The 20 Shows To See During December
December is the month when pantomimes fill the auditoriums of theatres across the country, however, there are still some great shows to head out and see. So if panto isn’t your thing, there are productions like Evita at the Curve, Leicester, and The Motive and the Cue in London’s West End. With that in mind, Theatre & Tonic has put together a carefully curated list of 20 must-watch shows this December. From festive specials to gripping dramas, find the perfect show to enjoy during the holiday season.
1. The Motive and the Cue
From 9 December, Noel Coward Theatre | Tickets from £25
Jack Thorne’s fierce and funny play which offers a glimpse into the politics of a rehearsal room and the relationship between art and celebrity begins its West End transfer from 9 December. Directed by Academy Award, Tony Award and Golden Globe winner Sam Mendes, The Motive and the Cue involves an incredible cast including Johnny Flynn, Mark Gatiss, and Tuppence Middleton.
2. Evita
From 1 December, Noel Coward Theatre | Tickets from £10
Although its previews began in November, Nikolai Foster’s unmissable new take on Evita officially comes to life in December. This musical follows one of history’s most glamorous, glorified, and divisive figures in Latin America alongside a brilliant music score you won’t want to miss.
3. Aladdin
From 7 December, Wales Millennium Centre | Tickets from £20
Seen by over 14 million people worldwide, Aladdin glides on its magic carpet into the Wales Millennium Centre on 7 December. Audiences can expect astonishing special effects and over 350 lavish costumes in this exciting stage adaptation of the popular Disney movie.
4. Sunshine on Leith
From 1 December, Pitlochry Festival Theatre | Tickets from £16
Are you looking for a feel-good story for your family to enjoy this December? Look no further than Sunshine On Leith which heads to the Pitlochry Festival Theatre as a fresh production of an audience favourite. Set to fantastic songs from world-renowned Scottish band The Proclaimers, Sunshine On Leith will leave you with a spring in your step!
5. The Three Billy Goats Gruff
The Three Billy Goats Gruff production image. Photo Helen MurrayFrom 14 December, Chichester Festival Theatre | Tickets from £10
“Captivates right to the final bleat” (The Guardian), Stiles and Drewe’s joyful hit musical The Three Billy Goats Gruff performs at the Chichester Festival Theatre after a hugely successful run at the Unicorn Theatre last Easter. Young families will love this offering - making it a perfect first musical!
6. Unfortunate
From 8 December, Southwark Playhouse Elephant | Tickets from £25
The brilliant parody musical Unfortunate heads to London for a run at the Southwark Playhouse Elephant this December before it heads on a UK tour at the start of 2024! Starring Shawna Harmic (read our interview with her here!) and River Medway - Unfortunate will allow you to experience what really happened all of those years ago under the sea.
7. It’s A Wonderful Life
From 30 November, Reading Rep Theatre | Tickets from £5
Adapted by Mary Elliott Nelson, the 1946 Frank Capra movie has been reimagined for the first time at the Reading Rep Theatre this Christmas. Brought to life as a heartwarming magical adaptation, you only have until 30 December to catch this one!
8. Macbeth
From 8 December, Donmar Warehouse | Book Tickets
David Tennant leads in this exciting new take on Shakespeare’s most extraordinary psychological drama this winter at the Donmar Warehouse. Joined by Cush Jambo as Lady Macbeth, this fresh production will use binaural sound technology to place us inside the minds of the Macbeths.
9. The Enormous Crocodile
From 2 December, Leeds Playhouse | Tickets from £15.00
Up in Leeds, a new musical version of Roald Dahl’s picture book The Enormous Crocodile will have people snapping up those tickets! Brought to life with tasty tunes and incredible puppets - the jungle awaits the bravest of children!
10. High Society
From 29 November, Mill at Sonning | Book Tickets
Cole Porter’s classic feel-good musical High Society will offer audiences a swellegent, elegant musical this Christmas. The production is based on The Philadelphia Story and the 1956 film starring Bing Cosby, Grace Kelly and Frank Sinatra. High Society is a show full of songs you’ll know too!
11. You’re A Good Man, Charlie Brown
From 14 December, Upstairs At The Gatehouse | Tickets from £16
You’re A Good Man, Charlie Brown is Clark Gesner’s 1967 musical based on Charles M. Schulz’s beloved Peanuts characters. In this production, we will be urged to find happiness in the everyday and will serve as a reminder that we’re all just grown-up children trying our best to figure it out.
12. Edward Scissorhands
From 5 December, Sadlers Wells | Tickets from £15
Matthew Bourne’s enchanting dance production of Edward Scissorhands is back on the stage and is heading to Sadlers Wells this festive season from 5 December. Based on the classic Tim Burton movie and the beautiful music of Danny Elfman and Terry Davies, Edward Scissorhands tells the witty, bittersweet story of an incomplete boy left alone in a strange new world.
13. Brief Encounter
From 2 December, Royal Exchange Theatre Manchester | Tickets from £12
Emma Rice’s smash-hit adaptation of Noël Coward’s iconic Brief Encounter heads into Manchester’s Royal Exchange Theatre from 2 December. This is a heart-stopping story of forbidden love that will move to the rhythm of beautiful songs, swaying dance moves, the odd cup of tea and a bath bun.
14. Peter Pan
From 9 December, London Palladium | Book Tickets
Of course, we had to mention one pantomime on our list of shows to see in December, and London Palladium’s offering is the ultimate West End adventure. Peter Pan begins performances on 9 December and features an incredible cast including Jennifer Saunders, Julian Clary, Gary Wilmot and Rob Madge to name a few!
15. Chriskirkpatrickmas: A Boy Band Christmas Musical
From 1 December, Seven Dials Playhouse | From £15
On the foot of its huge success as this year’s Edinburgh Festival Fringe, Chriskirkpatrickmas is a parody musical that features 12 original songs and plenty of 90s nostalgia!
16. The Fair Maid of the West
From 2 December, Swan Theatre Stratford-Upon-Avon | Book Tickets
Head to the Swan Theatre in Stratford-Upon-Avon this December for a raucous Elizabethan romp at The Fair Maid of the West. Join landlady Liz Bridges for a celebratory, music-filled, ensemble comedy about the life-saving powers of community, compromise, and compassion.
17. Oliver!
From 24 November, Leeds Playhouse | Tickets from £15
The timeless production, based on the novel of Charles Dickens, has begun its run at the Leeds Playhouse this Christmas. Following the success of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, James Brining directs this large-scale musical which will transform the Quarry stage into a theatre ‘in the round’ for this show. Oliver! should be on your list of shows to see in December!
18. White Christmas
From 9 December, Sheffield Crucible | Book Tickets
Sheffield’s Crucible Theatre has a theatrical festive treat up its sleeve this December with Irving Berlin’s White Christmas beginning performances on Saturday 9 December. Based on the Paramount Pictures film, this is a perfect feel-good musical for all of the family to enjoy with a fantastic cast including Grace Mouat and Sandra Marvin starring.
19. West End Musical Christmas
One night only on 12 December, Adelphi Theatre | Book Tickets
Combine some of the biggest West End Stars (Alice Fearn, Trevor Dion Nicholas, Shanay Holmes) with an all-singing, all-dancing Christmas extravaganza - you’ll get the West End Musical Christmas. Previously sold out twice, this concert will get you ready for the big day with some heart-warming Christmas classics and a party atmosphere!
20. The Secret Garden
From 7 December, Theatre at the Tabard | Book Tickets
Based on the novel by Frances Hodgson Burnett and adapted for the stage by Louise Haddington, allow your imagination to bloom this Christmas with The Secret Garden. This is a perfect family show for Christmas with its heart-warming tale of love, healing, and the transformative power of nature.
Don’t forget there is still so much more out there for you to check out (and don’t forget the pantomimes too!) So whether you’ll be enjoying a traditional festive show this season or heading out to see one of these in the list, have a healthy December. Keep an eye out in the next few weeks for what’s to come in January and for the rest of 2024 too!
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