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WOS Manchester’s Christmas Crackers

December 14, 2007

With so many shows on in Manchester this Christmas, there are plenty of reasons to turn the telly off and escape! But where do you start? There are pantomimes galore, revivals, musicals and even lost episodes from a national treasure of a sit com to choose from. Allow WOS Manchester to share our five festive tips:

1) An Ideal Husband - Royal Exchange- 11 Dec- 26 January

This might not be as Christmassy as most of the fare on offer, but it does have the lovely Joanna Riding (pictured) as Mrs Cheveley. The Royal Exchange has a great track record when it comes to Oscar Wilde and with Braham Murray at the helm once again; this one looks set to be another cracker. This play also has the advantage of being a classic.

2) A Christmas Carol - Octagon Theatre, Bolton until 19 January

If you love this traditional story of miser Ebenezer Scrooge as he sees the error of his ways, you will love this Octagon production. It takes the story back to basics and is currently thrilling audiences in Bolton. There’s a good reason why; it’s magical!

3) Cinderella- Opera House, Manchester until 6 January

Corrie stars Tina O’Brien (Sarah Louise Grimshaw) and Johnny Briggs (the late, Mike Baldwin) slap their thighs, alongside established panto stars in this rolicking version of the put upon Cinders and the evil Ugly Sisters. On the night I attended, kids adored this panto and you can see why as it is unabashed fun.

4) Dick Whittington- The Lowry, Salford until 6 January

This panto is gaining good notices for the return of Darren Day to the stage. This much maligned musical star plays King Rat and judging by early reports, he steals the show. This one also stars one time heart throb, Chesney Hawkes and ex Emmerdaler Frazier Hines. With a great deal of audience participation, this sounds like a good way of getting the kids off the computers.

5) Dad’s Army - the Lowry (Quays Theatre) until 5 January

If you want a nostaligia fix, this show could be just the ticket! With a brilliant cast and the evergreen scripts of Jimmy Perry and David Croft- this is so much more than a rose- tinted tribute.

Last, but not least

Two classics also worth a look are, Tom’s Midnight Garden- still packing them in at the Library Theatre until 12 January and Scrooge- another take on Charles Dickens’ miser and his penny pinching, but this time, it’s a musical- at The Palace, Manchester until 12 January

Enjoy!

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