Tis the season to feel jolly… apparently. Whether you are filled with festive cheer or a Grinch, there is something for everyone to enjoy this December. Up and down the country you can experience 100s of pantos – sadly it’s not possible to include them in this, so instead I’ve included a couple as well as some other festive favourites and shows that remarkably have nothing to do with the big day in this countdown to Christmas
HIGH SOCIETY (The Mill at Sonning)
Now – 20th January 2024
The always beautiful Mill at Sonning bring a well loved musical back for this years Christmas show as they stage a new production of this Cole Porter classic.
Tickets from www.millatsonning.co.uk
A VERY VERY BAD CINDERELLA (The Other Palace)
1st December – 7th January 2024
I’m not your Bad Cinderella, I’m your very very Bad Cinderella… sort of. This new adult panto written by Neil Hurst and Jodie Prenger boasts itself as being the naughtiest, stagey-est show this Christmas.
Tickets from www.theotherpalace.co.uk
PANDEMONIUM (Soho Theatre)
1st December – 23rd January 2024
A scornful account of the activities of Boris Johnson and ‘Others’ during the Pandemic and its Aftermath, written by Armando Iannucci.
Tickets from www.sohotheatre.com
THE GRUFFALO’S CHILD (Garrick Theatre)
1st December – 7th January 2024
Tall Stories’ enchanting adaptation of the much-loved picture book wanders on to the West End stage for a festive season.
Tickets from www.nimaxtheatres.com
DIANA (Eventim Apollo)
4th December
The Broadway musical makes its UK debut with a one-off concert production starring Kerry Ellis, Maiya Quansah-Breed, Alice Fearn and Denise Welch.
Tickets from www.eventim.co.uk
ULSTER AMERICAN (Riverside Studios)
4th December – 27th January 2024
Woody Harrelson, Andy Serkis and Louisa Hartland star in David Ireland’s award-winning social satire for a limited 8 week run.
Tickets from www.ulsteramericanplay.com
EDWARD SCISSORHANDS (Sadler’s Wells)
5th December – 20th January 2024
The classic film heads to London for a 7 week Christmas season in an adaptation devised, directed and choreographed by Matthew Bourne.
Tickets from www.sadlerswells.com
ROCK ‘N’ ROLL (Hampstead Theatre)
6th December – 27th January 2024
Tom Stoppard returns to Hampstead in this play which covers 21 years in the lives of three generations.
Tickets from www.hampsteadtheatre.com
21 ROUND FOR CHRISTMAS (Park Theatre)
6th December – 23rd December
This comical and chaotic one-woman-show about memory, friendship and regrets heads to Park Theatre following acclaimed runs at the Hope Theatre and Bridge House Theatre.
Tickets from www.parktheatre.com
CHRISTMAS ACTUALLY (Southbank Centre)
7th – 11th December
The Christmas variety extravaganza created by Richard Curtis will star Miriam Teak-Lee and Flo & Joan in a show featuring live music, performance, Christmas stories and comedy.
Tickets from www.southbankcentre.co.uk
MACBETH (Donmar Warehouse)
8th December – 10th February 2024
David Tennant stars in this new production of Shakespeare’s classic which rounds off an impressive year for the Donmar.
Tickets from www.donmarwarehouse.com
REUBEN KAYE: THE BUTCH IS BACK (Southbank Centre)
8th - 30th December
The multi-award winning comedy-cabaret megastar brings his sell-out 5-star show to London for a festive three-week residency.
Tickets from www.southbankcentre.co.uk
UNFORTUNATE: THE UNTOLD STORY OF URSULA THE SEA WITCH (Southwark Playhouse Elephant)
8th December – 17th February 2024
Shawna Hamic leads the cast of the critically acclaimed musical parody which tells the story of Ursula the Sea Witch with River Medway also starring.
Tickets from www.southwarkplayhouse.co.uk
PETER PAN (London Palladium)
9th December – 14th January
The annual palladium pantomime returns as do regulars Julian Clary, Nigel Havers, Gary Wilmot and Paul Zerdin. This year they are joined by Jennifer Saunders, Frances Mayli McCann and Louis Gaunt.
Tickets from www.palladiumpantomime.com
THE MOTIVE AND THE CUE (Noel Coward Theatre)
9th December – 23rd March 2024
One of National Theatre’s biggest hits of the year gets a West End transfer as Johnny Flynn , Mark Gatiss, and Tuppence Middleton return to the roles of Richard Burton, John Gielgud and Elizabeth Taylor.
Tickets from www.themotiveandthecue.com
A SPOTLIGHT ON LIVE (Sondheim Theatre)
10th December
The West End’s first chat show will be hosted by Carl Mullaney and will feature guests Derren Brown, Rachel Tucker and Andy Nyman. Expect chat and performances throughout.
WEST END MUSICAL CHRISTMAS (Adelphi Theatre)
12th December
After a storming Halloween concert, West End Musical brings its Christmas spectacular back for a third year with a line up including Shanay Holmes, Alice Fearn, BEN Forster, Trevor Dion Nicholas and Tosh Wanogho-Maud.
Tickets from www.westendmusicalchristmas.co.uk
MY FAVORITE THINGS: THE RODGERS & HAMMERSTEIN 80TH ANNIVERSARY CONCERT (Theatre Royal Drury Lane)
12th December
For one night only (and a matinee) a host of worldwide stars gather to celebrate 80 years of the legendary composers. Audra McDonald, Aaron Tveit, Marisha Wallace, Patrick Wilson, Daniel Dae Kim, Julian Ovenden, Ashley Park, Michael Ball and Lucy St Louis will be joined by a 40 piece orchestra.
Tickets from www.rh80concert.com
PROTEST SONG (Arcola Theatre)
12th December – 6th January 2024
Tim price’s funny, savage solo play explores activism and hierarchy as this alternative Christmas play inspired by the true story of Jimmy McMahon, the Big Issue seller who became an icon of the occupy London movement.
Tickets from www.arcolatheatre.com
STRANGER SINGS (Southwark Playhouse Borough)
13th December – 6th January 2024
There may be another show set in the upside down taking the West End by storm but this much-loved parody musical is also getting in on the action for an encore London run.
Tickets from www.southwarkplayhouse.co.uk
GWYNETH GOES SKIING (The Pleasance)
13th – 23rd December
Awkward Productions follow up their brilliantly bonkers Diana show with a brand new play with music (not a musical) focused on the recent ski trial of Gwyneth Paltrow. Expect a lot of madness and fun in a way that no others could dream of competing with.
Tickets from www.pleasance.co.uk
THE HOUSE WITH CHICKEN LEGS (Southbank Centre)
13th – 30th December
Sophie Anderson’s best-selling novel is brought to life in this critically acclaimed show transporting audiences to a world inspired by Baby Yaga through live music, intricate puppetry and projection.
Tickets from www.southbankcentre.co.uk
YOU’RE A GOOD MAN, CHARLIE BROWN (Upstairs at the Gatehouse)
14th December – 14th January 2024
Jordan Broatch, Millie Robins and Oliver Sidney are among those starring in the revival of this loved musical based on the iconic characters.
Tickets from www.upstairsatthegatehouse.com
THE UNFRIEND (Wyndham’s Theatre)
16th December – 9th March
Following a season earlier this year, Lee Mack and Sarah Alexander star in Steven Moffatt’s comedy about befriending somebody with extremely problematic morals.
Tickets from www.theunfriend.com
SLEEPING BEAUTY (Harold Pinter Theatre)
27th – 31st December
An all-star drag cast wake up to retell the iconic story as you've never seen it before. Kitty Scott-Claus, Yshee Black, Victoria Scone and Kate Butch are among the cast.
Plenty of fantastic theatre to keep us going as we eagerly await a visit from the big man on the big day… and hopefully a visit from Santa too. This really is the tip of the icicle with no shortage of great festive theatre and pantos all over the UK this month. I’d love to include them all if I could, but that would take me until Christmas 2024 to collate.
Look out for a huuuuuge 2024 preview on the website in the run up to Christmas as well as a look back at the year that was 2023 in theatre. Monthly previews will return in the New Year.
See you in the theatre!