There are sooo many things we love about festive season, and Christmas pantomimes and shows in London are way up there on the list. Read on for a Christmas cracker of a guide that includes cool Yule fun and laughter for the whole family.
The Nutcracker, London Coliseum
Over 100 dancers from the English National Ballet bring Nutcracker to life with exquisite dancing, beautiful sets and Tchaikovsky’s popular score played live by English National Ballet Philharmonic in this Christmas show essential.
On a sparkling Christmas Eve in a frost-dusted Edwardian London, Clara receives an enchanted Nutcracker as a present. Together, they discover a magical world where she battles with the Mouse King and meets a handsome stranger. As the air grows colder, Clara and her valiant Nutcracker take a hot air balloon ride across London to the glistening Land of Snow where a puppet theatre comes to life with dancers from around the world. Utterly charming.
When: 14th December 2022 until 7th January 2024
Where: St Martin's Lane, London
Aladdin, Hackney Empire
Join Aladdin on a magical journey filled with dreams of love and fortune, an enchanted lamp and a mysterious genie. Be prepared for an unforgettable performance, adorned with dazzling costumes, side-splitting laughter, and song and dance numbers that are simply genie-us!
When: 18th November until 31st December 2023 Where: Hackney Empire, 291 Mare Street, London E8 1EJ
Charlie Cook's Favourite Book, Little Angel Theatre
Feel-good at it's best, one of our favourite picture books get the stage treatment this Christmas in a puppet version we can't wait to see! When Charlie and her dad move to the farm from the city, everything seems to go wrong. Dolly the cow is in a grump, there’s not an egg to be found, and even the cockerel has stopped crowing! If only they’d paid attention to the mysterious note left on their windowsill about a curious pixie and the pudding she likes to eat on Christmas Eve… This enchanting musical brings a tale from Scandinavian folklore to life with puppetry, original music and a sprinkling of pixie magic.
When: 18 November 2023 until 4 February 2024.
Where: Little Angel Studios, Sebbon Street, London N1 2EH
Horrible Histories Live on Stage: Horrible Christmas, Barbican
When Christmas comes under threat from a jolly man dressed in red, it’s up to one young courageous boy to save the day – but can he save Christmas? From Victorian villains to Medieval monks, Puritan parties to Tudo r treats, join Horrible Histories Live on Stage: Horrible Christmas on a hair-raising adventure through the history of Christmas along with Charles Dickens, Oliver Cromwell, King Henry VIII and St Nicholas...
When: 29th December 2023, 2pm and 4.30pm
Where: Barbican Arts And Conference Centre Silk Street, London EC2Y 8DS
Stick Man, Leicester Square
What a wonderful time we had recently checking out this delightful adaptation of Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler's Stick Man. The whole family loved the performance by Freckle Productions, and even our 3-year-old wiggle pants was enthralled the whole way through. Look out for a surprise guest at the end which just made the performance all the more special. Clue: he's jolly, rides a sleigh and lives in the North Pole. The perfect Christmas show in London for families!
When: 8th November 2023 until 2 January 2024 Where: 6 Leicester Place, London WC2H 7BX
Snow White, Greenwich Theatre
Mirror, mirror, on the wall, don’t miss the fairest pantomime of them all! Snow White will be coming to Greenwich Theatre, for its 2023 Pantomime, and has been written by everyone’s favourite baddie, Anthony Spargo!
When: 23rd November 2023 until 7th January 2023 Where: Greenwich Theatre, Croom's Hill, London SE10 8ES https://www.greenwichtheatre.org.uk/events/snow-white/
The Showstoppers' Christmas Kids Show, Woolwich
This award-winning musical improvisation show will help make all your kids’ Christmas stories come to life. Shaun the Sheep meets Dora at the North Pole? Done! PAW Patrol help Father Christmas deliver presents? No problem! Peppa Pig and Spiderman build a snowman? Totally. Grown-ups, the kids are in charge for this show and will decide who their heroes are, and what happens next in each story. They'll be encouraged to shout out their ideas so the Showstoppers can bring them to life with a large dash of music and comedy thrown in for good measure: all on the spot! It's recommended for kids age 6-and-up and deffo adds a large dash of fun to a festive treat of a show. When: 9th and 10th December 2023 Where: The Fireworks Factory, 11 No 1 St, Royal Arsenal, London SE18 6HD
A Christmas Carol, Alexandra Palace
Following a phenomenally successful run in 2021, Mark Gatiss’s acclaimed retelling of Dickens’ winter ghost story returns to the hauntingly atmospheric Alexandra Palace with a brilliant cast. Star of stage and screen Keith Allen (Shallow Grave, Robin Hood, Kingsman: The Golden Circle, The Pembrokeshire Murders, The Homecoming ) will play the role of Scrooge with Peter Forbes (Follies) as Marley.
When: 24th November 2023 until 7th January 2024 Where: Alexandra Palace Way, London N22 7AY www.alexandrapalace.com/whats-on/a-christmas-carol-2/
Potted Panto, Wilton's Music Hall
Seven classic pantomimes in 70 hilarious minutes is what you can expect with this hilarious, Olivier Award nominated festive celebration! Potted Panto is back for four weeks only and if you pot yourself some tix you can expect a madcap ride through the biggest stories and best-loved characters from the wonderful world of pantomime. The dastardly double act dash from rubbing Aladdin’s lamp to roaming the golden streets of Dick Whittington's London and making sure that Cinderella gets to the Ball, all in one show that is unmissable fun whether you're six or 106. When: 29th December until 30th December 2023
Where: Wilton's Music Hall, 1 Graces Alley, London E1 8JB www.pottedpanto.com/
Wing Scuffle Spectacular, Finchley
This festive season join The Revel Puck Circus as they perform the most extraordinary of acrobatics in a heartfelt performance with an often hilarious and dangerous edge. Watch with bated breath as performers balance on tight ropes, swing around chainsaws and showcase the UK's only teeterboard trio. The Wing Scuffle Spectacular is a tented circus show for the 21st century, and encourages everyone to care for each other, challenge each other and take risks together for higher rewards. This is circus done right for a new generation, folks. When: 15th December 2022 until 8th January 2023 Where: Victoria Park, Finchley www.revelpuckcircus.com/the-wing-scuffle-spectacular
Raymond Briggs' Father Christmas, Lyric Hammersmith Theatre
Join Santa as he awakes from a dream of sun, sea and sand only to find it is the busiest day of the year: Christmas Eve. Watch as he prepares for his Christmas deliveries, feeds his reindeer and finally takes flight into the snowy night. Yep, back for another brilliant year, this Lyric family favourite, co-produced with the Olivier Award-nominated Pins & Needles Productions, is sure to be a hit with the fam. When: 22nd November until 30th December 2023
Where: The Lyric Theatre Hammersmith, Lyric Square, King Street, London W6 0QL
My Christmas Orchestral Adventure, Royal Albert Hall
Little ones will adore spotting Santa at My Christmas Orchestral Adventure at the Royal Albert Hall. Okay, so it's not a grotto, but this is a family affair that will definitely leave you all with the warm and fuzzies. What's it about? Well, Father Christmas has lost his map on a practice run of his delivery route, and the trusty Royal Albert Hall ensemble have found it and need to get it back to him. Expect to zip around the world on an orchestral adventure that might not be a traditional visit with Santa, but is equally, if not more, memorable and magical.
When: 10th December 2023, 12.30pm & 4.30pm
Where: Royal Albert Hall, Kensington Gore, London SW7 2AP
Hansel & Gretel, Shakespeare's Globe
The Globe’s magical festive production of Hansel and Getel is filled with music, magic and songs in the tale of a family in their war-torn village, where the woodcutting dad and the breadmaking mum decide that the only chance they have to give their children a safer life is to lead them – and leave them – in the woods. Left to fend for themselves, Hansel and Gretel’s plans to find their way home get side-tracked, quite literally, by a trail of treats too good to resist and a strange old lady with a plan of her own…
When: 8th December 2023 to 7th January 2024
Where: Shakespeare's Globe Theatre, 21 New Globe Walk, Bankside, London SE1 9DT
100 Years of Wonder, Disney on Ice Dream Big, London O2
Join Disney favourites including Moana, Elsa, Aladdin, Coco, Disney Princesses and, of course, Mickey Mouse for an ice-skating performance sensation that will really up the magic ante this Christmas. When: 21st until 31st December 2023 Where: Peninsula Square, London, SE10 0DX www.disneyonice.com/en-gb/dream-big
Frozen the Musical, Theatre Royal Drury Lane
Unless you've been living under a rock for the past decade or so, you'll have a vague idea of the Frozen storyline and the theatre version sticks to the Disney classic more than well enough for fans, but also with a few up-to-date twists to keep things fresh. In brief though it tells the tale of two royal sisters, one of which has some pretty impressive powers, but really, at the heart of it all, it's about being true to oneself and about sibling love. It's not strictly a Christmas show, but it's so magical it definitely fits the bill. Read our review before buying your tix. When: Now until June 2024 (it just extended its season: woohoo!). Where: Theatre Royal Drury Lane, Catherine Street, London WC2B 5JF
That's all we have for now, folks, but we'll be updating as more news on more Christmas pantomimes and shows in London reaches our radar!
Hero image: The Nutcracker via English National Ballet
Need some more very merry guides to the festive season? Look no further: