THEATRE

THURSFORD CHRISTMAS SPECTACULAR

Probably Europe’s biggest Christmas show, this three-hour spectacular features umpteen musical golden oldies, delivered by a cast of 130, accompanied by one of the largest remaining Wurlitzers. Thursford Collection, Fakenham, Norfolk (thursford.com), until Dec 23

PINOCCHIO

London’s dedicated children’s theatre presents a new version (by Eve Leigh) of Carlo Collodi’s tale of the wooden boy with the growing nose, played by Peyvand Sadeghian. Unicorn Theatre, London SE1 (unicorntheatre.com), until Dec 31

THE SNOWMAN

Bill Alexander’s meltingly lovely dance-based adaptation of the Raymond Briggs story about a young boy who journeys to see Father Christmas with his snowman pal is still an ideal introduction to theatre. The Peacock, London WC2 (sadlerswells.com), until Dec 31

THE TRUE ADVENTURES OF MARIAN AND ROBIN HOOD! Marian joins forces with her childhood nemesis Robin to thwart her hapless husband-to-be, the Sheriff of Nottingham – with a dash of magic and acrobatics.

Barn, Cirencester (barntheatre.org. uk), until Dec 31

RAPUNZEL

Thrown to the wolves by Arts Council England, the brilliant but cash-strapped Watermill rolls on, giving the time-honoured fairy tale an intriguing Italianate twist. Watermill Theatre, Newbury (watermill.org.uk), until Jan 1

A CHRISTMAS CAROL

Political engagement meets theatrical enchantment as David Edgar brings Dickens’s poverty-benighted era into the frame. Ade Edmondson is a compellingly curmudgeonly Scrooge. Rachel Kavanaugh directs. Royal Shakespeare Theatre, Stratford-upon-Avon (rsc.org.uk), until Jan 1

NATIVITY!

Debbie Isitt and Nicky Ager’s uproariously sweet musical version of Isitt’s filmed homage to school nativity plays returns to the Rep, where it launched in 2017, having

now been seen by more than a million people.

Birmingham Rep (birmingham-rep. co.uk), until Jan 7

THE NUTCRACKER

A fresh musical retelling of Hoffmann’s tale – best known through the Tchaikovksy ballet – written by Bristol Old Vic’s departing artistic director Tom Morris.

Bristol Old Vic (bristololdvic.org.uk), until Jan 7

THE WIZARD OF OZ

“We’re not in Kansas anymore…” The MGM masterpiece hit the West End in 2011 in a version that supplemented the Harold Arlen and EY Harburg numbers with new tunes by Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice. Now, that show gets a Curve makeover, with director Nikolai Foster, on a roll, in charge.

Curve, Leicester (curveonline.co.uk), until Jan 8

HEX

The National Theatre’s slightly jinxed musical (book by Tanya Ronder, lyrics and direction by NT chief Rufus Norris) has another stab at a proper run, after the omicron coronavirus variant stopped play last year; the twist in the tale makes Sleeping Beauty’s curse the slip-up of a well-meaning fairy.

National’s Olivier Theatre, London SE1 (nationaltheatre.org.uk), until Jan 14

CHARLIE AND THE CHOCOLATE FACTORY

Billed as a “reinvention” of the musical seen in the West End and on Broadway, James Brining’s new production stars Gareth Snook as Willy Wonka in Roald Dahl’s golden ticket of a tale about a poor boy who enters choco-nirvana.

Leeds Playhouse (leedsplayhouse. org.uk), until Jan 28

BUGSY MALONE

Sean Holmes’s delectable staging of the 1976 film – heartily approved by the late Alan Parker – delivers bona fide belters, splurge-guns galore and the sublime spectacle of ebullient youth masquerading as worldweary NYC gangster-dom. Alexandra Palace, London N22 (bugsymalonethemusical.com), today-Jan 15

WHITE CHRISTMAS

Featuring the songs of Irving Berlin, the 1954 film in which there’s no snow at the inn and show-business saves the day got spun into a stage musical 18 years ago. Now it’s on tour, with Lorna Luft – Judy Garland’s daughter – playing the struggling inn’s housekeeper. Sunderland Empire, today, then Liverpool Empire, Tues-Dec 31 (whitechristmasthemusical.co.uk)

DOLLY PARTON’S SMOKY MOUNTAIN CHRISTMAS CAROL Parton has written the score for this Americanised Christmas Carol – set in the Smoky Mountains of Depression-era Tennessee, where Scrooge (Robert Bathurst) treats mining folk like dirt.

Queen Elizabeth Hall, London SE1 (dollyschristmascarol.com), Thurs-Jan 8

CLAUS – THE MUSICAL

Published two years after The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, L Frank Baum’s 1902 book The Life and Adventures of Santa Claus has been adapted into a stage musical (by Andy Collyer and Simon Warne). Harry Winchester plays Claus, raised by a wood nymph after being abandoned as a baby.

Lowry Centre, Salford (thelowry. com), Dec 14-Jan 8

THE WIND IN THE WILLOWS An escapist Edwardian dream of a show, courtesy of Alan Bennett, adapting Kenneth Grahame’s tale of autophile Toad and his dauntless helpers, Ratty, Mole and Badger. Dale Rooks directs the Chichester Festival Youth Theatre.

PIERO’S NATIVITY

Following a three-year restoration, one of Western art’s most moving Nativities – painted c1470-75 by Piero della Francesca for his home town of Sansepolcro, in Tuscany – returns to public display.

National Gallery, London WC2 (nationalgallery.org.uk)

SILENT NIGHT AT DENNIS SEVERS’ HOUSE

Struggling to get into the Christmas spirit? Take a candlelit tour, suffused with perfume and wood smoke, of the Grade II-listed 18th-century Spitalfields house transformed into a historical “still-life drama” by the American Dennis Severs.

Dennis Severs’ House, London E1 (dennissevershouse.co.uk), until

Jan 8

POP by Neil McCORMICK

ROD STEWART

One of pop’s greatest voices, still roaring at 77. It doesn’t have to be Christmas for Sir Rod to look like he’s just popped out of a stocking and is ready to party.

Ovo Hydro, Glasgow (rodstewart. com), today and touring

RICK WAKEMAN’S GRUMPY CHRISTMAS STOCKING TOUR Highlights from the prog rock keyboard wizard’s work with David Bowie, Yes, and his solo albums are given a festive makeover, accompanied by humorous tales from the famously amusing if unreliable anecdotalist.

Bath Forum (rwcc.com), today and touring

RICK ASTLEY’S SWINGING CHRISTMAS

The 1980s pop star who is never gonna give up Rickrolls on with three shows backed by a big band. Liverpool Philharmonic, Dec 13; Royal Albert Hall, London SW7 (rickastley.co.uk), Dec 15-16

CANDLELIGHT: CELESTE LIVE In a magical one-off performance, sensuous Brit Awardwinner Celeste performs by candlelight, backed by the London Contemporary Orchestra conducted by Roger Ames.

Central Hall Westminster, London SW1 ( feverup.com), Dec 17