From a West End spectacular to brilliant family pantos and festive shows, our pick of entertainments perfect for holiday season
Robin Hood
New Wimbledon Theatre
Ashley Banjo & Diversity lead the cast as Robin Hood and his band of Merry Men in this annual crowd-pleaser created by Crossroads Pantomimes, so that guarantees some cool dance moves. Panto regular Steve Arnott promises to be a wonderfully wicked Sheriff of Nottingham while Lauren Hampton (The Great Gatsby, Grease) plays Maid Marion and Amelia Walker takes on the role of Spirit of Sherwood. It’s a whole-family show with plenty of magic and comedy.
Dates: Until 4 January
Prices: from £15
atgtickets.com
Sleeping Beauty
The London Palladium
With a cast, led by Catherine Tate, Julian Clary, Jon Culshaw and Nigel Havers, this is the 10th-anniversary of this starry pantomime at The London Palladium. The show draws in a West End crowd, with lots of group bookings, so expect innuendo aplenty, especially at an evening performance. Tate, a panto first-timer in this seasoned line-up, plays Carabosse, the Wicked Fairy alongside master of double entendre Julian Clary as King Julian. Big laughs are promised.
Dates: Until 11 January
Prices: From £37,50
lwtheatres.co.uk
The Snowman
Peacock Theatre, Sadler’s Wells
Now in its 28th year, the wonderful stage adaptation of Raymond Briggs’ The Snowman is an introduction to dance for a very young audience – and a delight for all the family. The Birmingham Repertory Theatre production at Sadler’s Wells’ Peacock Theatre is directed by Bill Alexander, with music and lyrics by Howard Blake and choreography by Robert North. With ethereal aerial moments – including for the song ‘Walking in the Air’ – the show also features a live orchestra.
Dates: Until 4 January
Prices: From £18
sadlerswells.com
Pinocchio
Shakespeare’s Globe
One of the most delightful traditional stories comes to Shakespeare’s Globe in the world premiere of this musical directed by the theatre’s Associate Artistic Director Sean Holmes, and with writing and music by Charlie Josephine and Jim Fortune. There is also wonderful puppetry from Peter O’Rourke. Another treat is attending a family show in the setting of The Globe – adding another layer of magic, especially after dark. Associated puppetry and drama workshops are taking place over the festive period to coincide with the show.
Dates: Until 4 January
Prices: From £5
shakespearesglobe.com
Mama Goose
Stratford East
Classical musician, writer and comedian Vikki Stone is on the creative team at Stratford East this year. Having added clever twists to panto at Lyric Hammersmith and Liverpool Everyman, she knows how to keep panto fresh. Here, she has joined forces with writer and director Tonderai Munyevu, while music is by Robert Hyman, who’s been involved with the Stratford East panto for the best part of 30 years. Mama and her golden egg-laying fowl (called Gary) are played by Duane Gooden and Che Walker. Alongside good and bad fairies, there’s a baddie called Tax Man.
Dates: Until 3 January
Prices: From £10
stratfordeast.com
Cinderella
Theatre Royal Windsor
Windsor’s hugely popular family pantomime returns for its 87th year, and with regular favourites Steven Blakeley, Jeffrey Harmer (Ugly Sisters) and Kevin Cruise (Buttons) on the comedy cast, alongside Michael Praed as Baron Hard-Up. Expect big costumes and the grandest ball in a show that bills itself as the ‘royal pantomime’ – and why not when this year’s story is Cinderella?
Dates: Until 11 January
Prices: From £19
theatreroyalwindsor.co.uk
Further reading: What a pantomime
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