Here are our top recommendations for this year’s Christmas shows. From traditional theatre to alternative Christmas comedy there’s something for everybody.

Family Christmas

Potted Panto at The Garrick Theatre

CBBC presenters Dan and Jeff bring yet another spectacularly silly potted production to the West End’s Garrick Theatre, for a fantastically festive season. Opening December 10th, Potted Pantosees the madcap pair cram seven of Britain’s best pantomimes into an absurd 80 minutes! Following the huge success of their previous productions, which have included Potted Pirates and Potted Sherlock, their latest offering is guaranteed to get you grinning.

Potted Panto sees Dan and Jeff recreate some Christmas favourites, including a 3D Cinderella starring the world’s first ever Fairy Godchicken, Dick Whittington and Jeff the London Mayor, Aladdin, Snow White and Sleeping Beauty. Watch as Dan and Jeff clash over who will make the prettiest princess, and giggle as they soon realise that they cannot possibly play all seven dwarves!

Read the review of Potted Panto

For info and tickets click here

Adult Panto

Adventures of Dick at Leicester Square Theatre

It’s Christmas! Time to unleash the annual promiscuous panto – definitely not for family viewing.

Dick! and his perverted pussy, Dave The Cat, embark on the adventure of all adventures into London Town. Searching for the three F’s; Fame, Fortune and F***y, they arrive in sinful S’HoHo only to discover the delicious delinquent Queen Runt has been raising rents and buying up business in the quest to become the Lord Mayoress of London.

Running riot in the West End, Dusty ‘O’ leads this institutionalised carnal romp into its fifth filthy year. London’s number one adult panto is back with a scintillating, riotously rude and hilarious evening, for the greatest and debauched festive frolic you’ll ever have.

WARNING: Dick! is not for the faint hearted or easily offended – however there is enough to go around and remember … you’ll never miss a trick once you’ve gone DICK!

For info and tickets click here

Traditional Christmas

A Christmas Carol at the Lyceum Theatre

Charles Dickens’ classic gets the full Broadway treatment by the The London Musical Theatre Orchestra team of Alan Menken (Beauty and the Beast, Little Mermaid), Lynn Ahrens (Ragtime, Seussical) and Mike Okrent (Crazy For You, Me and My Girl).

Called by The New York Times “a tonic for adults, and for children a transfixing journey,” this spectacular musical extravaganza ran for ten years at New York’s Madison Square Garden.

For info and tickets click here

Alternative Christmas

Luv at Park Theatre

LUV is a 1960’s riotous celebration of the absurd lengths we go to when struck down with the terrible affliction known as ‘love’. After reuniting one fateful night, old school pals Milt and Harry uncover each other’s miserable life stories before hatching a plan to find their happily-ever-afters.

With its laugh out loud dialogue, physical comedy, and its infectious energy, Luv provides an alternative to the traditional Christmas show.

Written by Murray Schisgal, best known for writing the screenplay for ‘Tootsie’, LUV first premiered on Broadway in 1964 directed by Mike Nichols, where it won a number of Tony awards and nominations, among them Best Play and Best Author of a Play.

Read the review of Luv 

For info and tickets click here

A Christmas Cracker

Scrooge and the Seven Dwarves at Theatre 503

After the success of Cinderella & the Beanstalk, the Sleeping Trees are back with a brand new show! What’s more, if this performance goes well they might get their lucky break in Hollywood!

One cold Christmas Eve night, Santa and his elves are preparing for another busy night. The reindeer are ready and the sleigh is packed, there is just one problem; the sleigh won’t start! The Wicked Witch has stolen all of the Christmas spirit! Santa looks to the most unlikely of heroes to save the day; the grumpy Ebenezer Scrooge. Will Scrooge manage to change his ways and save Christmas? Will the boys make it to Hollywood?! And what do the seven Dwarves have to do with ANY of this? Dust the snow from your shoes and head down to Theatre 503 this Christmas to find out…

For more info and tickets click here