Pantomimes
Gaiety: Cinderella - traditional panto at its best with panto queen June Rodgers as Molly Coddle, the Carter Twins and ponies Bill and Ben who bring Cinders to the ball in the magically transformed coach (see panel). Previews until Wednesday (varying times), opens Thursday 10th and runs until February 7th. Performance times vary from 6.30 p.m. to 8 p.m. with some matinee and morning performances. Tickets: £7.50 £15. Bookings: 01 6771717.
Olympia: Rockin' Hood . . . Prince of Babes! - joining Twink and Dustin in the magical forest are teen band Men 2 B for this family entertainment. Previews 23rd, opens Saturday 26th, 7.30 p.m. and runs until February 14th. Matinee times vary from 12 noon to 3 p.m. and 4 p.m. £7.50 £15. Bookings: 01 6777744/ 4569569.
St Anthony's Theatre, Merchant's Quay: Jack & The Beanstalk - traditional panto written by Karl Broderick and directed by Eamon Glancy. The cast includes Val Fitzpatrick (celebrating 50 years in panto) and Alan Hughes. Opens December 26th and runs until January 17th, 3 p.m. and 6.30 p.m. £6.50 £7.50. Bookings: 01 6726222/ 6706991.
Lyric, Belfast: Alice's Adventures in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll. Join Alice for her series of adventures with the White Rabbit, the Mad Hatter, the Queen of Hearts, Tweedledum and Tweedledee and the Cheshire Cat. Runs until January 16th. Matinees and evenings. Performance times vary. £7.00 £9.00, family tickets £28. Bookings: 08 01232 381081.
Grand Opera House, Belfast: Cinderella - this star-studded cast includes Cannon & Ball and panto queen, May McFettridge. Runs until January 16th, 7.30 p.m. with matinees at 1.30 p.m. or 2.30 p.m. £9 £16. Bookings: 08 01232 241919.
Belfast Civic Arts Theatre: Sleeping Beauty - traditional family panto written and directed by Peter Quigley with Paddy Jenkins, Paddy Scully and Nicholas Grennell as Nurse Hug'n'Kiss. Daily shows at varying times from December 16th - January 23rd. £6.50 - £8.95, family tickets £26.60. Bookings: 0801232 316900.
BT Studio, Waterfront Hall, Belfast: Oliver Twist: The Pantomime - boisterous and physical Michael Poynor and Mark Dougherty production for children up to 93 years of age. Runs until January, 16th, varying times from 10.15 a.m. to 7 p.m. £7 £12, Family tickets £20 £38. Bookings: 0801232 334455.
Riverside Theatre, Coleraine: The Water Babes - Big Telly Theatre Company presents this musical adaptation of Charles Kingsley's popular fairytale. Runs until December 27th, 2.30 p.m. and 7.30 p.m. December 26th and 27th, 5.30 p.m. £5.00 - £7.50. Bookings: 08 01265 51388.
Cork Opera House: Red Riding Hood - traditional panto, with a twist as the evil count, Dragemoff, kidnaps Red Riding Hood's sister Jill! The cast includes panto dame Billa O'Connell celebrating his 50th year in panto (see panel). Opens December 19th, 8 p.m. and runs until January 23rd. 3 p.m. matinees Saturdays and Sundays, plus January 1st. £6.50 £11.50. Bookings: 021 270022.
Everyman Palace, Cork: Mother Goose - this panto has something for everyone, with a secret well that makes your dreams come true, and journeys across space to distant galaxies. Jim Mulcahy is Mother Goose, magician Sylvano plays the Baron, and musical interest is provided by All2Gether. Opens December 14th, until January 17th, 2.30 p.m. and 8 p.m. £6 £8, family ticket £30. Bookings: 021 501673.
Rialto Entertainment Centre, Derry: Aladdin - presented by Derry City Council in association with the Grove Amateur Variety Group. Opens December 9th and runs until December 20th, 8 p.m. and December 13th at 3 p.m. £2.50 £5. Bookings: 08 01504 260516.
Town Hall Theatre, Galway: Jack & the Beanstalk. Runs from January 2nd 10th, 8 p.m. with 3 p.m. matinees on 3rd, 9th and 10th. £5 £7. Bookings: 091 569777
An Taibhdhearc, Na Gaillimhe: Cochaillin Dearg (Little Red Riding Hood) - Irish language panto scripted by Ray Mac Manais, with a few surprises including the Three Little Pigs! The cast includes Sean Forde, Gearoidin Nic Thomais and Maidhic P O Conaola. Runs from tomorrow - Saturday 12th, 8 p.m. and January 3rd - 9th, 8 p.m. Children £3, family ticket £20. Bookings: 091 563600/562024.
Belltable Arts Centre, Limerick: Nevereverland - a romp through pantomimes past, as a panto company under threat from a ruthless business man, produces its best. Opens January 2nd and runs until January 10th, 8 p.m. with some matinees. £5. Bookings: 061 319866.
Limerick University Concert Hall: Aladdin - presented by the Limerick Panto Society. Opens January 3rd with performances at 3 p.m. until 10th and at 8 p.m. on the 3rd, 6th, 8th and 9th. £5.50 £7.50. Bookings: 061 331549.
Hawk's Well Theatre, Sligo: Goldie Locks and the Three Bears. Traditional variety panto. Runs until December 20th, 8 p.m. with Sunday matinees at 3 p.m. £4 £6. Bookings: 071 61526.
Garter Lane Arts Centre, Waterford: Snow White Goes West adapted by Jim Eiler and presented by Stagefright Youth Theatre Company. Based on the Grimm Brothers' fairy tale, with gold rush fever thrown in for good measure. December 18th, 7.30 p.m. and December 19th, 7.30 p.m. £4. Bookings: 051 871570.
Centre Stage presents performances of the traditional fairy tale The Snow Queen by Hans Christian Anderson, adapted by Roma Tomelty, at Ballymoney Town Hall, Wednesday; Clotworthy Arts Centre, Antrim, Thursday, 1 p.m. and 7 p.m.; Carrickmore, Omagh, Friday and The Golden Thread Theatre, Belfast from December 16th 23rd.