Feature: Theatre - Christmas Shows - Panto dame Clive Rowe in Jack and the Beanstalk, plus old faves like A Christmas Carol and Cinderella

Published: 9 December, 2010
by JOSH LOEB

dizzying choice of seasonal shows on offer this year 

CHRISTMAS is a serious business in the world of the stage, especially during a recession. It’s the busiest time of the year for many venues, so producers know a little extra investment is worthwhile. Hence big names and slicker than usual productions – and, for theatregoers, an even more dizzying choice of what’s on. For those feeling overwhelmed, here are some recommendations…

The most renowned Christmas staple of all is probably the Hackney Empire’s blockbusting annual pantomime. This year’s, Jack and the Beanstalk, marks a return to glory for a venue that has been closed for many months due to financial woes. It stars superlative panto dame Clive Rowe (until January 9, 020 8985 2424).

If your taste is for the camp and eccentric, another great bet is the Shaw Theatre in Euston Road, which boasts song-and-dance-filled pantomime Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (December 13-January 3, 0844 248 5075).

At the Rosemary Branch in De Beauvoir Town, meanwhile, the brilliant Charles Court Opera present their “boutique panto” Robin Hood (December 10-January 9, 020 7704 6665) and at the King’s Head Theatre – or London’s Little Opera House as we are now supposed to call it – you can catch Cinderella by acclaimed company OperaUpClose (December 21-January 18, 08444 771 000) .

Nearby Sadler’s Wells also has Cinderella (until January 23, 0844 412 4300), while festive favourite The Snowman returns to sister venue the Peacock Theatre (until January 9, 0844 412 4300).

A weird version of an old classic is at Pentameters Theatre. Butterfly Wheels, the avant garde brainchild of Hampstead bohemians Alice Old and Kayleigh Allenby, presents the Nutcracker story in what is certain to be an imaginative adaptation (December 11-January 6, 020 7435 3648).

Also in Hampstead is the New End Theatre, whose Christmas show is rom-com It Had To Be You (until December 24, 0870 033 2733) and the Hampstead Theatre, which has Beasts and Beauties – children’s fairytales as told by poet Carol Ann Duffy (until December 31, 020 7722 9301).

Down the hill in Kentish Town, the Lion and Unicorn has earned a favourable reputation for its annual, alternative retellings of Dickens classics. Resident company Giant Olive are reviving their well-received production of a couple of years ago, A Christmas Carol (until January 15, 0843 221 0100). It’s set in the Holy Land.

There are plenty of fantastic children’s shows about too, including Bagpuss at the Soho Theatre (until January 9, 020 7478 0100), Alice in Wonderland at the Little Angel Theatre (until January 11, 020 7226 1787) and George’s Marvellous Medicine at The Bloomsbury Theatre (December 14-January 22, 020 7388 8822).

In the West End proper, meanwhile, Oliver! at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane (booking to January, 020 7907 7071) never ceases to lose its charm, while the Jermyn Street Theatre’s bizarre comedy All I Want For Christmas (until December 18, 020 7287 2875) has attracted top reviews, including one last week in this newspaper.

Finally, a warning: this list is by no means exhaustive. You could see a show a night between now and Christmas and still not cover every theatre in this very arty city.