Raymond Briggs’ Father Christmas at Lyric Hammersmith
Nothing makes for a jollier holiday season than a Christmas panto. At the Lyric Hammersmith this year, Raymond Briggs’ Father Christmas is back and getting ready for his busiest day of the year. The under 6 crowd will love watching him prepare his packages, feed the reindeer and fly off into the night, with live music and playful puppetry along the way. On from the 22nd of November to the 24th of December 2017, the show’s running time is 60 minutes, and tickets cost £10; for more information and to book, visit the Lyric’s website.
Snow White and Rose Red at Battersea Arts Centre
At Battersea Arts Centre, kids 5 and up will enjoy the Brothers Grimm fairy tale Snow White and Rose Red. The mischievous sisters’ magical adventure begins when a friendly bear knocks on their door… Featuring loads of live music and song, the show has a running time of 105 minutes and is on from the 29th of November to the 30th of December. Tickets cost from £12.50, or from £50 for family tickets; see the Battersea Arts Centre website for more info and to book.
Stages across London this Christmas season will feature the magical, the mischievous and the downright silly. Here’s our roundup (with an unusually high beanstalk count) of this year’s side-splitting shows.
SOUTH LONDON
Panto: Jack and the Beanstalk
Stage: New Wimbledon Theatre, 93 The Broadway, SW19 1QG
Dates: 9 December 2017 – 14 January 2018
Plot: Fe-fi-fo-fum, a giant panto comes to Wimbledon.
Panto: Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs
Stage: Churchill Theatre, High Street, Bromley, BR1 1HA
Dates: 2 – 31 December 2017
Plot: Help outwit the wicked queen at the fairest panto of them all.
Panto: Scrooge and the Seven Dwarves
Stage: Theatre 503 at The Latchmere, Battersea Park Road, SW11 3BW
Dates: 6 December 2017 – 6 January 2018
Plot: The man who hates Christmas is the only one who can save it…
Panto: Jack and the Beanstalk
Stage: Waddon Theatre, Waddon Leisure Centre, Purley Way, Croydon CR0 4RG
Dates: 7 – 31 December 2017
Plot: Come to the magical land of Croydinia for dancing, singing and silliness.
EAST LONDON
Panto: Puss in Boots
Stage: Hoxton Hall, 130 Hoxton Street, N1 6SH
Dates: 13 – 28 December 2017
Plot: The purr-fect Christmas panto.
Panto: Cinderella
Stage: Hackney Empire, 291 Mare Street E8 1EJ
Dates: 18 November – 31 December 2017
Plot: Don’t miss the royal ball as the classic rags-to-riches story is brought to life, Hackney style.
Panto: Rapunzel
Stage: Theatre Royal Stratford East, Gerry Raffles Square E15 1BN
Dates: 27 November 2017 – 13 January 2018
Plot: A hair-lariously magical retelling.
NORTH LONDON
Panto: King Tut—A Pyramid Panto
Stage: King’s Head Theatre, 115 Upper Street, Islington N1 1QN
Dates: 24 November 2017 – 6 January 2018
Plot: The show that promises ‘mummies, magic and mayhem’.
Panto: Jack and the Beanstalk
Stage: Shaw Theatre, 100-110 Euston Road, NW1 2AJ
Dates: 9 – 30 December 2017
Plot: Starring Dani Harmer from CBBC’s Tracy Beaker and featuring plenty of song, dance and beans.
Panto: Jack and the Beanstalk
Stage: Millfield Theatre, Silver Street, Edmonton, N18 1PJ
Dates: 23 November – 31 December 2017
Plot: Featuring Jack and his mum, Dame Dottie Trott, plus Simple Simon, the henchman Fleshcreep and Fairy Deluxe.
WEST LONDON
Panto: Mother Goose
Stage: Questors Theatre, 12 Mattock Lane, Ealing W5 5BQ
Dates: 14 December 2017 — 1 January 2018
Plot: Will the little goose be saved from Smorg, the wicked troll?
Panto: Jack and the Beanstalk
Stage: Lyric Hammersmith, Lyric Square, King Street W6 0QL
Dates: 18 November 2017 – 6 January 2018
Plot: A Lyric show for the over 6 crowd, complete with magic beans, cute cow and really tall beanstalk.
Panto: Aladdin
Stage: Richmond Theatre, The Green TW9 1QJ
Dates: 9 December 2017 – 14 January 2018
Plot: Enjoy the magic carpet ride on a high-flying adventure.
Panto: Dick Whittington Retold
Stage: Watermans, 40 High Street, Brentford TW8 0DS
Dates: 1 & 2 December 2017
Plot: Local theatre group St Faith’s Players give their take on the tale of Dick, his clever cat and the bad King Rat.
WEST END / CENTRAL LONDON
Panto: Dick Whittington
Stage: London Palladium, 8 Argyll Street W1F 7TF
Dates: 9 December 2017 – 14 January 2018
Plot: The classic tale of a young boy who journeys to London to find his fortune.
Panto: Beauty and the Beast
Stage: Churchill Gardens, Pimlico SW1V 3AL
Dates: 6 & 8 December 2017
Plot: A production of the amateur Grosvenor Light Opera Company, who will sing, dance and act like dining room furniture for your amusement.
