What’s on stage for London families Twixmas 2017
Alice in Winterland at Rose Theatre
The festive production of Alice In Winterland opens at Rose Theatre in Kingston on 7 Demeber, and the adaptation of both Lewis Carrol’s Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland and Through the Looking Glass sees Alice on a whirlwind adventure fighting to save her new friends in Winterland. The show, recommended for ages 5 and over, is playing until 7 January. Read my review HERE.
Snow White & Rose Red at Battersea Arts Centre
Until 30 December, Snow White & Rose Red by theatre company RashDash is playing at Battersea Arts Centre. The show, recommended for ages five and over, gives the Brothers Grimm fairy tale a festive twist, and theatre-goers can expect a family Christmas show with live music and songs. The running time is approximately two hours, including interval.
Cinderella on Ice at Winter Wonderland
For families planning a day at Hyde Park Winter Wonderland, friends have recommended Cinderella on Ice–a 50-minute show telling the story from the classic fairytale. In this version, the audience can expect impressive jumps and lifts from the cast of 18 World, European and National Championship level skaters.
The Very Hungry Caterpillar Show at The Ambassadors Theatre
The stage show based on Eric Carle children’s classics The Very Hungry Caterpillar Show is back on the West End for a limited Christmas season at The Ambassadors Theatre until 7 January. The show brings four Eric Carle stories to life–The Artist Who Painted a Blue Horse, Mister Seahorse, The Very Lonely Firefly and The Very Hungry Caterpillar–in a 60-minute performance with 75 puppets. Read my review from 2016 HERE .
Sponge at Battersea Arts Centre
At Battersea Arts Centre there’s also a Christmas production for families with babies and toddlers–Sponge. Sponge invites the audience to roll and squeeze in a soft and bouncy adventure set to a 1970s soundtrack. The show, playing until 30 December, is recommended for babies and children up to four years. The running time is 50 minutes.
The Snowman at The Peacock
The Snowman celebrates its 20th anniversary at The Peacock this year, and the show continues to be a family favourite for London families. Based on the book by Raymond Briggs and the film directed by Dianne Jackson and produced by John Coates, the wintery stage show tells the story of a boy and his magical snowman. The Snowman is playing until 1 January 2017. Read my review HERE.
The Nutcracker at Royal Albert Hall
As a special Christmas treat, the Birmingham Royal Ballet’s production of Christmas favourite The Nutcracker will premiere at the Royal Albert Hall. The new version of the ballet, playing at Royal Albert Hall from 28 to 31 December, is described as suitable for all the family, and the performance will see the Royal Albert Hall stage being transformed into a magical winter wonderland with the use of technology and 75kg of artificial snow.
Disney on Ice at The O2
This Christmas Disney on Ice presents Passport to Adventure at The O2, and the show, hosted by Mickey and Minnie with friends Goofy, Daisy and Donald, take the audience on a journey to Africa with Lion King; to London with Peter Pan; under the sea to The Little Mermaid; and to Arendelle for a Frozen fairy tale. Disney on Ice presents Passport to Adventure is running at The O2 until 30 December, and the show is set to entertain families with impressive skating performances, catchy tunes and fun costumes.
Boing! at Unicorn Theatre
At children’s theatre The Unicorn dance-theatre Boing!, a production by Travelling Light and Bristol Old Vic, returns for the Christmas season in a dance theatre show designed to capture the magic of Christmas Eve and the excitement of two boys waiting for Father Christmas. The show, aimed at children aged 2 to 6, is playing at The Unicorn until 31 December.
The Gruffalo’s Child at Lyric Theatre
After last year’s extended run of The Gruffalo at Lyric Theatre, theatre-goers can now experience the follow-up with the Christmas season bringing the stage adaptation of popular Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler children’s book The Gruffalo’s Child to Lyric. The 55-minute show by Tall Stories is recommended for children aged 3 years and older, and it tells the story of the Gruffalo’s Child going for a walk through the woods after ignoring the father’s warnings about the bad mouse. The Gruffalo’s Child is playing at Lyric Theatre until 7 January. Read my review HERE.
My Brother, My Sister and Me at Polka Theatre
The new Sarah Argent production My Brother, My Sister and Me explores sibling relationships and is playing in the Adventure Theatre at Wimbledon’s Polka Theatre until 11 February. The 45-minute show, recommended for ages 2 to 5, tells the story about a little sister who has to share a room with her big brother after the arrival of a new baby in the family. Read my review HERE.
Jack and the Beanstalk at New Wimbledon Theatre
This year’s New Wimbledon Theatre pantomime is Jack and the Beanstalk produced by the world’s biggest pantomime producer Qdos Entertainment, and the cast will be led by outspoken publican Al Murray and West End, television and Olivier Award winner Clive Rowe. The pantomime, running until Sunday 14 January 2018, promises laugh-out-loud comedy, special effects and plenty of audience participation. Read my review HERE.
Dick Whittington at London Palladium
Pantomime returns to the West End’s London Palladium this Christmas with a new version of Dick Whittington, another production by world’s biggest pantomime producer Qdos Entertainment. The pantomime, running until 14 January, will feature an impressive cast, including Ashely Banjo and Diversity.
The Nutcracker at London Coliseum
This Christmas season English National Ballet returns to London Coliseum from 13 December to 6 January with its production of Nutcracker. Last year saw English National Ballet’s most successful Nutcracker run on record, and more than 79,000 people made a performance at the London Coliseum a part of their holiday celebrations. This year’s tour of the ballet, choreographed by Wayne Eagling and accompanied by Tchaikovsky’s memorable score performed live by English National Ballet Philharmonic, continues the company’s tradition of presenting a Nutcracker production every year since its founding year in 1950. There is a family-friendly performance of Nutcracker on Saturday 6 January at 2.30pm, and children under 5 can attend this performance (up to two children under 16 can go free with each full paying adult). Read my review HERE.
Wilde Creatures at Vaudeville Theatre
For Christmas 2017, the producers of The Gruffalo Live–Tall Stories–are introducing its new musical show Wilde Creatures for everyone aged 5 and over. The Wilde Creatures is a live band of storytelling musicians, and the show brings characters from Oscar Wilde stories to life, including characters from fairy stories ‘The Happy Prince’, ‘The Nightingale and the Rose’ and ‘The Birthday of the Infanta’. Theatre-goers can expect original live music, imaginative storytelling and comedy from the show that is playing at Vaudeville Theatre until 31 December.
The Nutcracker at Royal Opera House
Christmas 2017 will see the return of Christmas favourite The Nutcracker at Royal Opera House too, and the Peter Wright’s production for The Royal Ballet ranks as one of the most popular versions of the festive ballet. The Nutcracker is playing at Royal Opera House until 10 January.
The Velveteen Rabbit at Unicorn Theatre
Returning for the third time to Unicorn this Christmas is the Unicorn adaptation of classic Margery Williams children’s book Velveteen Rabbit. The show, recommended for ages 5 and over, is running until 31 December.
The Tiger Who Came to Tea at artsdepot
The stage adaptation of classic Judith Kerr children’s book The Tiger Who Came to Tea brought catchy songs and dancing to Lyric Theatre for Christmas 2015, and this Christmas season the entertaining show directed by David Wood will be playing at artsdepot. The show tells the charming story of a girl and her mum who have their tea interrupted by a tiger, and it is playing at artsdepot until 31 December. The show is recommended for children aged 3 and over.
The Snow Queen at Polka Theatre
The Christmas season sees the arrival of The Snow Queen at Polka Theatre, a stage adaptation of the classic wintery Hans Christian Andersen fairy tale. The show, adapted by Mike Kenny, tells the story about best friends Kai and Gerda and Gerda’s journey to save Kai after he’s taken by the Snow Queen. The show lasts approximately 1 hour 45 minutes, including interval, and it is recommended for ages 5 to 11. The Snow Queen is playing until 4 February.
Jack and the Beanstalk at Lyric Hammersmith
Pantomime returns to Lyric Hammersmith this Christmas season, and theatre-goers can expect live music, singing and dancing and laughs in Joel Horwood’s version of Jack and the Beanstalk by Joel Horwood. The show is recommended for ages 6 and over and is running until 6 January.
Stick Man Live at Leicester Square Theatre
Popular children’s picture book Stick Man by Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler is brought to life in the Scamp Theatre and Freckle Productions’ stage adaptation Stick Man Live, now back in London’s West End for the Christmas season. The show, recommended for children aged 3 and over, will be playing at Leicester Square Theatre until 7 January 2018 (Photo courtesy of Steve Ullathorne). Read my review HERE.
The Lost Boy Peter Pan at Pleasance Theatre
Ppresented by Action to the Word in association with Glynis Henderson Productions, The Lost Boy Peter Pan will be playing at Pleasance Theatre this Christmas, telling a funny and moving tale based on J.M. Barrie’s classic tale of fairies, pirates and the little boy who flew through the window. The show features seven live actor-musicians and the biggest Beatles hits of all time, and is playing at Pleasance Theatre until 7 January 2018.
Pinocchio at National Theatre
The National Theatre’s new production of Pinocchio, recommended for ages 8 and over, opened on 1 December and is booking until spring. The production by Dennis Kelly features music and songs from the Walt Disney film, including I’ve Got No Strings, Give a Little Whistle and When You Wish upon a Star in new arrangements.
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