Panto, Santa, skating and song: festive fun for all the family

If it’s your first family outing to a pantomime with young children, it’s best to choose the more traditional pantomimes, such as Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs at the Gaiety or Aladdin at the Cork Opera House. Theatreworx’s The Sleeping Beauty at the Helix in DCU is also less daunting for young children (and has a few shows for children sensitive to bright lights).

The Cheerios Panto, Jack and the Beanstalk, at the Tivoli, is for older children and adults who can’t break the habit. And Jedward return to the fray in Beauty and the Beast at the Olympia Theatre in Dublin.

Loyal followers of these seasonal productions will have noted that several Dublin panto stars jumped ship last year to perform at the University Concert Hall, Limerick. Back there again this year for Aladdin are Richie Hayes, Leanne Moore and Adele King.

In Belfast, May McFettridge returns for Sleeping Beauty at the Grand Opera House while Lana Productions bring Little Red Riding Hood to the Waterfront.

Dublin’s National Concert Hall provides excellent musical alternatives to the pantomimes: Annie is back for a short run, and Eimear Quinn is a special guest at the Snowman concert, narrated by Pauline McLynn. And the RTÉ Concert Orchestra will provide accompaniment to a screening of The Wizard of Oz.

BELFAST
Little Red Riding Hood Boo the big bad wolf and enjoy a surprise visit from the Three Little Pigs at this traditional panto from Lana Productions. Waterfront Hall, 2 Lanyon Place Until Jan 4 £12-£17 048-90334455 waterfront.co.uk

Sleeping Beauty Northern Ireland's queen of comedy May McFettridge stars alongside TV star Lorraine Chase in this popular panto. Grand Opera House, Great Victoria St Until Jan 19 £15.50-£26.50 048-90241919 goh.co.uk

CLARE
Cinderella Pantaloons and Breakthrough Dance Company come together for this traditional pantomime. Glór Irish Music Centre, Ennis Dec 21-23, 27-30 €15 065-6843103 glor.ie

CORK
Aladdin Traditional panto starring Llandyll Gove as Aladdin, Karen Tynan as Jasmine and Velvin Lamont as the Genie. Cork Opera House, Emmet Place Dec 12-Jan 18 €25-30 021-4270022 corkoperahouse.ie

Jack and the Beanstalk Stars of this pantomime include Cork's favourite dame, Jim Mulcahy. Everyman Palace, MacCurtain St Dec 7-Jan 12 €15-26 021-4501673 everymancork.com

DUBLIN
Sleeping Beauty Expect Dublinese accents and jokes at this very popular panto, starring Aidan Mannion and Eoin Cannon from Fair City in a Theatreworx production. The Helix, DCU Until Jan 12 €21-€25 01-7007000 thehelix.ie

Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs
The longest-running traditional pantomime in town, directed by Daryn Crosbie. Gaiety Theatre, South King St Until Jan 12 €19.50-€35 01-6771717, 0818-719388 gaietytheatre.ie

Jack and the Beanstalk Alan Hughes (Sammy Sausages to you) joins models Nadia Forde and Michele McGrath and TV star Bryan Murray for this show. Tivoli Theatre Dec 11-Jan 12 €22.50-€29.50 01-4544472 tivoli.ie

Beauty and the Beast Jedward will be joined by Linda Martin and Ciara Lyons as Belle in this panto directed by Simon Delaney for Spotlight Productions. Olympia Theatre, Dame St Dec 18- Jan 5 €25 0818-719330 ticketmaster.ie

Red Riding Hood Mad capers for all the family from Causey Productions. Civic Theatre, Tallaght Dec 23, 27-30, Jan 1-5 €10 01-4627477 civictheatre.ie

Cinderella Holding Court Theatre Company presents this family pantomime. Axis, Ballymun Jan 2-26 €8/€12 01-8832100 axis-ballymun.ie

Cinderella Coolmine Panto Group presents this popular pantomime. Draíocht, Blanchardstown Jan 3-19 €16/€20 01-8852622 draiocht.ie

Cinderella The Lambert team puts its puppets in pantomime mode for this festive show. Lambert Puppet Theatre, Clifton Lane, Monkstown
Dec 7, 8, 14, 15, 21, 22, 28, Jan 5, 11, 12, 18,19, 25, 26 €11/€13 01-2800974
lambertpuppettheatre.com

GALWAY
Robin Hood and Babes in the Wood
Renmore Pantomime Society presents its 35th traditional pantomime, with a new script by Peter Kennedy. Town Hall Theatre Dec 29-Jan 12 €14/€16 091-569777 tht.ie

LIMERICK
Aladdin
Regular panto stars Richie Hayes, Leanne Moore, Myles Breen and Adele King join newcomer Kamal Ibrahim in this traditional pantomime. University Concert Hall, University of Limerick
Dec 20- Jan 5 €20-€27.50 061-331549 uch.ie

Jack and The Beanstalk
A CentreStage Productions show, written and directed by Mike Finn. Belltable Arts Centre
Dec 13-30 €16.50/€18.50 061-319866
belltable.ie

SLIGO
Cinderella Coolera Dramatic Society presents its annual traditional panto. Hawk's Well Theatre, Sligo Dec 8-21 €16 071-9161518 hawkswell.com