Panto time is here again, but there’s so much more to savour, there’s Donny Osmond and Lean Jean Silver, Tiny Tim and Robin Hood complete with his quiver. They’re all on capital stages this month, making December a magical month of shows to remember.
Christmas is coming and you might be surprised by the number of shows in the capital this month, there’s a fine collection of traditional pantomime titles, including Cinderella, Sleeping Beauty, Aladdin and Robin Hood, on offer as well as the odd smash hit musical, magic show, burlesque cabaret and dramatic storytelling. So, staying with the festive theme, here’s my Twelve Days of Must See Theatre.
PANTOMIME | Cinderella
Festival Theatre, 23 November-31 December
Panto favourites Allan Stewart, Grant Stott and Jordan Young are joined by Claire Gray, Gail Watson, as the Ugly Sisters, and Amber Sylvia Edwards in the title role, for a magical new production of the greatest pantomime of them all. Packed with all of the traditional pantomime – Oh, yes it is! – Cinderella features laugh-out-loud comedy, stunning scenery, beautiful costumes and plenty of boos and hisses. Will Cinders outwit her very wicked sisters and win her Prince Charming? What do you think?
Running time TBC. Tickets £20.75-£37.75 https://www.capitaltheatres.com/whats-on/all-shows/panto-2024-cinderella/2282
MUSICAL | Joseph and his Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat
Edinburgh Playhouse, 3-29 December
Legendary Osmond brother Donny stars as the roof-raising Pharaoh in this production from the London Palladium of Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber’s smash hit musical which returns home to Edinburgh where it premiered in 1972. Featuring classics like Any Dream Will Do, Close Every Door and There’s One More Angel In Heaven, so get ready to Go, Go, Go Joseph.
Running time 2 hours including interval. Tickets https://www.atgtickets.com/shows/joseph-and-the-amazing-technicolor-dreamcoat/edinburgh-playhouse/
THEATRE | Treasure Island
Royal Lyceum, 28 November-4 January 2025
It’s Christmas Eve and young Jim Hawkins works at North Edinburgh’s finest accommodation for reformed pirates and past-it privateers. Talk of cutlasses, ships and gold can be dangerous in such dodgy company. It’s not long before the story of their greatest voyage takes over… Jim, Ben Gunn and Lean Jean Silver are soon reliving adventures hunting for treasure on the Hispaniola. Sea shanties, adventures and heartfelt fun enliven Jim’s adventure as they follow Billy Bones’ treasure map. Remember, X marks the spot… or does it?
Running time 2 hours including interval. Tickets £15-£38 https://lyceum.org.uk/events/treasure-island
BURLESQUE | Swamplesque
Mound Place, 5 December-4 January 2025
Having taken smashed box office records at this year’s Fringe, everyone’s favourite ogre-inspired burlesque and drag parody returns for a Christmas season. Prepare for a night filled with belly laughs, festive surprises, and a touch of the risqué that’s sure to put you on the nice list despite being a fabulously naughty night out. An unforgettable evening of fairy tales and magic for everyone over 16. Includes nudity, strobe lighting, scenes of sexual nature and haze.
Running time 60 minutes. Tickets £19-£22 https://edwinterfest.com/edinburgh-christmas/whats-on/swamplesque
AMDRAM | Sleeping Beauty
Church Hill Theatre, 13-22 December
Now in their 81st year, this festive season Edinburgh People’s Theatre (EPT) tells the tale of King Nolly and Queen Dottie of Woollyglen, a land of sheep and spinning wheels. Both are excited for the Christening of their beautiful daughter, Princess Aurora. The wicked fairy, Carabosse, however, mightily miffed at not receiving an invite, places a curse on the Princess which will cause her to die on her 18th birthday by a prick from the spindle of a spinning wheel. Will she live happily ever after? Again, what do you think? Get ready to boo the baddies and cheer the goodies.
Running time 118 years including interval. Tickets £15 https://www.ticketsource.co.uk/ept
PANTO | A Christmas Carol
Loretto Theatre, Musselburgh, 18 December-4 January 2025
Meet Scrooge, Musselburgh’s grumpiest miser and proud owner of Scrooge’s Speedy Cash, who’s in for a rude awakening when three mischievous ghosts turn up to ruin her silent night. With belly laughs, feel-good songs this panto party promises to leave you shouting, ‘Bah humbug!’ all the way home. Features the return of Graham Crammond as Dame Scrooge and Big Brother 14’s Michael Dylan.
Running time TBC. Tickets £22-£24 www.thebrunton.co.uk
KIDS | Robin Hood and the Golden Arrow
Scottish Storytelling Centre, 21-23 December
Sherwood Forest comes to the Scottish Storytelling Centre for this season’s fun-filled festive Macastory Panto! The dastardly Sir Guy of Grisslebone and his mother, the evil Sheriff of Morningside, are plotting to capture Robin and his band of Merry-Makers – Friar Tuck, Wilma Scarlett and Maid McMarion – and need help to win the contest for the Golden Arrow and outsmart the shifty Sheriff. Sing along and help. And watch out for the Sheriff… She’s behind you! Or could be.
Running time 60 minutes. Tickets £12 https://scottishstorytellingcentre.online.red61.co.uk/event/913:5635/
YOUTH THEATRE | Nativity! The Musical
Assembly Roxy, 10-15 December
Captivate Theatre is ready to transport audiences to St Bernadette’s School where unlucky in love teacher Mr Maddens is staging the school Nativity and making it a musical! To get one over his rival school (and teaching nemesis Gordon Shakespeare) he has however told a teeny tiny lie… that a Hollywood producer is coming to see the show and turn it into a film… Christmas chaos and a whole lot of sparkle ensues.
Running time 2 hours including interval. Tickets £18 https://assemblyroxy.com/whats-on/186-nativity-the-musical/performances
AMATEUR MUSICAL | Charlie and the Chocolate Factory
Church Hill Theatre, 4-7 December
Balerno Theatre Company are staging their version of Roald Dahl’s classic tale, with book by David Greig and original score by Marc Shaiman. The world-famous Willy Wonka is opening the gates to his mysterious factory… but only to a lucky few. Join young Charlie Bucket and four other golden ticket winners as they embark on a life-changing journey through a world of pure imagination.
Running time TBC. Tickets £16.50 https://www.ticketsource.co.uk/balerno-theatre-company
AMATEUR PANTO | Aladdin
St Serf’s Church Centre, 4-7 December
Open sesame! St Serf’s Players present Norman Robbin’s ‘Arabian’ pantomime, Aladdin. Expect a magic lamp, ‘flying carpet’ and get ready to cheer Widow Twankie and boo the evil Abanazar as Aladdin tries to win the Princess’ hand.
Running time TBC. £12 Tickets https://www.stserfsplayers.org.uk/wp/tickets/
MAGIC | Kevin Quantum Christmas Special with Guests
Church Hill Theatre, 23-30 December
Magician Kevin Quantum and his special guests are back with new astonishing illusions and big laughs for the festive season in a riotously fun and magical Christmas show for all the family. Trained by Penn & Teller, and having reached the final stages of Britain’s Got Talent, expect a mix of amazement, laughter, audience participation and derring-do from Quantum.
Running time TBC. £18-£20, https://churchhilltheatre.co.uk/whats-on/kevin-quantum-christmas-special-guests-0
THEATRE | Guy Masterson in A Christmas Carol
Assembly Roxy, 13-14 December
Masterson returns to Edinburgh with his acclaimed performance of Dickens’ festive favourite. Masterson gives Dickens’ original performance text in his own inimitable multi-character style. Scrooge, Marley, the Fezziwigs, the Cratchits and Tiny Tim, one and all, are brought to life in a performance that will linger long in the memory.
Running time 80 minutes. Tickets £16 https://assemblyroxy.com/whats-on/195-a-christmas-carol/performances
Whatever you choose to see, have a great time and here’s wishing each and every one of you a peaceful Christmas and a theatre filled New Year… and remember, you can keep up with all my panto and Christmas reviews at www.mustseetheatre.com
Season greetings, Liam
Leither. Writer | Broadcaster | Actor | Award-winning playwright/director| Content Creator. Entertainment commentator. Theatre consultant. Former Edinburgh Evening News Arts and Entertainment Editor. 40 years in media.
