Family treats, from panto to Santa
There’s plenty of festive fun to be had around the country for all ages from now until January
Pantomimes
ARMAGH
Sleeping Beauty
Traditional pantomime from the Ulster Theatre Company. Market Place Theatre, Armagh Until Dec 23 various times £8-£12.50 (€9-€15.40) 048-37521821 marketplacearmagh.com
BELFAST
Sleeping Beauty
Journalist and former UTV reporter Ivan Little takes on his first role as panto dame Lady MaMa in this traditional pantomime from Lana Productions. Waterfront Hall, 2 Lanyon Place Until Jan 5 various times £14-£17 (€17.26-€21) 048-90334455 waterfront.co.uk
Cinderella
Northern Ireland’s queen of pantomime May McFettridge stars alongside Basil Brush and Jayne Wisener in this very popular pantomime. Grand Opera House, Great Victoria Street Dec 8-Jan 26 various times £12.75-£25 (€15.70-€30.80) 048-90241919 goh.co.uk
CARLOW
Goldilocks and The Three Bears
Carlow Club Players present this traditional pantomime. George Bernard Shaw Theatre, Old Dublin Road, Carlow Dec 14/17 8pm; Dec 15 2.30pm, 8pm Dec 16 2.30pm, 7pm €15/€12, 059-9172400 gbshawtheatre.ie
CLARE
Little Red Riding Hood
Pantaloons and BreakThrough Dance Company present this traditional pantomime. Glór Irish Music Centre, Ennis Dec 22, 23, 27-31 various times €15, 065-6843103 glor.ie
CORK
Alice in Wonderland
Traditional pantomime starring Claire and Eva O’Leary as Alice, Michael Joseph as the Mad Hatter, Declan Wolfe as the White Rabbit and Michael Grennell as the Red Knave. Cork Opera House, Emmet Place Dec 10-Jan 20 various times €25-€30,
021-4270022 corkoperahouse.ie
Red Riding Hood
Stars of this pantomime include Dame Jim Mulcahy, West End star Michael Sands, Fionula Linehan and Marcus Bale. Everyman Palace, Cork City Dec 8-Jan 6 various times €23-€26, 021-4501673
DONEGAL
Red Riding Hood
A traditional pantomime from C21 Theatre Company. An Grianán, Letterkenny Dec 18-22 various times €8.50, 074-9120777 angrianan.com
DUBLIN
Beauty and the Beast
This 10th anniversary show from TheatreworX Productions stars Kyle Kennedy, Lauren Nevin, Eoin Cannon, Aidan Mannion and John Lovett. The Helix, Dublin City University, Glasnevin Until Jan 13 €21-25 01-7007000 thehelix.ie
Cinderella
Starring Stephanie McKeon as Cinderella, David Glynn-Crowley as Prince Charming, Joe Conlon and Gary Mountaine as the Ugly Sisters. Directed by Daryn Crosbie. Gaiety Theatre, South King Street Until Jan 13 €25-35, 01-6771717 or 0818-719388 gaietytheatre.ie
Snow White and the Adventures of Sammy Sausages
This not-so-traditional pantomime written by Karl Broderick stars Alan Hughes (aka Sammy Sausages), singer Niamh Kavanagh, model Nadia Forde and, new this year, Molly Lynch as Snow White. Tivoli Theatre, Dec 12-Jan 13 €21.50-€29.50 01-4544472 panto.ie, tivoli.ie
Jedward and the Magic Lamp
Jedward (John and Edward Grimes) are back again this year with Linda Martin and Alan Porter in this pantomime written by Fiona Looney. Olympia Theatre, Dame Street Dec 19-Jan 6 €22-€36, 0818-719330 ticketmaster.ie, olympia.ie
Humpty Dumpty
Holding Court Theatre Company presents this family pantomime. Axis, Ballymun Jan 4-27 various times €6-€12, 01-8832100 axis-ballymun.ie
Aladdin
Coolmine Panto Group presents this popular pantomime. Draíocht, Blanchardstown 01-8852622 Jan 6-20 various times €16/€20 draiocht.ie
Sinbad
The Lambert team puts its puppets in pantomime mode for this festive show. Lambert Puppet Theatre, Clifton Lane, Monkstown Dec 8, 9, 15, 16, 22, 23, 27-31, and Jan 2-6, 12, 13, 19, 20, 26, 27 €11-13 01-2800974 lambertpuppettheatre.com
GALWAY
Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs
Renmore Pantomime Society presents its annual traditional pantomime, written by and starring Peter Kennedy with Brian and Sean Power and the Renmore Smurfs. Townhall Theatre, Galway City Dec 29-Jan 13 €14-€16 091-569777 tht.ie
LIMERICK
Cinderella
George McMahon, Richie Hayes, Leanne Moore, Dustin the Turkey, Twink and Myles Breen star in this traditional pantomime. University Concert Hall, University of Limerick, Limerick City Dec 21-Jan 6 various times €27.50 adults; €22.50 children 061-331549 uch.ie
Jack and the Beanstalk
CentreStage Productions is back this year with a show written by Mike Finn and directed by Richie Ryan. Belltable Arts Centre, Limerick City Dec 13-30 various times €13.50-€18.50, 061-319866 belltable.ie
SLIGO
Dick Whittington and his cat
Coolera Dramatic Society includes circus acts in its pantomime this year. Hawkswell Theatre, Sligo Dec 9 -22 various times €16 071-9161518 hawkswell.com
Musicals, dance, storytelling and circuses
BELFAST
Hansel + Grettel
Paul Boyd directs this musical adaptation of this classic children’s tale with Lyric Players. Lyric Theatre, Belfast Until Jan 13 various times £8.50-£17.50 (€10.50-€21.50) 048-90381081 lyrictheatre.co.uk
