and the latter a cheaper option than the official, post-ride fridge magnet option). So, with the half-term break and Bank Holiday weekend on the horizon, nonstopmama enlisted the help of some more adventurous park reviewers (big and small). All three of our recommendations make fantastic days out – even for those who get nauseous on the teacups  - with something for everyone.

*  First up, Chessington World Of Adventures in Surrey, with its invitation to ‘take on the KOBRA’, the just-unveiled, spinning disc-come-rollercoaster ride. Our reviewers jumped at the chance to give it a tummy-churning whirl, declaring it “really cool”, “so much fun!” and ‘”surprisingly smooth”. We took their word for it, but did go for a spin in the Tuk Tuk Turmoil Dodgems – great fun, if solid proof of why we’ve failed our driving test (twice). The great thing about Chessington is that, along with the rides, there’s the Zoo and indoor SEA LIFE Centre to explore (helpful when a sudden shower comes out of nowhere). But a big highlight was an overnight stay at the on-site, safari-themed Holiday Inn at Chessington (pictured above). Fresh, modern and totally family-friendly, it has an indoor swimming pool and, at specific times, there is a bit of ‘character’ action, too. Being greeted by a pair of giant meerkats as we came out of the lift for breakfast was a new one, but it went down a treat. Meanwhile, from 29 May, hotel guests will be able to look out onto the new Wanyama Village & Reserve, with grazing (real!) zebras, antelopes and more. More info and to book online here.

*  ThomasLand at Drayton Manor, near Tamworth, Staffordshire, is just one of the many attractions at this ever-popular, family-owned theme park. But we didn’t get around to them. We left the numerous rides for veteran thrill-seekers for another day and remained in world of the No 1 Engine and his famous friends. It didn’t disappoint. Along with the must-do train ride on Thomas (or, rather, his trusty carriages, Annie and Clarabel), Rosie or Percy from Knapford Station to Tidmouth Sheds (Spencer’s playground is strategically located at the end of the ride), there are lots of other Sodor-themed adventures to make a Thomas fan’s day. From Diesel’s Location Mayhem (think teacups, but with engines) to up-up-and-away rides with Harold the Helicopter and Jeremy The Jet, and the (organised) chaos of Terence’s Driving School motorised tractor ride-ons. We passed on Cranky The Crane’s Drop Tower and felt faintly sick watching our reviewers sail on Rocking Bulstrode (they loved it) and riding the surprisingly nippy-and-dippy Troublesome Trucks Coaster. One little reviewer has been asking to go back ever since. For more info on half-term activities and to book tickets, visit the Drayton Manor site.

*  An enormous hit from the moment we passed through the turnstiles, LEGOLAND Windsor has more than enough to capture little imaginations and fill a day with fun for all ages. The rides, attractions and events sprawl over 150 acres of landscaped grounds (if in doubt, definitely take the buggy). Along with the famous and super-impressive Miniland world made entirely of Lego bricks (over 40 million to be precise, or rather more than you’re probably willing to purchase at the fab, pick ‘n’ mix-style Pick-A-Brick counter in the world’s largest Lego shop, also on-site), our highlights included the Fire Academy and Digger Challenge (where would-be little firemen, with some game grown-up help, get to race to put out a fire and operate a life-size digger, respectively). We also loved the worth-queuing-for Vikings’ River Splash, a bumpy boat ride down a winding flume as you get squirted with water along the way, and an all-action, live pirate show, featuring lots of thigh-slapping, songs and acrobatic water stunts. If you’ve got younger children and toddlers, consider taking swimsuits so they can enjoy the Waterworks play area in DUPLO® Land. Must-dos we didn’t get around to include the Boating School, Driving School and The Dragon rollercoaster, for ‘bigger kids’, as it’s billed. Us, we’re still working on our Pick-A-Brick-meets-Grand Designs masterpiece. For more info and to book tickets, visit the LEGOLAND Windsor site.

Nonstopmama’s back, neck and shoulders are thanking über-funky buggy brand Micralite for the opportunity to put its new Fastfold Super-lite stroller through its paces. It is, in a word, whizzy – in every sense. It looks fab – very aerodynamic, you almost feel the occupant should be shown the emergency exits and offered duty frees – makes nippy work of the tightest shopping aisles, folds, erm, very fast and stores upright. Great stuff.

In fact, downsizing (and weighting) from a hefty, all-terrain three-wheeler took some getting used to, but – several weeks on – we wouldn’t swap it for anything. Simple, speedy and perfect for transporting an older child who really could walk, for longer outings (and when, honestly, it’s just easier) and pushing anything more substantial suddenly involves doing an impressive Geoff Capes impersonation (not pretty and phew).

As you’d expect from something so slight, it’s not huge on shopping space and we recommend removing all bags and paraphanalia from the handles before your child gets out (or the whole thing can back-flip, it’s so light). So, it’s not a ‘packhorse buggy’ – that’s not the point – but really lives up to its name. Splendidly. The Micralite Fastfold Super-lite (£149.95) weighs about 6 kg and comes in Red, Yellow, Blue, Grey or Black and is available at kiddicare.com and mothercare.com, or visit the Micralite website for the whole scoop.