The use of fairytale, music and the goodie/baddie dichotomy remain in Pinocchio at the Unicorn Theatre, but the eggy, set gags and joke routines of panto are thankfully left out. Colourful, detailed design (by Jean Chan) and puppetry (by Chris Pirie) give the show a festive lushness, but it’s the performances that make this Christmas show shine.
‘Gets the environmental message across in an entertaining way’: DINOSAURS & ALL THAT RUBBISH –Touring
This year sees the 50th anniversary of Michael Foreman’s classic story Dinosaurs and all that Rubbish, a cautionary tale about environmental destruction which remains as relevant as ever. Back in the 2021 lockdown, Roustabout Theatre adapted the popular picture book into a three part online series. They’re now back with a live stage version of the story, which is out on an autumn tour following an Edinburgh Fringe run.
Taking the family to the Edinburgh Fringe? The Family Stage is here to help
We are wading through the ‘What’s On’ directory on the Edinburgh Fringe website to help you get to grips with it all. In the first of our Edinburgh Fringe previews, we’re focusing on the shows we’ve seen before. Whether you’re taking a toddler or teenager, you will find a show with the Family Stage seal of approval in our tried and tested list below.
‘Will inspire children to find the superhero inside themselves’: AIDY THE AWESOME – Touring
The Gramophones are a female-led company making contemporary theatre that puts women and girls centre stage. They are currently on tour with Aidy the Awesome, an aerial theatre show for ages three to eight which aims to break down gender stereotypes and offer young girls funny, feisty and strong role models.
‘Brilliantly accessible experience’: THE EMPEROR’S NEW CLOTHES – Polka Theatre
Aimed at ages three to eight, The Emperor’s New Clothes at the Polka Theatre is a fun show with a moral message that remains as relevant today as it ever was.
‘A reminder of how essential it is to see diverse & authentic stories told on stage’: MOHAND & PETER – Southwark Playhouse
Mohand and Peter are good friends with a lot in common. For one thing, they’re both actors pursuing their profession far from home.
BOOK REVIEW: Dick Whittington (Petite Pantos)
Mama G is back with her special brand of storytelling, this time in picture book format. Dick Whittington is the story of a young man seeking asylum in a country where it is OK to be gay.
‘A frenetic & highly entertaining performance’: POTTED PANTO – West End
Panto, as most British traditions, is a deeply weird thing but entertains many families over the Christmas period.
‘Toilet humour & good gags for the kids’: GANGSTA GRANNY – Bloomsbury Theatre
David Walliams’ style of humour also tends towards the gross side. But in between all the fart jokes is a story with real heart that will resonate with adults and children alike.
‘Hans Christian Anderson’s classic tale is given a modern environmental twist’: THE SNOW QUEEN – The Albany, Deptford ★★★★
Lumi has asked lots of questions from a very young age, but as she grows older and is more aware of the world, she has questions about global warming and pollution, and decides to be an activist.
‘Like all good Christmas stories, there’s a happy ending’: THE SORCERER’S APPRENTICE – Newcastle ★★★
The Sorcerer’s Apprentice is a family Christmas offering from Northern Stage, written by Laura Lindow. The action takes place on a large stage and is set in the streets of Newcastle.
‘A fantastically fresh take on The Wizard of Oz’: THE WONDERFUL -Theatre Peckham
In Theatre Peckham’s rewriting of Frank Baum’s The Wizard of Oz, the action takes place much closer to home than Kansas, and there’s no Dorothy or Auntie Em in sight.
PHOTOS: First look at Albany Theatre’s Coventry-set A Christmas Carol
‘God bless us, every one.’ We’ve got a bumper gallery of production shots from Albany Theatre’s stunning new, Coventry-set production of A Christmas Carol. The production runs until 26 December 2021. Time to get booking!
‘A fantastical & challenging Christmas story for children’: THERE MAY BE A CASTLE – Little Angel Theatre
Although the show deals with death and grief, it is done in a sensitive way you can explain to a child.
INTERVIEW: Vikki Stone on writing an Aladdin with unlimited wishes
Love London Love Culture chatted to Vikki Stone about writing her first pantomime, Aladdin, which is now running at London’s Lyric Hammersmith until 2 January 2022.
‘The show couldn’t go on without them’: Albany Theatre pays tribute to a dedicated offstage army
How often do we think about – let alone show our appreciation for – what’s happening offstage when we see a show? As Coventry’s Albany Theatre unveils its first in-house production post-pandemic, CEO and artistic director Kevin Shaw does that just as he welcomes audiences back for A Christmas Carol.
‘Breathing new life into such a well-loved classic’: BEDKNOBS & BROOMSTICKS – Touring
Everyone has a list of favourite childhood films and, as you might expect from a family of musical theatre lovers, Disney films feature heavily on ours.
‘A panto mashup of mayhem, song & storytelling’: SLEEPING BEAUTY & THE BEAST – Battersea Arts Centre
Following the success of 2019 ‘slumber party panto’ Goldilocks and the Three Musketeers, Sleeping Trees are back for a live residency of mayhem, song, and storytelling in the Council Chamber at Battersea Arts Centre.
‘Don’t be too quick in judging the covetous old sinner’: Paul Nolan on playing Scrooge in A Christmas Carol in Coventry
Paul Nolan returns to the stage in Coventry to take on the iconic role of Ebenezer Scrooge in the Albany Theatre’s new locally-set adaptation of A Christmas Carol. He took a break from final rehearsals to talk to us about the enduring nature of Charles Dickens’ festive classic, Scrooge’s secrets and Christmasses past and present.
PHOTOS: Meet the cast of Albany Theatre’s Coventry-set A Christmas Carol, now in rehearsals
Paul Nolan, the Coventry veteran who now stars as Scrooge in the Albany Theatre’s new locally-set A Christmas Carol, hopes this brand-new version “awakens our hearts and haunts us pleasantly”. Sneak a peek inside the rehearsal room with our bumper photo gallery.