What’s on stage for families in London Christmas 2021

The Snowman at The Peacock
At The Peacock, family traditions can be kept alive, as Raymond Briggs’ The Snowman returns. The Snowman is based on the popular picture book by Briggs and the film directed by Dianne Jackson and produced by John Coates. It tells the story of a boy and his snowman that comes to life, and it is playing at The Peacock from 20 November 2021 to 2 January 2022. Read my review from 2017 HERE. (Photo by Tristram Kenton.)

The Bolds at Unicorn Theatre
At children’s theatre The Unicorn, families can catch the stage adaptation of Julian Clary’s witty The Bolds. The Christmas show, written and adapted by the author, tells the story about the hyena family The Bolds, who try to lead an ordinary life while keeping their true animal identities disguised. The Bolds is recommended for children aged 6 and over and will be playing from 14 November to 31 December. The running time is 2 hours, including interval.

A Christmas Carol at Middle Temple Hall
From 22 to 30 December, A Christmas Carol will be returning to London’s historic venue Middle Temple Hall for a sixth Christmas season. The play based on Charles Dickens classic is a musical adaptation by Antic Disposition, and tells the story about ill-tempered Ebenezer Scrooge. The production is recommended for ages 6 and over, and the running time is around two hours, including interval.

A Christmas Carol at The Old Vic
At London’s The Old Vic, Jack Thorne’s adaptation of A Christmas Carol will be playing from 13 November 2021 to 8 January 2022. Based on the classic by Charles Dickens, the show tells the story about four ghosts visiting the miserable Ebenezer Scrooge. The production, directed by Matthew Warchus, is recommended for ages 8 and over.

Operation Ouch! Live on Stage at Lyric Theatre
TV doctors Dr Chris and Dr Xand are bringing a new Operation Ouch! show to West End’s Lyric Theatre this Christmas, surprising audiences with experiments and fun facts about the body and the world of biology. Operation Ouch! Live on Stage, recommended for ages 3 to 12, will be running from 4 December 2021 to 16 January 2022, and the running time is 70 minutes, no interval.

The Night Before Christmas at Polka Theatre
At Polka Theatre in Wimbledon, a new children’s production inspired by favourite Christmas poem The Night Before Christmas by Clement Clarke Moore will be entertaining audiences from 4 December to 16 January. The Polka Theatre and Royal & Derngate, Northampton production, aimed at children aged 3 to 7, features original music, puppetry and festive magic, while telling the story about six-year-old Amber and her surprise visitor on Christmas Eve.

Cinderella: The Awesome Truth at Polka Theatre
For children aged 5 and over, Polka Theatre in Wimbledon presents Cinderella: The Awesome Truth, which will be running from 12 November 2021 to 13 January. The Polka Theatre and One Tenth Human Co-Production tells the story of two different sisters Cindy and Ella–one who wants to be rich and famous and one who’s been practising her kickboxing and wants to have fun.

Raymond Briggs’ Father Christmas at Lyric Hammersmith
For families with young children, Raymond Briggs’ Father Christmas at Lyric Hammersmith makes for a festive theatre experience, and it’s a show I’ve reviewed several years. With an intimate venue, live music and sounds, and wonderful stage set-up, the Lyric Hammersmith and Pins and Needles production has become a Christmas favourite for families, introducing children to the magic of Father Christmas and the job he does on Christmas Eve. The show, which is recommended for children aged under 6, is playing at Lyric Hammersmith from 24 November to 24 December 2021. The running time is one hour.

The Nutcracker at London Coliseum
The English National Ballet returns to London Coliseum with The Nutcracker from 16 December 2021 to 8 January 2022. The production, choreographed by Wayne Eagling and accompanied by Tchaikovsky’s memorable score performed live by English National Ballet Philharmonic, sees more than 100 dancers and musicians bringing the story about Clara and the Nutcracker to life on stage. The running time is two hours, including one interval. Read my review from 2017 HERE.

The Nutcracker at The Royal Opera House
Christmas 2021 will see the return of Christmas favourite The Nutcracker to The Royal Opera House, with Peter Wright’s production for The Royal Ballet, set to Tchaikovsky’s music, taking audiences on Clara’s festive journey to The Land of Sweets. The Nutcracker at The Royal Opera House is running from 23 November to 8 January, and it is suitable for ages 5 and over. The performance lasts about 2 hours and 20 minutes, including one 30-minute interval.

The Nutcracker at Royal Albert Hall
A festive treat, the Birmingham Royal Ballet’s production of The Nutcracker will return to the Royal Albert Hall from 28 to 31 December for yet another Christmas season. The enchanting ballet, which promises period costumes and impressive projections, is set to Tchaikovsky’s score and tells the magical story about Clara receiving a Nutcracker for Christmas and her toys and dolls coming to life.

Let’s All Dance: The Nutcracker at Lilian Baylis Studio
From 21 to 31 December, family production Let’s All Dance: The Nutcracker will be playing at Lilian Baylis Studio in Angel. The ballet company aims to make ballet accessible and fun for children, and is set to introduce families to the magical night Clara and her Nutcracker Prince meet the Mouse King and the Sugar Plum Fairy. The running time is 50 minutes.

Dick Whittington at New Wimbledon Theatre
This year’s New Wimbledon Theatre pantomime is Dick Whittington, and the cast includes EastEnders star Shane Richie in the title role, Peter Piper as Captain Cockles, and Hiba Elchikhe as Alice Fitzwarren. The pantomime, running from 4 December 2021 to 2 January 2022, tells the story of Dick Whittington seeking fame, fortune and happiness journeying to become the Lord Mayor of London in a show promising an action-packed adventure filled with comedy, music and dance.

Beauty and the Beast at Rose Theatre
At Rose Theatre in Kingston, the Christmas production is a new festive version of Beauty and the Beast, which will be playing from 3 December 2021 to 3 January 2022. The new adaptation, written by Ciaran McConville and directed by Lucy Morrell, features actors from Rose Youth Theatre playing alongside professional actors. Rose Theatre’s Beauty and the Beast is recommended for ages 5 and over.

Peppa Pig’s Best Day Ever! at Theatre Royal Haymarket
This Christmas, Peppa Pig Live will return to London’s West End with Peppa Pig’s Best Day Ever! In the interactive show, recommended for children aged over 18 months, theatre-goers can join Peppa and her family on a road-trip with everything from castles and dragons to ice-cream and muddy puddles. The production promises laughter and lively songs, and the running time is 1 hour and 20 minutes, including interval. Peppa Pig Best Day Ever! will be playing at Theatre Royal Haymarket from 2 December 2021 to 2 January 2021. Read my review from 2019 HERE. (Photo above by Dan Tsantilis.)

Sleeping Beauty and the Beast at Battersea Arts Centre
At Battersea Arts Centre, Sleeping Trees’ pantomime mystery mash-up Sleeping Beauty and the Beast will be playing from 26 November to 30 December. With live music and songs, the show brings fairy tale characters to life in a mystery set at the Good-versity for pantomime villains, an institute reforming baddies. The show is recommended for families with children aged 3 and over, and the running time is 90 minutes. Tickets are sold under the Pay-What-You-Can pricing model aiming to make arts accessible to all.

Disney on Ice Find Your Hero at The O2
This Christmas favourite Disney characters will take to the ice at The O2 in Disney on Ice Find Your Hero. The show line-up includes Disney princesses– from Moana, Frozen, Beauty and the Beast, Tangled and The Little Mermaid–and the production promises colourful costumes, impressive figure-skating and classic Disney songs. Disney On Ice Find Your Hero is running at The O2 from 22 December to 2 January.

Gangsta Granny at Bloomsbury Theatre
Based on David Walliams’ popular children’s book Gangsta Granny, Birmingham Stage Company production about Ben and his not-so-boring granny is returning to London for a Christmas run at Bloomsbury Theatre from 9 December 2021 to 9 January 2022. The show tells the story of Ben, who is expecting an uneventful Friday night, but ends up embarking on the adventure of a lifetime with his very own Gangsta Granny.

Stick Man at Leicester Square Theatre
Popular children’s picture book Stick Man by Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler is brought to life in the Freckle Productions’ stage adaptation Stick Man Live, 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 from 3 November 2021 to 3 January 2022. The running time is 55 minutes. Read my review from 2017 HERE.

There are also a number of family-friendly musicals playing on West End, including Disney’s The Lion King at Lyceum Theatre, Disney’s Mary Poppins at Prince Edward Theatre, Frozen the Musical at Theatre Royal Drury Lane and Matilda The Musical at Cambridge Theatre.

Tags: Children's theatre, Christmas 2021, Father Christmas, Leicester Square Theatre, Nutcracker, Pantomime, Polka Theatre, Rose Theatre, Theatre Royal Haymarket, What's on stage