It’s coming up to Christmas and in addition to all the other seasonal stuff it means it’s time for a bumper crop of live theatre shows in and around Birmingham.
There’s a huge variety of productions on offer this year, from pantomimes to plays and musicals with something of a Christmas flavour - along with shows that are just timeless favourites.
From Birmingham to Wolverhampton and Solihull to Stratford, there’s sure to be something to please - and what better time to enjoy a family trip to the theatre than over the festive holiday period.
The two big pantomimes this year are Jack & the Beanstalk at the Birmingham Hippodrome and Snow White at Wolverhampton Grand Theatre.
Other highlights include a West End production of The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe coming to Birmingham Rep and The Little Box of Secrets at the RSC in Stratford.
1. Jack & the Beanstalk, Birmingham Hippodrome
The Hippodrome’s panto continues to be the biggest and most spectacular in the region, with anchor star Matt Slack having a winning formula that shows no sign of waning. Lavish sets and spectacular special effects are a common feature, as well as a star-studded cast. Birmingham’s own Alison Hammond stars alongside Slack, who is back treading the boards at the Hurst Street theatre for a tenth year. Also starring is Samantha Womack. They are joined by Doreen Tipton as Doreen the Cow, panto dame extraordinaire Andrew Ryan, Brummie local Alexanda O’Reilly in the title role and West End performer Billie-Kay as Princess Jill. The promo blurb for the show says: “Doomed to sell his trusty cow, join Jack and his family as they fight to outwit the evil giant, win riches beyond his wildest dreams. Featuring stunning sets and costumes from The London Palladium, and bundle-loads of laughter, this is the panto you’ve bean waiting for. Fe-fi-fo-fum, a giant of a panto full of fun.” From December 16 until January 28.
2. Snow White, Wolverhampton Grand Theatre
A perennial panto fairytale favourite, Snow White features a star cast of television and theatrical favourites. This take of a timeless tale of good versus evil stars Kelle Bryan (Eternal, Hollyoaks, Loose Women) as the Good Fairy Elementa, with Gyasi Sheppy (CBeebies) as the Prince. Niki Colwell Evans (X Factor, Blood Brothers, Kinky Boots) returns the The Grand, but this time as the Evil Queen with Evie Pickerill (CBeebies) as Snow White, Tam Ryan as Muddles and Ian Adams as Nanny Nolly. The panto’s promo blurb says: “Mirror, mirror, on the wall, don’t miss the fairest pantomime of them all. We promise it will be a truly wicked adventure. “Join us as we look in the mirror, defeat the Evil Queen and follow Snow White and the Prince on their journey to find true love’s kiss in this ultimate fairytale family adventure. “Take a bite of panto delight with spectacular scenery and costumes, magical special effects, wicked humour and plenty of audience participation. Snow White promises to be a festive spectacular for all ages.” From December 2 until January 7.
3. The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe, Birmingham Rep
A modern fairytale or Christian allegory, CS Lewis’ book The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe has gone on to become a favourite on the stage and the big screen. This production comes to the Birmingham Rep directly from London’s West End for a super long run spanning more than two months. Taking on the role of Mrs Pevensie is Anu Ogunmefun, while Lucy is played by Kudzai Mangombe and her sister Susan by Liyah Summers. Brothers Peter and Edmund are played by Daniel Apea and Jerome Scott. Cath Whitefield is cast in the role of the White Witch and Aslan is brought to life by Oliver Hoare. Audiences will be invited to step through the wardrobe into the magical kingdom of Narnia for the most mystical of adventures in a faraway land. Join Lucy, Edmund, Susan and Peter as they wave goodbye to wartime Britain and say hello to Mr Tumnus, the talking Faun, Aslan, the unforgettable Lion and the coldest, cruellest White Witch. “With magical storytelling, bewitching stagecraft and incredible puppets, it is guaranteed to delight audiences age six plus and their families and friends.” From November 14 until January 28.
4. The Box of Delights, Royal Shakespeare Theatre, Stratford-upon-Avon
Justin Audibert - artistic director of Chichester Festival Theatre and whose previous RSC shows include The Taming of the Shrew, Snow in Midsummer and The Jew of Malta - returns to the RSC to direct what is being billed as a magically festive show for the whole family. Originally produced for Wilton’s Music Hall in 2017, Piers Torday’s reimagining of John Masefield’s much-loved children’s classic tells the story of orphaned schoolboy Kay Harker who finds himself the guardian of a small wooden box with powers beyond his wildest dreams. Caught up in a battle between two powerful magicians - Cole and Abner - Kay fights to save not just the people he loves, but also the future of Christmas itself… Talking about The Box of Delights, Justin said: “I’m delighted to have the opportunity to work on The Box of Delights again, this time creating a bigger, and even more spectacular production for the Royal Shakespeare Theatre stage. “It’s a show that features trains, boats, planes, mythical creatures, a good and a very bad magician, and characters that magically turn into tiny versions of themselves, characters that transform into animals that fly through the air and swim in the sea – how exciting is that? We’re telling the story through the imagination of a child, so the staging promises to be a fantastic mix of the inventive and the breath-taking. “In many ways The Box of Delights was the first fantasy story for children, and with its classic good versus evil narrative, and three young children as the heroes, you can see its influence on books like the Harry Potter series. I can’t wait for everyone to see it.” Taking on the roles of the three children in the story are Callum Balmforth as Kay Harker, and Mae Munuo as the fearless Maria Jones, both of whom make their RSC debuts, and Jack Humphrey who returns to the RSC to play Peter Jones. From October 31 until January 7.