Christmas theatre shows for all the family
From twisted fairytales to traditional panto: book now for the best Christmas theatre shows London 2022 has to offer
From twisted fairytales to traditional panto: book now for the best Christmas theatre shows London 2022 has to offer
The legendary Sir Ian McKellen shows his silly side as the titular Mother Goose, alongside John Bishop and Mel Geidbroyc in this big-budget, West End pantomime. An all-singing, all-dancing, unashamedly silly affair, it promises tap-dancing puppets, fairies and ladles of family-friendly humour.
For ages 8+
Read more ...Splurge guns at the ready... Bugsy Malone brings pint-sized gangsters to the London stage for a prohibition-era adventure at Fat Sam's speakeasy. The production, which premiered at Lyric Hammersmith to five-star reviews, returns - this time to Alexandra Palace. It works for nostalgic adults who grew up with Alan Parker's Bugsy Malone as well as children who identify with the young heroes.
For ages 8+
Read more ...Given it opens in January, Cirque du Soleil's Kurios isn't quite a Christmas show - but it is the perfect pick-me-up to plan for when festivities end and winter feels very flat. Set in an alternative past, Kurios is full of ethereal creatures who use humour, poetry and wonder to show us all the is possible when we open our minds.
For ages 8+
Read more ...The Old Vic's atmospheric production of A Christmas Carol is a festive tradition in its own right. Jack Thorne's stage adaptation transports you to Victorian London, with plenty of mince pies and musical merriment, while Dickens' classic tale of the miserly Ebenezer Scrooge teaches a heart-warming lesson about festive values.
For ages 10+
Read more ...Dolly Parton takes on Charles Dickens in this re-worked festive musical based on A Christmas Carol. Relocated to the Great Smoky Mountains of East Tennessee, the show imagines Scrooge in a mining town. 'I've been busy writing new songs that I hope will bring some the warmth, love and good memories that I have of Christmas time,' Parton says.
For ages 8+
Read more ...It's the busiest day of the year for Father Christmas - he has to feed the reindeer, sort the presents, pack them up and finally deliver them all around the world. Raymond Briggs' beloved picture book comes to life with humour and charm in this Lyric family production. With a 50 minute run time and plenty of daytime performances, it's an ideal show for little ones.
For children under 6 (and accompanying adults)
Read more ...With an explosion of sparkle, songs and Santas, Elf the Musical might be cheesy, but it is lots of fun too. Based on the hit 2003 film starring Will Ferrell, the show follows Buddy, a human raised in the North Pole who doesn't fit in with his Elf family. When he heads to New York City in search of his real father, Buddy's festive spirit causes chaos, comedy and a Christmas miracle.
For ages 5+
Read more ...Hans Christian Anderson's festive fairy tale comes to life in a magical forest under the starry sky. A little fir tree dreams of a world beyond his forest in a show that encompasses puppets, carol singing and plenty of imagination. The show is staged in the open air Globe Theatre, so wrap up warm and stay cosy with hot chocolate and mulled wine.
Suitable for all ages, but best for 3+
Read more ...What if a curse is just a blessing gone wrong? This glossy musical casts the Sleeping Beauty myth in a new light, with a Fairy who inadvertently hexes the princess. Expect wondrous sets and costumes in this deliciously dark festive production from head of the National Theatre, Rufus Norris.
For ages 8+
Read more ...Puppetry and cutting-edge technology combine to conjure to traditional magic of the circus. Along with jaw-dropping feats of acrobatics, Circus 1903 features life-size elephants from the Puppeteers behind War Horse. The 2022 production features fresh acts to thrill new and returning audiences. And with some shows starting at 11am, it's ideal for smaller children too.
For ages 3+
Read more ...An icy palace, a free-walking reindeer and bursts of frosty magic: Frozen the Musical glitters at the West End’s Theatre Royal Drury Lane, with a cast led by Samantha Barks as the brooding Elsa, and Stephanie McKeon as spirited sister, Ana. The Broadway transfer ups the ante on the film's feminist themes and laces the action with mildly saucy humour, creating a production with potential to enthral audiences of all ages.
For ages 4+
Read more ...Director-to-watch Jude Christian is in charge of pumping the magic into the Lyric's 2022 Christmas panto, Jack and the Beanstalk. Beyond the necessities (cow, magic beans, beanstalk and giant), expect a quirky, thoroughly modern take on the tale, complete with extreme skateboarding, milk explosions and even some Beyoncé.
Read more ...Poltergeist Theatre Company delivers Brixton's first home-grown Christmas show in 40 years. Showing at new-for-2022 theatre Brixton House, this Alice in Wonderland reimagines the story in present day, and in the theatre's own south London neighbourhood, where a gaggle of colourful characters meet Alice on a Victoria Line tube carriage fuelled by nonsense.
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