See the Fonz in Panto

Henry Winkler (aka the Fonz from the 70s sitcom Happy Days) is again playing Captain Hook in panto this year.  He is appearing in Peter Pan at the Liverpool Empire.

It’s a role he loves and says that Hook is really misunderstood and although he wants to fry children in the bigger picture sometimes that's not so bad, if you think about it!  With that attitude sounds as though he’s ideal casting for a panto villain.

You can find out more about pantos in the London area , Xmas Shows and Christmas Shows for Children by clicking on the links.

See a Unique Christmas Show at Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre

If you are looking for something different to take the family to this Christmas, the unique Footsbarn Theatre Company are appearing at Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre with Christmas Cracker. This is a great piece of entertainment for all the family offering aspects of carnival, jokes, magic, music, dance, puppets, circus, comedy and general Christmas cheer.

Basically the Cracker is a celebration of London's rich and bawdy past and festive traditions – all inspired by the complete works of Shakespeare.

The show runs for 90 minutes (including interval) and opens on Tuesday 22nd December running until Sunday 3rd January. To find out the performance days, times and cost of special family tickets visit: www.shakespeares-globe.org

Peter Polycarpou playing Scrooge at Birmingham Rep

You can see Peter playing Ebenezer Scrooge in a new stage adaptation of a Christmas Carol in the Main House at Birmingham Rep from 25th November to 9th January.

Christmas Carol reduced price preview tickets

This is a new twist on Dickens’ classic tale when Christmas-hating Sidney and his nephew Danny accidentally get locked in a theatre and end up putting on A Christmas Carol using whatever props and costumes they can get their hands on. They are helped by two out-of-work actors, the resident theatre cat, a mouse with stage fright and the audience! 

A Christmas Carol starts previewing at the Arts Theatre in Great Newport Street (nearest tube Leicester Square) on 11th November with the opening night on November 25th. If you book tickets for the preview the top price is reduced to £25

Performers include Gareth Hale (Scrooge), Simon Lipkin, Rebecca Thornhill and Michael Matus

Christmas at the Musicals Concerts

West End International are presenting Christmas at the Musicals – The Best of the West End,  on Sunday 13th December at the Royal Concert Hall Glasgow – performances at 15:00 & 19:30, and the Royal Concert Hall in Nottingham on Thursday 17th December at 19:00.

The evening will star four leading West End soloists, Annalene Beechey (Christine in The Phantom of the Opera, Cosette in Les Misérables, Glinda in Wicked), Jacqui Scott (title role in Evita, Ellen in Miss Saigon, Grizabella in Cats), Michael Xavier (Raoul in The Phantom of the Opera, Sir Galahad in Spamalot, Sky in Mamma Mia!) and Simon Bowman (Chris in Miss Saigon, Raoul and The Phantom in The Phantom of the Opera, Marius and Jean Valjean in Les Misérables)

The concert programme will feature hits from musicals past and present with a seasonal extra to put you in the Christmas spirit!