Let’s Get This Christmas Show on the Road

The countdown to Christmas is on and with just a few weeks left you might be thinking about what to see and do over the coming festive period. Christmas wouldn’t be Christmas without a trip to the theatre and with so much to choose from at Leicester’s many fantastic venues you are sure to find something that tickles your fancy.

Whether that’s a traditional charming pantomime or the glitz and glamour of a magical musical there is entertainment for everyone across the city of Leicester.

Who hasn’t heard arguably the most famous Christmas song of all time; White Christmas? White Christmas is a Made at Curve musical based on the 1954 American classic with former Hollyoaks star Danny Mac stepping into the role of Bob Wallace to deliver the much-loved song. Filled with dramatic dance routines from two-time Olivier Award-winning choreographer Stephen Mear and a score of well-known hits, this performance is guaranteed to get you in the festive spirit. (6 December to 13 January)

Treasure Island will be The Haymarket’s first Christmas show since it reopened earlier this year. Penned by national treasure and well established author Sandi Toksvig and co-written by her sister Jenifer, the show is based on the adventure story written by Robert Louis Stevenson and guarantees to be the perfect Christmas treat for all the family. Making a ghostly appearance will be Leicester’s very own Gary Linekar whose performance will be projected onto the stage in the role of Captain Flint. (13 December to 6 January)

Also showing at The Haymarket this Christmas is “Santa is Coming to Leicester”. A charming short play adapted from the best- selling children’s book by Steve Smallman. (15/16 & 22-24 December)

The wonderful Little Theatre is bringing together all the usual traditional pantomime ingredients into an egg-citing omelet of mirth, music and mayhem for Mother Goose. (14 December to 6 January).

Christmas and Pantomime go hand in hand so why not fly into the enchanting world of Neverland with Peter Pan and the Darling children. This unforgettable children’s tale is bought to life with a pinch of Pixie dust and a wonderfully talented cast at De Montfort Hall this winter.  The cast includes former Coronation Street star Kevin Kennedy, X Factor winner Sam Bailey, Britain's Got Talent semi-finalist Kev Orkian and BBC Radio Leicester's Martin Ballard. (15 December to 6 January)

The Phoenix features a decidedly Christmassy double-bill this December with ‘stage on screen’ showings of festive classics. First up is a Christmas Carol: Simon Callow (11 December), a one-man theatrical extravaganza from London’s Arts Theatre based on Charles Dickens’ heart-warming tale. On the eve of Christmas Eve, you can catch a live broadcast from Moscow’s Bolshoi Theatre of The Nutcracker, performed by the majestic Bolshoi Ballet (23 December).

For audience participation and a generally fun packed show, head down to the Peepul Enterprise for their adaptation of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. (10 December to 26 December).

And finally, anyone with a guilty pleasure for the cheesiest Christmas tunes can’t miss Homage á Trois - Christmas Edition at The Y Theatre featuring reinterpreted festive classics performed by some of Leicester’s finest musicians. (21 December)