Top 10 theatre openings this week: 14 – 20 December

10. Robin Hood – Theatre Royal Stratford East

There's only a handful of pantomimes that don't need to rely on casting reality TV stars to get bums on seats, Theatre Royal Stratford East's annual anarchic festive romp is one of them.

16 December – 23 January 2016, Theatre Royal Stratford East. More information and tickets here.

9. Bull – Young Vic, London

Mike Bartlett's Olivier Award-winning one act play returns to the Young Vic with a new cast including Nigel Lindsay and Susannah Fielding. Set in a boxing ring, it pulls no punches – last time we saw it at least two people fainted.

15 December – 16 January 2016, Young Vic, London. More information and tickets here.

8. Cinderella – Theatre Royal, Plymouth

Cinderella's losing her slipper all over the UK this year, we've counted at least five productions of this panto around the country. Perhaps the most intriguing is down at Theatre Royal Plymouth, where everyone’s favourite TV fashion-guru, Gok Wan teams up with America's Got Talent winner Paul Zerdin.

18 December – 16 January 2016, Theatre Royal, Plymouth . More information and tickets here.

7. The Haunting of Hill House – Liverpool Playhouse

If you're after more frights than frills this Christmas then check out Anthony Neilson's new stage adaptation of Shirley Jackson’s 1959 novel. The production is in association with Hammer Films, known for their horror films including recent hits Let Me In and The Woman in Black. Be afraid…

14 December – 16 January 2016, Liverpool Playhouse. More information and tickets here.

6. The Lorax – Old Vic, London

Simon Lipkin has a puppet on his hand again, this time it's for David Greig's adaptation of Dr. Seuss's classic tale, The Lorax. Directed by Max Webster, the production also stars Simon Paisley Day and Laura Cubitt with choreography from Drew McOnie. So pretty much a banker…

16 December – 16 January 2016, Old Vic, London. For more information and tickets, click here: here.

5. The Witches – Curve, Leicester

Roald Dahl, a cast of actor/musicians and mind boggling illusions = a must see. Nikolai Foster directs David Wood's adaptation for children aged 7 .

16 December – 10 January 2016, Curve, Leicester. More information and tickets here.

4. The Insatiable, Inflatable Candylion – The SSE SWALEC Stadium, Cardiff

This show's name makes it sound completely bonkers, and our recent chat with the creator and Super Furry Animals frontman Gruff Ryhs didn't do much to dispel that. Still, don't be put off, everyone needs a bit of wacky fun at Christmas time.

17 December – 2 January 2016, The SSE SWALEC Stadium, Cardiff. More information and tickets here.

3. Les Liaisons Dangereuses – Donmar Warehouse, London

Una Stubbs and Dominic West star alongside rising star Morfydd Clark (keep an eye out for our interview with Clark) in this 30 year revival of Christopher Hampton's adaptation of Choderlos de Laclos’ scandalous 18th century novel of sex, intrigue and betrayal in pre-revolutionary France. Sounds like fun.

17 December – 13 February 2016, Donmar Warehouse, London. More information and tickets here.

2. Show Boat – Sheffield Crucible

Dan Evans, who recently announced he'll be swapping Sheffield for Chichester, directs a fab cast including Michael Xavier, Gina Beck, Rebecca Trehearn and Sandra Marvin in Oscar Hammerstein II's story of love, loyalty and freedom. Includes favourite songs "Ol’ Man River" and "Can’t Help Lovin’ Dat Man".

16 December – 23 January 2016, Sheffield Crucible. More information and tickets here.

1. The Dazzle – Found111, London

Andrew Scott swaps his swanky Sherlock trailer for a disused building next to Foyles on Charing Cross Road as he stars in the UK première of Richard Greenberg's play.

15 December – 30 January 2016, Found111, London. More information and tickets here.