12 Pantos & Kids Shows To Book This Winter

The Snowman at the Peacock Theatre

Twinkling with festive spirit, The Snowman returns for a record-breaking 21st year. Based on the book by Raymond Briggs, this performance has transported a generation of children and their families into the wintery world of a boy and his magical snowman. With music and lyrics by Howard Blake, including the classic ‘Walking in the Air’, The Snowman is a heart-warming mix of dance, spectacle, storytelling, splendid sets and music performed by a live orchestra. Don’t forget the tissues.

Portugal Street, Covent Garden, WC2A 2HT; 22nd November-6th January; tickets from £15

Visit PeacockTheatre.com

A Christmas Carol at The Old Vic

Matthew Warchus’ big-hearted, smash-hit production of Charles Dickens’ classic A Christmas Carol returns to The Old Vic this November, adapted for the stage by Jack Thorne (Harry Potter and the Cursed Child). Filling the auditorium to the brim with mince pies, music and merriment, the unique staging will immerse the audience in this uplifting story, suitable for everyone aged eight and over.

The Cut, Waterloo, SE1 8NB; 27th November-19th January; tickets from £12

Visit OldVicTheatre.com

Peter Pan at Richmond Theatre

Join our high-flying hero, Peter Pan, as he transports the Darlings on an adventure they’ll never forget, filled with evil pirates, a very hungry crocodile and Captain Hook, played by BAFTA, Tony and two-time Olivier award-winner Robert Lindsay in his pantomime debut. Joining Robert will be Britain’s Got Talent finalist Jon Clegg as Mr Smee, West End star Rachel Stanley (Officer and A Gentlemen, Scrooge: The Musical, Legally Blonde) as the Magical Mermaid, and Harry Francis (Book of Mormon, A Chorus Line, Fiddler on the Roof) as the boy who never grew up.

Little Green, Richmond, TW9 1QJ; 8th December-6th January; tickets from £12

Visit ATG.co.uk 

Snow White at the London Palladium

Dawn French stars alongside returning Palladium royalty Julian Clary, Paul Zerdin, Nigel Havers and Gary Wilmot for this year’s must-see panto. They’re joined by Strictly Come Dancing’s Vincent and Flavia, plus West End and Broadway star Charlie Stemp and Over The Rainbow’s Danielle Hope as Snow White. This show is brought to you by the same team behind last year’s Olivier Award-winning pantomime – we’re expecting great things.

8 Argyll Street, Soho, W1F 7LA; 8th December-13th January; tickets from £34.50

Visit SnowWhitePalladium.com

Aladdin at New Wimbledon Theatre

Have I Got News for You’s Paul Merton leads the cast in this year’s pantomime as Widow Twankey. He’ll be joined by Blue’s Lee Ryan as Aladdin and magician Pete Firman, who will be on hand to spread a little magic over SW19 and help Aladdin overcome the evil Abanazar. Packed with all the traditional pantomime ingredients audiences expect, Aladdin will feature laugh-out-loud comedy, beautiful costumes and plenty of boos and hisses.

93 The Broadway, Wimbledon, SW19 1QG; 8th December-6th January; tickets from £16.90

Visit ATG.co.uk 

Sleeping Beauty at Theatre Royal Stratford East

Theatre Royal Stratford East has chosen Sleeping Beauty for this year’s panto production. The princess has been in a deep sleep for a hundred years, but wakes to find herself in a new city with a cruel fairy hot on her heels. Expect a much-loved mix of original songs, cracking jokes and a sprinkling of magic in east London’s must-see pantomime.

Gerry Raffles Square, Stratford, E15 1BN; 1st December-12th January; tickets from £10

Visit StratfordEast.com

Aladdin at Hackney Empire

Hackney Empire is celebrating its 20th year as a pantomime host. This year’s production is pants classic Aladdin: the team promises a cast straight from the West End (including the hotly-anticipated return of Tameka Empson and Olivier award-winner Clive Rowe as the Dame), lively song and dance numbers and plenty of chances to boo and cheer.

291 Mare Street, Hackney, E8 1EJ; 24th November-6th January; tickets from £10

Visit HackneyEmpire.co.uk

Stick Man at Leicester Square Theatre

Touching, funny and highly original, this delightful adaptation of Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler’s Stick Man is back. What starts off as a morning jog becomes quite the misadventure for Stick Man: a dog wants to play fetch with him, a swan builds a nest with him, and he even ends up on a fire. How will Stick Man ever get back to the family tree? This award-winning production is packed full of puppetry, songs, live music and funky moves.

6 Leicester Place, Leicester Square, WC2H 7BX; until 6th January; tickets From £16

Visit LeicesterSquareTheatre.com

Dick Whittington at The Lyric Hammersmith

Join The Lyric as it celebrates the 10th anniversary of its annual pantomime. This year it’s Dick Whittington who’ll be getting the full Lyric treatment. Expect the usual mix of live music, crazy characters, awesome adventure, singing, dancing, villainous baddies and heroic goodies with a little bit of feline flavour chucked in for good measure.

Lyric Square, King Street, Hammersmith, W6 0QL; 17th November-6th January; tickets from £10

Visit Lyric.co.uk

Horrible Christmas at Alexandra Palace

Horrible Histories presents the tale of Christmas in a wonderful, wildly funny way. When Christmas comes under threat from a jolly man dressed in red, it’s up to one young boy to save the day – but can he do it? From Victorian villains to Medieval monks, puritan parties to Tudor treats, join the gang on a hair-raising adventure through the history of Christmas in the company of Charles Dickens, Oliver Cromwell, King Henry VIII, St Nicholas and Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer as they all join forces to save the festive season.

Alexandra Palace Way, Wood Green, N22 7AY; 4th-30th December; tickets from £11.15

Visit AlexandraPalace.com
 

Awful Auntie at the Bloomsbury Theatre

Having garnered a reputation as an exceptional children’s author, David Walliams’ hilarious bestseller Awful Auntie has been adapted for the stage. Walliams’ story is about Stella Saxby, the heir to a manor house called Saxby Hall, who deplorable aunt Alberta (accompanied by her enormous owl Wagner) sets about taking her inheritance away from her. Stella must rely on her intelligence to evade Alberta’s advances and keep what is rightfully hers.

15 Gordon Street, King’s Cross, WC1H 0AH; 12th December-6th January; from £18.50

Visit TheBloomsbury.com

Rapunzel at Hoxton Hall

From the same creative team behind last years’ Puss in Boots, Hoxton Hall presents Rapunzel as its 2018 Christmas show. Rapunzel tells the story of the young girl with flowing tresses, locked away in a tower by an evil witch. Will the prince rescue the heroine? Will Witcherty Grub be defeated? Will Mary Cherry, the castle cook, bake the cake in time? Hold onto your hair and prepare for this magical re-telling of this classic fairy tale.

130 Hoxton Street, Hoxton, N1 6SH; 13th-30th December; tickets from £12.50

Visit HoxtonHall.co.uk