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If you live in London then there’s plenty of really great children’s theatre to see this Christmas – Flossie Waite lists what to see on her website. Here she writes:

Set your Satnav to the second star on the right and grab garments a Pantomime Dame would be proud of! ‘Tis the season to be jolly, which is also the most popular season for taking children to the theatre. Here’s a round-up of some of the best productions in London this Christmas.

Scrunch
Anyone who has spent Christmas with a baby knows that for them, it’s all about wrapping paper – when I was little, my mum just wrapped up random objects because I enjoyed ripping off the paper so much. Scrunch is a sensory production for 6-18 months exploring the best bits of Christmas when you’re really little.

Unicorn Theatre, 9^th December – 4^th January 2015
https://www.unicorntheatre.com/whatson/62/scrunch

Cindermouse
Fairytales are a favourite during the festive season, and Little Angel Theatre provides their own version of Cinderella. Suitable for 3-8 years, Cindermouse uses glove and rod puppets to tell the classic story with mice!

Little Angel Theatre, 20^th November – 1^st February
http://www.littleangeltheatre.com/whats-on/cindermouse/

Raymond Briggs’ Father Christmas
Raymond Briggs’ has become synonymous with Christmas – it’s hard to imagine a winter world without Walking in the Air, or his grumpy take on St Nicholas. If you’ve ever wondered how Father Christmas copes with his busiest night of the year, this production for children under 6 is for you.

Lyric Hammersmith, 14^th November – 31^st December
http://www.lyric.co.uk/whats-on/production/raymond-briggs-father-christmas/

Peter Pan
The boy who never grew up first flew onto the stage during Christmas 1904. 110 years later, Peter Pan is still a popular choice at this time of year, injecting magic and adventure into the theatre. For ages 6+, Polka Theatre’s production promises all the swashbuckling pirates and tick-tocking crocodiles of the classic story, with the help of puppetry and original songs.

Polka Theatre, 21^st November – 14^th January
http://www.polkatheatre.com/whats-on/peter-pan

The Nutcracker and the Mouse King
The ballet The Nutcracker is another Christmas tradition, but the Unicorn’s magical production uncovers the original story for audiences aged 8+.

Unicorn Theatre, 21^st November – 4^th January
https://www.unicorntheatre.com/whatson/69/the-nutcracker-and-the-mouse-king

Beegu
Based on the much-loved children’s book by Alexis Deacon, Beegu is the tale of a friendly creature whose spaceship crashes into a planet. Audiences of 3-8 years old will watch as Beegu explores the curious place she has discovered: Earth.

Arts Depot, 3^rd – 13^th December
https://www.artsdepot.co.uk/family-christmas/beegu

One Snowy Night
Percy the Park Keeper finds squirrel, fox, badger and hedgehog shivering on his doorstep one snowy winter night. Audiences of 3-6 years are invited into his hut as he helps the animals stay warm and get to sleep. This production celebrates the 25^th anniversary of Nick Butterworth’s best-selling picturebook.

Discover Children’s Story Centre, 28^th November – 24^th December
http://www.discover.org.uk/whatson/event/one-snowy-night1

The Fourth Wise Man
You’ve heard of the three wise men, but did you know there was a fourth? And he struggled to come up with a good enough gift? And worried about what to wear? For ages 4+, this is a funny story about one man and his camel on a momentous journey.

Unicorn Theatre, 30^th November – 4^th January 2015
https://www.unicorntheatre.com/whatson/66/the-fourth-wise-man

There Was An Old Woman
Leading children’s theatre company Oily Cart present a new production for children aged 3 – 5. There Was An Old Woman is a multi-sensory journey through a world of shoes that keep getting mixed up.

Southbank Centre, 13^th December – 4^th January 2015
http://www.southbankcentre.co.uk/whatson/there-was-an-old-woman-who-85523

A Christmas Carol
If you want a Christmas production with a difference, why not see a show on a boat? Puppet Theatre Barge presents A Christmas Carol, the classic story of miserly Scrooge being visited by the Ghosts of Christmas Past, Present and Future. Suitable for children aged 4+.

Puppet Theatre Barge, November 29^th – January 11^th 2015
http://www.puppetbarge.com/Temporrarynotice.htm

The Night Before Christmas
It was the night before Christmas and all through the house, not a creature was stirring not even a mouse. Except Eddie, a little mouse with a big wish to celebrate Christmas, and Emily, a little girl who can’t wait for Christmas Day. This production for 3-7 year olds promises to get everyone in the Christmas spirit!

Watermans Theatre, 11^th – 23^rd December
http://watermans.ticketsolve.com/shows/873520886/events?show_id=873520886

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