Christmas family theatre in London is entering prime season as the curtain goes up on a wide variety of shows for kids and adults to enjoy.
London theatre for kids in December is a vibrant feast; there are silly pantos, puppet performances and re-told and mashed up classics for all ages on stage. A soul warming family treat on a freezing day!
Here are our top suggestions for family shows at some of London’s best independent theatres…
Christmas in the Sunshine / Pinocchio
Unicorn Theatre
This Christmas Elias is going to visit his family in the Caribbean for the first time. He gets to go to the beach, play in the sunshine, and there’ll be a big party. It’s going to be the best.
But he has one worry – will it still feel like Christmas? After all in London it’s usually really cold, he gets to decorate the Christmas tree and drinks lots of hot chocolate. He’s definitely never left a mango out for Santa before.
Age guidance: 3 – 6
Cost: £13 – £20.50 under 18s / £18 – £25.50 adults
A new version of the much-loved classic tale as Pinocchio discovers why it’s best to always tell the truth. With a touch of magic from the blue fairy, enter a world of gingerbread villages and snow-capped mountains in this adventure of friendship and family.
Age guidance: 7+
Cost: Under 18s £13 – £21 / Adults £19 – £29.50
Both productions:
When: Until 31 December
Where: Unicorn Theatre, 147 Tooley St, SE1 2HZ
More info: website
Horrible Histories: Horrible Christmas
Barbican
When Christmas comes under threat from a jolly man dressed in red, it’s up to one young boy to save the day. From Victorian villains to Medieval monks, Puritan parties to Tudor treats, join this hair-raising journey through the history of Christmas in the company of Charles Dickens, Oliver Cromwell, King Henry VIII and St Nicholas, as they come together to save the festive season.
When: 27 – 30 December
Where: Barbican, Silk St, EC2Y 8DS
Age guidance: 4+
Cost: £16.50-£30.00
More info: website
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Little Red Robin Hood
Battersea Arts Centre
The wicked Sheriff of Nottingham has captured the famous outlaw Robin Hood! Who is going to stand up for the people now? Surely not a tiny girl in a red riding hood? Sometimes the true hero is the person you least expect.
The team behind hit panto-mashups ‘Goldilocks & the Three Musketeers’ and ‘Sleeping Beauty and the Beast’ return to the BAC with a new Christmas adventure.
When: Until 8 January 2023
Where: Battersea Arts Centre, Lavender Hill, SW11 5TN
Age guidance: 3+
Cost: On 6 – 16 Dec, 1 – 8 Jan: Adults £19.50 / Under 16s £16 / Disabled People £9.75. On 17 – 31 Dec all tickets £19.50.
More info: website
Mother Goose
Hackney Empire
What would you do if you found a magical goose who lays golden eggs? That’s exactly what’s in store for Mother Goose and she soon discovers that this priceless talent isn’t all it’s cracked up to be!
Packed full of all of your favourite pantomime ingredients, this reimagining of the classic rags-to-riches tale has larger than life characters, outrageous costumes, live music and loads of audience participation.
When: Until 31 December
Where: Hackney Empire, 291 Mare Street, London, United Kingdom, E8 1EJ
Age guidance: All ages welcome. Children 3 years and under may sit on the lap of an adult
Cost: From £10 – £44
More info: website
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Crackers: A Festive Family Farce
Polka Theatre
Meet The Crackers. They’re trying to get ready for Christmas Day, but it’s not easy when the family pet shop is going out of business, Great Gran’s expecting a visit from Father Christmas and Napoleon the rat is on the loose!
On the 9, 16 & 23 December you can decorate your own Christmas cracker in the theatre’s magical, snowy sensory space. 5.15pm (show at 6pm). £3 per person sold with show tickets.
When: Until 15 January 2023
Where: Polka Theatre, 240 The Broadway, Wimbledon, SW19 1SB
Age guidance: 5 – 12
Cost: From £10
More info: website
Pixie and the Pudding
Little Angel Theatre
When Charlie and her dad move to the farm from the city, everything seems to go wrong. If only they’d paid attention to the mysterious note left on their windowsill about a curious pixie! This musical brings a tale from Scandinavian folklore to life with puppetry, original music and a sprinkling of pixie magic.
READ OUR REVIEW HERE
When: Until 29 January 2023
Where: Little Angel Theatre, 14 Dagmar Passage, N1 2DN
Age guidance: 4 – 11
Cost: £15.00 Adult £13.00 Child (age 1-17). All tickets £8 on Fridays at 4.45pm
More info: website
Pantoland
Panto Online
Theatre in your jammies on the sofa? Yes please! Peter Duncan, 80’s Blue Peter presenter and former Chief Scout has produced a brand-new cinematic digital pantomime, Pantoland. Peter stars as Dame Dolly Doughnut taking audiences on a pantomime adventure telling tales of Aladdin, Peter Pan and Red Riding Hood in the company of muppets, Gnasher and Blue Ears, with classic panto songs to sing along to.
A family ticket to watch Pantoland, as well as Panto Online’s previous two hit shows Cinderella and Jack and the Beanstalk, is £15. Shows can be watched as many times as you like! Book online at pantoonline.co.uk
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