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Christmas time brings many first-time visitors to the theatre. It is a magical time of the year to watch something live and put the remote control or laptop down.
It’s time to escape and get immersed. This year, there is a huge variety of different productions on a stage near you, from the traditional pantos, big-scale musicals, family fare and something for the adults on a solo trip without the little ones.
Let’s take a look at what you can see throughout the festive period and beyond in Manchester.
What pantomimes are on in Manchester this Christmas?
There is no shortage of pantos this year.
Jason Manford and Ben Nickless are back for Robin Hood!
The Opera House welcomes back both Jason Manford and Ben Nickless and this time the double act is headed to Sherwood via Quay Street and Robin Hood runs from 6th December – 4th January.
Further down the Oxford Road, the Contact panto is back. And they are delivering a retelling of Rumpelstiltskin from 11th to 31st December.
The New Adventures of Peter Pan at The Albert Halls
If pirates and fairies are more your bag, then head to Bolton to see The New Adventures of Peter Pan, which is currently at The Albert Halls until 31st December.
If you are a Corrie fan and remember Richard Hillman, then head to Stockport and see Aladdin, as it stars Brian Capron, aka Norman Bates, with a briefcase. Aladdin runs from 5th December until 4th January.
The Met in Bury are presenting a local twist on a classic tale with their Pied Piper of Hamelin, which runs from 6th – 28 December.
And if you are longing for child-free adult panto, then head to Ancoats. You can see Jack off the Beanstalk at the Hope Mill Theatre from 4th – 30th December
Christmas shows in Manchester for the family
If you want an alternative to a panto, there is plenty of choice if you want something for all the family, minus the familiar gags.
If you want to see Raymond Briggs’ classic Father Christmas – featuring songs, puppetry and live music, then head to The Waterside in Sale from 4th – 27th December.
If you want to escape to Narnia, by getting on the Met to Media City – then The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe has enough magic to please the whole family. It runs at the Lowry until 11th January.
If your kids love Roald Dahl, and lines like “For my lunch today I would like….a nice juicy little child!” Then LOWRY has his The Enormous Crocodile – adapted as a musical. It is in Salford from 10th December – 4th January.
If you and the kids prefer something interactive, then Adventures in Wonderland might send you down a rabbit hole which is more preferable than doom scrolling on your phone. Interested? Then head to Hulme with your madhatters to Z Arts. You have until 30th December.
Shaun The Sheep at Aviva Studios
Who doesn’t love Shaun the Sheep? What about if we dialled that up to 11 and added acrobatics? You in? This zany and off-scale show features beloved Aardman characters, daredevil acrobatics and vibrant circus skills. Shaun the Sheep’s Circus Show is at Aviva Studios, Factory from 11th December – 4th January.
A Christmas Fair Oldham Coliseum
The Oldham Coliseum might be closed, but Christmas in Oldham is not cancelled. New production A Christmas Fair is being staged at Chadderton Town Hall, and it promises to be a Christmas cracker. It runs until 2nd January.
Also in Oldham, and this time at the Library, is Handel and Gretel. And in the cost-of-living crisis, the tickets are reasonably priced at just £8. This classic tale stars Meg Hickie, who many regular theatre goers might recognise from 53two.
Hansel and Gretel are at the Oldham Library until 24th December.
Manchester’s musicals this Christmas
If you fancy seeing something at Christmas with no mention of the C-word, there are a few musicals you could check out.
The legend that is Tina Turner is celebrated in Tina – the Tina Turner Musical. From her humble beginnings to performing in stadiums and her turbulent marriage to Ike, this show covers the ups and downs, and it features all of her hits from Proud Mary to The Best.
Tina – The Tina Turner Musical is at the Palace Theatre until 3rd January.
Tina the Musical
A very aptly titled musical has just opened in Manchester, Singin ‘In the Rain, based on the popular film starring Gene Kelly is at the Royal Exchange Theatre, and it has a cast to die for, which includes Laura Baldwin (Waitress), Louis Gaunt (Mary Poppins) and Carly Mercedes Dyer (A Chorus Line) Singin’ in the Rain is booking until 25th January.
Ursula rehearsals
If you are a fan of The Little Mermaid but want something a bit bawdier, filthier and camp, then head to the Lowry. Unfortunately, the Untold Story of Ursula the Sea Witch stars Sam Buttery, and she invites you to take the plunge in this underwater adventure, which has been a splash hit every time it’s staged in Salford. Unfortunate is at the Lowry until 11th January.
Body swap movie sequel Freakier Friday was a hit in cinemas earlier this year, and the original has been adapted into a musical. Freaky Friday is at HOME until 10th January.
Freaky Friday at HOME
The festive season would not be complete without A Christmas Carol, and the Bolton Octagon have a musical version of the Charles Dickens’ classic, adapted by Kate Ferguson and Susannah Pearse. And you can see the new year in with this one, as it runs until 10th January.
Enjoy whatever you decide to see on stage and stick around, as our end-of-year-round-up will be coming soon.
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