Top 10 festive shows

Here’s our rundown of the best Christmas shows from across the GWR network. Venture out and embrace the season with Paddington, Elf, Scrooge, Widow Twankey and more.

It gets to a point in November when you have to accept that Christmas is going to happen, whether you like it or not. We at Escape are definitely on board and want to kick things off with some recommendations of top shows.

Feast your eyes on these great festive spectacles – tickets are selling super-fast, so book now before it’s too late.

Matthew Bourne’s Cinderella

9 December 2017 – 27 January 2018
Sadler’s Wells Theatre, London

Matthew Bourne is one of the world’s most revered choreographers, known for creating and directing beautiful and imaginative dance for musicals, theatre, opera and film. His latest masterpiece is a retelling of Cinderella – a thrilling love story set in London during the Second World War. Cinderella will capture your heart this Christmas and make for a magical evening with friends and family.

Tickets: Prices range from £12 to £69 per ticket. Discounts are available for group bookings and family tickets.
sadlerswells.com/whats-on/2017/matthew-bournes-cinderella/booking

Paddington and The Snowman

17 December 2017
Colston Hall, Bristol

Settle in for an afternoon of mishaps and mischief as CBeebies star Pui Fan Lee narrates the story of Paddington’s journey to England from Peru and the marmalade-loving bear’s first concert at the Royal Albert Hall. After the interval, the classic Christmas film The Snowman will be screened with a live orchestral accompaniment. This is the perfect seasonal treat for the whole family and a fantastic way to introduce little ones to the mesmerising sound of live music.

Tickets: Prices range from £14.50 to £28.50 including booking fee.
visitbristol.co.uk/whats-on/paddington-and-the-snowman-at-colston-hall-p2316093

Jack and the Beanstalk

24 November 2017 – 8 January 2018
Oxford Playhouse

The Oxford Playhouse is scaling new heights with its most gigantic panto yet. Jack and the Beanstalk is coming to town with all the sparkle, music and dancing you can expect from a tip top festive pantomime. Boo, hiss and cheer as Jack climbs to the top of the beanstalk and is faced with magical surprises one after the other. It’s the perfect outing for adults and kids.

Tickets: Prices range from £15 to £30.
oxfordplayhouse.com/whats-on/all-shows/jack-and-the-beanstalk/4595#details

A Christmas Carol

20 November – 20 January 2018
Old Vic Theatre, London

Rhys Ifans stars in Charles Dickens’ timeless festive classic A Christmas Carol. On a bitter Christmas Eve night, cold-hearted Ebenezer Scrooge is visited by four ghosts and finds out what a lifetime of fear, selfishness and misery means for his future. If you’re looking to embrace the spirit of Christmas, then this big-hearted production, full of music and cheer, is for you.

Tickets: Prices range from £12 to £67.50

oldvictheatre.com/availability/a-christmas-carol

Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs

9 December 2017 – 14 January 2018
New Theatre, Cardiff

A panto starring Chico has to be worth its weight in gold, right? With a celebrity line-up including Samantha Womack, Gareth Thomas, Mike Doyle and more, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs is set to bring the fun and cheer to this year’s festive season. Expect some sensational dance numbers, fabulous costumes and a bucket load of audience participation. You won’t be disappointed with this proper knees-up pantomime which promises to be the fairest in all the land.

Tickets: Prices range from £13 to £37, plus more for boxes.
newtheatrecardiff.co.uk/what’s-on/snow-white

That’ll Be The Day

19 December 2017
Cheltenham Town Hall

A rock & roll show like no other is back with a brand new 2017 festive performance at the Cheltenham Town Hall. Get your friends together and prepare to party along to all of your favourite Christmas classics from the 50s, 60s and 70s with plenty of hilarious comedy to keep you laughing all the way to Boxing Day.

Tickets: Prices range from £25.50 to £27.50.
cheltenhamtownhall.org.uk/event/thatll-be-the-day-the-christmas-show-2017-180356/

Slava’s Snowshow

18 December 2017 – 4 January 2018
Royal Festival Hall, South Bank, London

This multi award-winning sensation returns to London’s South Bank just in time for Christmas. Slava’s Snowshow promises to offer audiences a magical theatre experience, with spectacular blizzards of snow and crowd-pleasing games.

Tickets: Prices range from £20 to £105.
slavasnowshow.co.uk/ticket-information

The Snow Queen

29 and 30 December 2017
Brighton Dome, Concert Hall

A fresh and vibrant ballet production of Hans Christian Andersen’s classic fairytale of the same name, The Snow Queen is also the story that inspired Disney’s Frozen – but don’t expect to hear any renditions of Let It Go in this beautiful ballet. Join Gerda on an adventure across the frozen north as she searches for her friend Kay, encountering magic along the way. Can Gerda’s love for Kay finally break the Snow Queen’s curse of eternal winter?

Tickets: Prices range from £10 to £19.50.
brightondome.org/event/14868/the_snow_queen

Nutcracker

29 November to 2 December 2017
Mayflower Theatre, Southampton

Over 100 dancers and musicians will bring this magnificent Christmas story to life with exquisite dancing against beautiful backdrops, all to Tchaikovsky’s glorious score played live. A trip to see the English National Ballet is always an experience.

Tickets: Prices range from £11.50 to £48.50.
mayflower.org.uk/whats-on/enb-nutcracker-2017

Elf the Musical

Until Saturday 18 November 2017
The Lyric, Theatre Royal Plymouth

Following a smash hit stint in the West End, Elf the Musical is returning to Plymouth for one week only. Based on the hilarious 2003 Christmas classic movie starring Will Ferrell, this awesome show tells the tale of Buddy, a young orphan child who grows up in the North Pole, unaware that he is actually human. This show is sure to be fantastic fun for all the family, so book tickets quick for a festive night filled with lots of laughter.

Tickets: Prices range between £16 for restricted view tickets to £52.50.
theatreroyal.com/whats-on/2017/elf-the-musical/?book=true