Book now for Christmas
It has been a punishing year for theatres, but many are hoping to end on an upbeat note with a traditional panto or festive play. Jason Manford and Jodie Prenger were due to star in
Sleeping Beauty at Manchester Opera House; 12 December-3 January. Owing to the new Covid regulations it may not now go ahead, so check the website for updates (atgtickets.com).
The Olivier Theatre is doing a one-off panto this year, Dick Whittington. 11 December-23 January; National Theatre, London SE1 (nationaltheatre.org). Elsewhere, A Christmas
Carol takes centre stage: Simon Russell Beale leads a cast of three playing all parts at The Bridge Theatre, London SE1; until 16 January (bridgetheatre.co.uk). Gemma Bodinetz ends her 17 years as artistic director of Liverpool’s Everyman Playhouse with a production; until 24 December (everymanplayhouse.com). In London, Brian Conley plays Scrooge in a Broadway musical version at the Dominion Theatre; 7 December-2 January (nederlander.co. uk). Leeds Playhouse is pledging 1,000 free tickets for NHS workers at its production; until 9 January (leedsplayhouse.org.uk).
Adapting to the challenges of socially distanced staging, Polly Lister fronts a one-woman panto of The Snow Queen (down from an original cast of five), at the Stephen Joseph Theatre, Scarborough; 7-31 December (sjt.uk.com).
There’s more Hans Christian Andersen at Sadler’s Wells, with its revival of last year’s The Little Match Girl, deemed “a joyous spectacle” then (Observer). From 17-27 December, Sadler’s Wells, London EC1 (sadlerswells.com).
For those who’d rather stick to outdoor pursuits this year, Christmas at Kew illuminates the Royal Botanic Gardens with over a million lights along a carefully managed trail, with timed entry. Until 17 January; Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, London TW9 (kew.org).