Festive stage shows to see this Christmas 2025

There are plenty of Christmas shows to enjoy this festive season – oh, yes there is!

Towns across the regions are gearing up to welcome hundreds of pantomime audiences for some festive frolics, while others (like Sheffield, Leeds, Reading, Cirencester, and of course, the Old Vic) are staging A Christmas Carol. If you’re after a modern retelling, look no further than Sadler’s Wells East!

Still in the mood to see something festive? Here are our picks from up and down the country.

A Child’s Christmas in Wales

Amid the festive chaos, settle down for an hour-long show filled with warmth and wonder! Emma Rice adapts and directs Dylan Thomas’ classic poem, accompanied by music by Ian Ross, puppetry, and candle shadows.

Plays at The Lucky Chance, Frome, until 21 December

A Boy Called Christmas

Ever fancied exploring the true story of Father Christmas? Meet 11-year-old Nikolas, whose birthday is 25 December, as he embarks on one elf of an adventure! Matt Haig’s tale is adapted for the stage by Philip Wilson with music by Tom Brady.

Plays at Chichester Festival Theatre from 15 to 31 December

A Christmas Fair

Step into Christmas with this immersive, site-specific production of Jim Cartwright’s piece, which follows five people as they prepare for the annual Christmas fair. It’ll be staged in Oldham’s Chadderton Town Hall, with direction by Jimmy Fairhurst.

Plays at Oldham’s Chadderton Town Hall from 17 December 2025 to 2 January 2026

Alice: Return to Wonderland

It seems like everything in the kitchen cupboards is shouting out “eat me” and “drink me” right now, so why not make a start with a trip to Wonderland? Like every Sherman Theatre Christmas show, expect an actor-musician cast and puppets.

Plays at Sherman Theatre until 3 January 2026

Ballet Shoes

Put on your dancing shoes because the National Theatre favourite is back for another festive season after Katy Rudd’s production enchanted audiences last year.

Can’t get enough of gorgeous footwear? Matthew Bourne’s New Adventures The Red Shoes is spending Christmas in the capital at Sadler’s Wells!

Ballet Shoes plays at the National Theatre until 21 February 2026 / The Red Shoes plays at Sadler’s Wells from 2 December 2025 to 18 January 2026

Beauty and the Beast

A tale as old as time arrives in Glasgow as the Citz Christmas show returns! Set in an eternal wonderland, Lewis Hetherington’s new production celebrates being your glorious self and combines live music and magic.

Plays at Citizens’ Theatre from 2 to 31 December

The BFG

Dream big this Christmas with the RSC’s annual show – presented in collaboration with Chichester Festival Theatre and the Roald Dahl Story Company. This time it’s an adaptation of Roald Dahl’s much-loved book about a friendly giant. Like dreams, Daniel Evans’ production and Toby Olié’s magical puppetry are, like dreams, “very mysterious things,” that we can’t wait to see!

Plays at Royal Shakespeare Theatre in Stratford-upon-Avon until 31 January 2026, before transferring to Chichester Festival Theatre

Cinderella: A Fairytale

Sally Cookson’s adaptation is back in a new production in Edinburgh! Join Ella and her feathered, flying friends for an unforgettable night at the Ball – that’s your New Year’s party sorted!

Plays at the Royal Lyceum in Edinburgh until 3 Jan 2026

Christmas Carol Goes Wrong

A burnt turkey, a cat climbing the tree, or a forgotten Christmas pudding – something’s bound to go wrong at Christmastime! Luckily, the Mischief crew know this all too well and their festive offering is a classic tale with a twist.

Plays at Apollo Theatre from 6 December, but on tour prior to and following the London run

Christmas Day

Olivier Award-winning playwright Sam Grabiner has penned a new Christmas story, in which a Jewish family gathers in an abandoned building above the Northern Line. Exploring identity, belonging, and the rituals shared between loved ones, this new piece of writing debuts in London.

Plays at Almeida Theatre from 9 December 2025 to 8 January 2026

Elf

The modern classic Christmas movie is back on stage for its annual outing, and this time, Joel Montague and Carrie Hope Fletcher are playing Buddy the Elf and Jovie. Have a Sparklejollytwinklejingley time watching an elf tracing down his birth family, spreading Christmas cheer, and singing loud for all to hear.

Plays at Aldwych Theatre until 3 January 2026

The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe

While we don’t advise sacrificing your siblings in return for what’s on your wish list, we do advise taking a trip to Narnia! The stage adaptation of C S Lewis’ magical children’s book, directed by Michael Fentiman and based on the original production by Sally Cookson, has become a firm family favourite.

Plays at Lowry from 3 December 2025 to 11 January 2026

Lovers Actually

If you look for it, I’ve got a sneaky feeling you’ll find a musical parody of a much-loved Christmas movie playing in London… Comedy legends Jodie Prenger and Neil Hurst have written the comedy, which will see a bunch of multi-roling actors playing some pretty iconic roles.

Plays at the Other Palace until 4 January 2026

Mary Poppins

Have a “Jolly Holiday” with Mary – just so long as Santa doesn’t get stuck coming down the chim chiminey, chim chiminey, chim chim cher-ee! Ok. We’re done.

Plays at Wales Millennium Centre from 3 December

No Such Thing as Wolves

Horrible Histories writers Gerard Foster and Richie Webb have come together to write what they hope will be a young person’s first experience of musical theatre! Follow Hettie Hedgehog, who is preparing to hibernate – until her friend, Sydney Squirrel, convinces her to throw a party instead. ‘Tis the season!

Plays at Birmingham Hippodrome from 6 December 2025 to 4 January 2026

Oliver Twist

Christmas carols, folk songs, and original music – who could ask for more this Christmas? Deborah McAndrew has adapted the Charles Dickens classic. In the big smoke? There’s also a new revival of Oliver! playing in London. Consider yourself sorted!

Plays at Derby Theatre until 3 January 2026

Paddington The Musical

You know who’d like a Christingle? Paddington Bear. The marmalade-loving, mischief-making Peruvian bear is dazzling audiences in the West End and celebrating the city that loves him the most – London!

Plays at Savoy Theatre

Christmas Comes to Moominvalley

The Moomins are back! A unique adaptation of Tove Jansson’s The Fir Tree combines acrobatics and juggling while celebrating 80 years of the Moomins.

Plays at Jacksons Lane Arts Centre in north London from 5 December 2025 to 4 January 2026

Sleeping Beauty

Ready for some thigh-slapping good fun in the West End? The London Palladium’s pantomime offering this year is Sleeping Beauty, starring Catherine Tate and featuring a whole host of famous faces.

Plays at The London Palladium from 7 December

Sherlock Holmes and the 12 Days of Christmas

Legendary writing duo Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice have collaborated on tunes for a new whodunnit, written by Humphrey Ker and David Reed, and set in a West End theatre! Holmes races against time to save French Hens, find Gold Rings, and rescue Mother Goose…

Plays at Birmingham Rep until 11 January 2026

Singin’ in the Rain

While we all dream of a white Christmas, it’s more than likely we’ll get a wet one! Especially in Manchester. Alas, there’s a tap-dancing extravaganza with a glitzy cast to shake off any blustering blues.

Plays at Manchester’s Royal Exchange Theatre from 29 November 2025 to 18 January 2026

The Sound of Music

Raindrops on roses and whiskers on kittens, bright copper kettles and warm woollen mittens, brown paper packages tied up with strings… You know the rest! Top of the Christmas list is a trip to Leicester, where the hills are alive in a new revival directed by Nikolai Foster.

Plays at Curve Leicester until 17 January 2026

Treasure Island

Jake Brunger and Pippa Cleary have written the tunes for this swashbuckling adventure where teen Jim Hawkins happens upon a faraway island with secret hidden treasures. X marks the spot this Xmas!

Plays at Bristol Old Vic from 4 December 2025 to 10 January 2026