As the school holidays approach, what better way to prevent your little ones from destroying the house than by taking them to a Christmas show?
London has a wealth of great theatre, dance and other performances aimed at children of all ages, and our picks (excluding pantos, due later this week) are below…
The witches in the National Theatre
This brand new adaptation of Roald Dahl’s twisty classic is an absolute triumph (hear our critics raving about it on the Standard Theater Podcast). Candy-colored, with a witty script by Lucy Kirkwood and a fantastic score by Dave Malloy, it’s as much fun for adults (often a little more fun, if you listen closely) as it is for kids. And the kids’ performances are simply knockout. Recommended for children from eight to 88 years.
Until January 27; buy tickets here
The Snow Queen in Polka Theater
Wimbledon’s beautiful Children’s Theater hasn’t looked back since reopening in 2021 following an £8.5 million renovation. This Christmas it has pulled off something of a coup with rising theater star Jude Christian adapting Hans Christian Andersen’s classic The Snow Queen. Christian promises a show that is “loud, caring and full of fun, inspired by this beautiful story about best friends and the adventure of growing up together.” For children from six to twelve years old.
Until January 21; Polkatheatre.com
Solstice at Battersea Arts Centre
The BAC is a beautifully atmospheric building full of nooks and crannies, ripe for curious visitors to explore – just ask those who’ve seen Punchdrunk Theatre’s riveting show Masque of the Red Death. This holiday season, there’s an immersive experience for the whole family with Solstice, created by the Wild Rumpus company. This brand new show takes audiences on an enchanting journey through the corridors and hidden spaces of the BAC, which double as a winter wonderland with magical forest characters appearing at every turn. Recommended for children from three years.
From December 1 to 24; bac.org.uk
Bluey’s Big Play at the Southbank Center
Bluey is one of the few children’s TV shows that can delight parents and their children in equal measure, and over the Christmas period she takes up a residency at the Southbank Centre’s Royal Festival Hall. Everyone’s favorite blue Heeler from Oz is brought to life in puppet form, along with the rest of the family, in a brand new story from Bluey creator Joe Brumm. For all ages.
From December 20 to January 7; Southbankcentre.co.uk
Hansel and Gretel at the Sam Wanamaker Playhouse
From the magical, candlelit space of the Globe’s Sam Wanamaker Playhouse comes a new adaptation of poet laureate Simon Armitage’s classic fairy tale. “Filled with music, magic, songs and a glimmer of hope,” this will be a treat for anyone over the age of five.
From December 8 to January 7; buy tickets here
Peter Pan in the Rose Theater
What better time to return to the magical realm of Neverland than at Christmas. After Peter Pan crashes through the open window of Wendy Darling’s bedroom, a wonderful adventure awaits. In a brand new take on JM Barrie’s beloved classic, this production promises to have audiences – aged five and up – completely hooked.
From December 1 to January 7; buy tickets here
Rapunzel at Theater Peckham
Theater Peckham is offering audiences the chance to let their hair down with this “modern, furry story with a few twists”. In what it describes as a musically inspired, pantoe-style Christmas show, this new take on Rapunzel is set in a vibrant Peckham hairdresser. This year’s show follows the theatre’s previous festive treats including Scroogelicious, inspired by A Christmas Carol, and The Wonderful, based on The Wizard of Oz. Suitable for all ages.
From December 5 to 24; theaterpecham.co.uk
The Toymaker’s Child – Chicken Coop
Pioneering theater company Chickenshed has an updated take on the Pinocchio story in which the toymaker 3D prints an AI child with serial number PIN:0Cch10, but things quickly get out of hand. It promises the stage will be filled with “wonder, beauty and just a touch of glorious chaos.” It will certainly be joyful.
From November 29 to January 13; henhouse.org.uk
Peppa Pig’s fun day out at the Theater Royal Haymarket
Peppa Pig, the creature who seems to have complete control over all children under the age of five, returns to the West End. There will be a lot of singing, dancing and probably jumping in muddy puddles. More than two million people have seen Peppa Pig in the UK and she has performed in the West End for eleven Christmas seasons… a true Theatreland star. Suitable for all ages.
From November 30 to December 31; buy tickets here
Wishmas in the old Christmas ball factory
In this hour-long walking adventure, families enter the magical world of Wishmas (in the slightly less magical location of Waterloo), where no wish is ever forgotten, and where they can even come face to face with Santa Claus himself. Suitable for all ages
Until January 7; buy tickets here
Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler: from the page to the stage
The work of Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler not only dominates the bookstores, it now dominates the London stages. The author and illustrator, who have sold more than 17 million books, will have three adaptations of their work in London next month…
The city’s brightest giant at St Martin’s Theatre
Nominated for an Olivier Award for best family show, the story about friendship and helping those in need returns to London next month.
From December 2 to January 7; buy tickets here
Charlie Cook’s Favorite Book at Little Angel Studios
This reunites director Samantha Lane of The Smartest Giant and adapter Barb Junger in the story of Charlie trying to convince his sister that reading isn’t boring.
From December 1 to February 4 littleangeltheatre.com
The Gruffalo’s Child at the Garrick Theatre
The sequel to Donaldson and Scheffler’s blockbuster book The Gruffalo is also from theater company Tall Stories and is coming to the West End.
From December 1 to January 7; buy tickets here
Dance and opera for children
Christmas is the perfect time to introduce children (and adults) to ballet or opera, with plenty of wonderful family shows to choose from.
The Nutcracker at the Royal Opera House
If you’re looking for Christmas magic, this one of many Nutcrackers is definitely the OG. Packaged in the enormous jewel box that is the Royal Opera House, the Royal Ballet’s traditional production is dripping with sweetness and laden with sparkle, and features a real, growing, magical Christmas tree. What more can you ask for?
From December 6 to January 13; roh.org.uk
Edward Scissorhands at Sadler’s Wells
Matthew Bourne’s dance version of the film would work well for older children, with its American Gothic aesthetic (designed by Lez Brotherston) and its message of accepting differences. It doesn’t hit the emotions particularly hard, but it’s a lot of fun.
From December 13 to January 20; buy tickets here
Pirates! On the spot
Scottish Dance Theatre’s new production, a hybrid dance/theatre/storytelling commissioned by The Place, is a brave, energetic story about identity and friendship, and the fact that the greatest treasure may be right under your nose. Oh and there are zombies.
December 16-24; theplace.org.uk
Nutcracker in the Colosseum
English National Ballet gives the Royal a run for their money with this beautiful, still stunning version of the Tchaikovsky classic, with the fantastic addition of a hot air balloon.
From December 14 to; buy tickets here
Hansel and Gretel
Anthony McDonald’s superb production of 19th-century composer Engelbert Humperdinck’s children’s opera, with a libretto written by his sister, Adelheid Wette, based on the Brothers Grimm fairy tale, is not only lush and delightful, it’s also a brilliant way to they put off sweets for life. Suitable for all ages, as long as they can sit for two hours at a time.
From December 16 to January 7; roh.org.uk