This article is sponsored by the Royal Albert Hall.
London's awash with theatre shows at Christmas. These are our picks of the best family-friendly productions, both traditional and more modern — all ideal for a festive day out with the family. Looking for panto? We've got that covered over here.
Christmas shows at Unicorn Theatre
Southwark's Unicorn Theatre specialises in children's theatre shows, and offers two productions for different age groups this festive season.
The world premiere stage adaptation of Odd And The Frost Giants (age 7+) features unlikely hero Odd on an epic journey as he meets Norse Gods Odin, Loki and Thor. Odd must use all his cunning to stop the invading Frost Giants from plunging the world into endless winter. The show uses creative captioning throughout every performance, meaning the words spoken are integrated into the style of the set, and are projected and animated so they are clear and easy to follow
Huddle (ages 2-5) is a predominantly non-verbal show about Mr Penguin, who has spent the winter guarding his egg, and now needs to find the confidence to look after his newborn chick.
Odd And The Frost Giants, 19 November-31 December 2024. BSL performance on 11 and 15 December, relaxed performances on 13 and 15 December, audio-described performance on 18 December. Huddle, 22 November-31 December 2024. Relaxed performances on 10 and 14 December. All at Unicorn Theatre.
PAN at Chickenshed Theatre
Adapted from Peter Pan by J. M. Barrie, PAN whisks you from starry night skies of London to an island where fairies flit, pirates plot, and the Lost Ones await their happy ending. It's a classic, which is why Chickenshed Theatre has chosen it to mark the venue's 50th anniversary. Even better, there's a chance to win tickets by taking part in weekly challenges.
PAN at Chickenshed Theatre, 20 November 2024-11 January 2025. Age 5+. All performances feature integrated BSL. Captioned performances 17, 18, 19, 20 December. Audio-described performances 14, 15, 22, 23, 30 December (with touch tours available before these shows). Sensory sensitive performance 1 December.
Zippos Christmas Circus at Winter Wonderland 2024
Acrobatics, aerial stunts and comedy characters appear in Zippos Christmas Circus, a regular feature of Hyde Park Winter Wonderland, inside what is apparently the largest tent structure in the UK. With a 45-minute run time, there's just enough action to keep the attention of kids of all ages — and there's a lot to see and do in the rest of Winter Wonderland if you want to make a day of it.
Zippos Christmas Circus at Hyde Park Winter Wonderland, 21 November 2024-5 January 2025. Note that pushchairs and prams aren't allowed inside the big top — there's a dedicated buggy park nearby. You'll need a Winter Wonderland admission ticket in addition to your circus ticket.
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Get that festive feeling at the Royal Albert Hall
For family fun in London this Christmas, the Royal Albert Hall has an enchanting programme of shows for all ages.
Introduce younger members of the family to the magic with My Christmas Orchestral Adventure (8 December), which combines traditional carols and pop songs as the audience helps conductor Tim regain his Christmas spirit, in time for the biggest Christmas concert in the whole world.
Festive staple Carols at the Royal Albert Hall (14-24 December) offers an impressive 15 shows this year, with the Royal Choral Society, the National Youth Choir and the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra performing beloved carols in an incredible atmosphere. Sing along to timeless songs and get yourself feeling all kinds of festive.
The fun continues after Christmas itself, with the Birmingham Royal Ballet once again bringing The Nutcracker to the Hall (29-31 December). Children (and adults too, if we're being honest) will be enchanted as Clara's toys come to life in the kingdom of the Sugar Plum Fairy, accompanied by Tchaikovsky’s glorious score.
Browse the Royal Albert Hall website for full details, and book your tickets before they sell out.
The Snowman at Peacock Theatre
Spend an evening walking in the air as the Birmingham Repertory Theatre brings the classic kids' book-turned-animated-film alive on stage as a ballet for an impressive 27th year (perhaps he won't melt this time around...). Skilled choreography, an enchanting set with fake snow, and that famous soundtrack combine for a show that melts the hearts of kids and adults alike.
The Snowman at Peacock Theatre, 23 November 2024-4 January 2025. For all ages. Relaxed performance 4 December, audio described performance 14 December (with optional touch tour before that show).
Hansel and Gretel at The Globe Theatre
Where better to introduce younger members of the family to the magic of festive theatre than at Shakespeare's Globe? Legendary Brothers Grimm's fairytale Hansel and Gretel has been reworked into an epic poem by Poet Laureate Simon Armitage, and it's told here — for the second consecutive year — with the help of music and songs. Left to fend for themselves in the woods, Hansel and Gretel try to find their way home, until they get sidetracked by a trail of tasty treats...
Hansel and Gretel at The Globe Theatre, 29 November 2024-5 January 2025. Age 5+. Captioned performances 18 December and 3 January, BSL performances 20 December and 4 January, relaxed performances 19 December and 2 January.
The Gruffalo's Child at Artsdepot
Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler's picture book The Gruffalo's Child returns to the stage, with a cautionary tale about the young Gruffalo who ventures into the deep dark wood, despite her father warning her not to. Songs and laughs are interspersed with scary fun as she follows snowy tracks and encounters mysterious creatures...
The Gruffalo's Child at Artsdepot, 3 December 2024-5 January 2025. Age 3+. BSL performances on 8 December. Relaxed performances on 11 and 15 December.
Stick Man at Bloomsbury Theatre
Author Julia Donaldson has made quite the contribution to the London family theatre scene. In addition to The Gruffalo's Child (above), Stick Man comes to life on stage this Christmas. Head to Bloomsbury Theatre to see how Stick Man copes as a dog wants to play fetch with him, a swan builds a nest with him, and he even ends up on a fire.
Stick Man at Bloomsbury Theatre, 4 December 2024-5 January 2025. Age 3+. BSL performance 8 December, relaxed performance 14 December, audio-described performance 15 December.
The Wizard of Oz on Ice at Alexandra Palace
Exactly what it sounds like, The Wizard Of Oz on Ice is a retelling of L. Frank Baum's tale along the yellow brick road, performed by a cast of all ages on ice skates, at the Alexandra Palace Ice Rink.
The Wizard of Oz on Ice at Alexandra Palace, 6-9 December 2024. Age 3+.
Maddie Moate's Very Curious Christmas
TV presenter Maddie Moate makes her West End debut, with an on stage adaptation of her book, A Very Curious Christmas. Some of your most curious Christmas questions are answered, including: Where does snow come from? How do crackers go BANG? And why do Brussels sprouts make you fart?!
Maddie Moate's Very Curious Christmas, Apollo Theatre, 6 December 2024-4 January 2025.
The Snowy Day, Polka Theatre
Ezra Jack Keats' magical picture book comes to life as a dance adaptation specially designed for 1-4 year olds and their grown-ups, featuring one dancer, original music and an immersive, enchanting set. This is the next best thing to an actual snow day.
The Snowy Day, Polka Theatre, 6 December 2024-2 February 2025.
Father Christmas Needs a Wee!, Arts Theatre
Do we really need to tell you the plot? Nicholas Allan knew what he was doing when he wrote the title for Father Christmas Needs a Wee! The comical escapade, in which... well the title gives it away really... is turned into a chucklesome musical, performed at the Arts Theatre this December. Let's just hope it's not so funny that your kids wet themselves too.
Father Christmas Needs a Wee!, Arts Theatre, 7-23 December 2024
Horrible Christmas at Alexandra Palace Theatre
The Horrible Histories team takes over the Alexandra Palace Theatre with a gruesome take on the festive period. Horrible Christmas delves into how Christmas came to be what it is today, including where the traditions of sending cards, putting up a Christmas tree, exchanging presents and eating turkey originated.
It's part panto, with plenty of "he's behind you" moments and sing alongs, with an underlying story of a young boy who has to save Christmas from a mysterious man in red. Medieval monks, Charles Dickens, King Henry VIII, and St. Nicholas himself are among the historic characters making an appearance.
Horrible Christmas at Alexandra Palace Theatre, 12 December 2024-4 January 2025. Age 5+. Captioned performance 18 December, audio-described performance 30 December.
Slava's Snow Show at Harold Pinter Theatre
A stage show created and staged by Russian performance artist Slava Polunin, Slava's Snow Show has been going for more than 30 years. It tells a story through a series of vignettes, featuring clowns, a snowstorm, giant snowballs and all manner of other enchanting scenes.
Slava's Snow Show at Harold Pinter Theatre, 18 December 2024-12 January 2025. Age 8+. Families with younger children are advised to sit in the circle, as inflatables come off the stage and into the audience during the show.
Disney On Ice: Road Trip Adventures at The O2
Cards on the table: we were raised on a diet of Disney On Ice, so we tend to get a little over-excited when the all-singing, all-dancing ice show skates back into town. This year's theme is Road Trip Adventures, and we're promised "a wild ride to favourite Disney destinations while visiting the world from the rooftops of London, travelling to the sun soaked Motunui, joining a safari to the Pride Lands, and playing at a larger-than-life carnival with Woody and Forky". Minnie, Mickey, Donald, Goofy and characters from Moana, Frozen, The Lion King and other parts of the Disney universe are scheduled to appear.
Disney On Ice at The O2, 26 December 2024-5 January 2025. And if they decide they want to try ice skating themselves? We've got you covered there too.
Non-festive family theatre shows in London this Christmas
Fed up of the kids talking about Christmas, asking about Christmas and singing about Christmas, all day long? The above shows all have a festive twist which'll only fire them up further. If they/you need a break from all that for a couple of hours, read on for family theatre shows on in London this festive period, but which aren't actually about Christmas. We can't guarantee there will be no mention of the 'C' word whatsoever, but it won't be all jingle bells and snowflakes.
BALLET SHOES: The first major stage adaptation of Noel Streatfeild's bestselling book Ballet Shoes is on at the National Theatre over the festive period. It's the story of three adopted sisters who fight to pursue their individual passions in a world which doesn't encourage ambitious women. Age 7+. From 23 November
PEPPA PIG: Beloved porcine character Peppa Pig and her friends are back on stage for Peppa Pig's Fun Day Out, which sees them visiting the zoo and the beach, with plenty of singing and dancing involved. All ages. Theatre Royal Haymarket, 28 November 2024-5 January 2025
SMARTEST GIANT: Another entry for successful duo Julia Donaldson and Alex Scheffler. The Smartest Giant In Town gets the theatrical treatment, with music and puppets telling the story of giant George, who smartens himself up with some new clothes. All ages. St Martin's Theatre, 29 November 2024-5 January 2025
THE CREAKERS: What would your children do if they woke up one day and all the adults had disappeared? That's what happens in The Creakers, written by musician and author Tom Fletcher, which sees a town full of children running wild, trying to solve a rather unusual mystery. See the musical at Southbank Centre. Age 6+. 18 December 2024-5 January 2025
