{"id":1081,"date":"2015-12-14T08:59:53","date_gmt":"2015-12-14T08:59:53","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/dev.city-academy.com\/news\/?p=1081"},"modified":"2026-01-21T10:41:13","modified_gmt":"2026-01-21T10:41:13","slug":"10-best-london-shows-christmas","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.city-academy.com\/news\/10-best-london-shows-christmas\/","title":{"rendered":"10 Best Shows in London this Christmas"},"content":{"rendered":"

Catching a Christmas show at a London theatre is one of the city\u2019s rightfully-heralded yuletide traditions.\u00a0<\/em><\/strong>With some of the world\u2019s most acclaimed live performance production houses based here, it\u2019s no wonder that every year excitement surrounds the festive programmes that light-up London\u2019s venues.<\/em><\/p>\n

There\u2019s so much going on it\u2019s difficult to narrow it down to just 10\u00a0shows,\u00a0but here is a brief look ahead to some of the treats set to unfold on the London stage this Christmas.<\/em><\/p>\n

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  1. Peter Pan<\/strong> | New Wimbledon Theatre | 5th<\/sup> December \u2013 10th<\/sup> January | Tickets<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    Pantomimes have to live with a reputation for wooden acting, ham-fisted jokes, and over-the-top silliness, but that\u2019s all part of the fun! What other show manages to get a packed crowd of 1000 + (young and old) screaming at the stage? The New Wimbledon Theatre always goes large with its panto, and with Peter Pan<\/em> getting the treatment this year, you\u2019d be a fool to miss it. Hackney Empire\u2019s pantomime<\/em><\/a> is always a great bet too!<\/em><\/p>\n

      \n
    1. Wonder.Land<\/strong> | National Theatre | Until 15th<\/sup> March | Tickets<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

      If you\u2019re looking for something big, bold and theatrically innovative, you could do a lot worse than check out Damon Albarn (of Blur) and Rufus Norris\u2019 new show. After premiering at the Manchester International Festival earlier this year, this musical and techno-digital retelling of the Alice in Wonderland story promises to be a real visual spectacle.<\/p>\n

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      1. La Soiree<\/strong> | Spiegeltent on the Southbank | Until 17th<\/sup> January | Tickets<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

        If you\u2019ve never seen La Soiree <\/em>(pictured; top), just go. The traditional vaudevillian variety show gets dragged into the 21st<\/sup> Century with this procession of wild, wonderful, and danger-defying cabaret performances. It\u2019s funny, sexy (not suitable for children, this one), and physically breath-taking. La Soiree <\/em>has been entertaining packed audiences the world-over for over 5 years now (even longer if you include its previous incarnation \u2013 La Clique<\/em>), so make sure you catch its latest London run.<\/p>\n

          \n
        1. Sofie Hagen \u2013 Bubblewrap<\/strong> | Soho Theatre | 10th<\/sup> December \u2013 6th<\/sup> January | Tickets<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

          Danish stand-up Sofie Hagen picked up the Best Newcomer Award at the Edinburgh Fringe earlier this year, so whilst this isn\u2019t as tinsel-draped as other shows, it would be difficult to beat Bubblewrap<\/em> for pure minute-to-minute laughs. Hagen regales the story of her Westlife-obsessed childhood, her self-reflective journey into young adulthood, and the flaws and insecurities picked up along the way. This is an immensely warm and sophisticated introduction to an exciting new comedic voice.<\/p>\n

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          1. A Christmas Carol<\/strong> | Noel Coward Theatre | 30th<\/sup> November \u2013 30th<\/sup> January | Tickets<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

            If you\u2019re looking for the quintessential London Christmas experience, look no further than Charles Dicken\u2019s A Christmas Carol<\/em>, starring Jim Broadbent. Making his long-awaited return to the London stage in the grumpy guise of Ebenezer Scrooge, Broadbent is set to further confirm his status as a true national treasure in this classic tale of greed, ghosts, and redemption.<\/p>\n

            \"Jim

            Jim Broadbent in rehearsals for ‘A Christmas Carol’<\/p><\/div>\n

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            1. Around The World in 80 Days<\/strong> | St James Theatre | 26th<\/sup> November \u2013 17th<\/sup> January | Tickets<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

              When it comes to performative-dexterity, watching eight actors transform into over 100 different characters is just the ticket. In this adaptation of Jules Verne\u2019s swashbuckling adventure, the small cast do exactly that, morphing into the vast array of peculiar individuals encountered by Phileas Fogg and Passepartout on their breakneck adventure. Unadulterated family fun.<\/p>\n

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              1. The Snow Queen<\/strong> | Arts Theatre <\/a>| 7th<\/sup> \u2013 23rd<\/sup> December<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

                There are a lot of children’s\u00a0shows doing the rounds at this time of year \u2013 some of them hit, a lot of them miss<\/em> \u2013 but Wild Ivy Theatre\u2019s production of The Snow Queen<\/em> is the show that\u2019s caught our eye. Hans Christian Anderson\u2019s much-loved fairytale receives a stage adaptation from an exciting new devising company that have crafted a show full of warmth, imagination, and song. If you have young children this could be a great choice \u2013 it\u2019s suitable for ages 3 and up.<\/p>\n

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                1. The Nutcracker <\/strong>| Royal Opera House | 8th<\/sup> December \u2013 14th<\/sup> January<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

                  Performed by The Royal Ballet, with Ivanov\u2019s timeless choreography, and set to Tchaikovsky\u2019s enchanting score, this promises to be a true theatrical event from start-to-finish. Presented in the glittering surroundings of The Royal Opera House, The Nutcracker<\/em> offers a truly authentic experience of tradition, classicism and prestige. No wonder it\u2019s almost sold out.<\/p>\n

                  \"The

                  The Nutcracker | Royal Opera House<\/p><\/div>\n

                    \n
                  1. Tim Key \u2013 Father Slutmas <\/strong>| Arts Theatre<\/a> | 16th<\/sup> \u2013 19th<\/sup> December | Tickets<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

                    Don\u2019t ask us to explain the lewd show title (he does that far better himself here<\/a>), but this is going to be a real treat. Comedian Tim Key rolls out his shambolic, beer-guzzling, poet-persona for a Christmas-themed show at the West End\u2019s Arts Theatre<\/a>. You may recognise him from Alan Partridge: Alpha Papa<\/em> and the latest series of Peep Show<\/em>, amongst other things, but it\u2019s in a live setting that he demonstrates his reputation as a true comic innovator.<\/p>\n

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                    1. The Snowman<\/strong> | Peacock Theatre | Until 3rd<\/sup> January | Tickets<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

                      Like a few others on this list, Sadler\u2019s Wells The Snowman<\/em> offers a theatrical re-telling of a classic narrative. Raymond Briggs\u2019 book (and subsequent animation) is reimagined as a magical live dance spectacle. The cartoon has a distinctive dance-like feel to it, so it\u2019s no wonder the Birmingham Rep had the bright idea to turn it into a piece for the stage back in 1993 (Sadler’s Wells have been bringing it to London every year since 1997). Joyous, oh-so-fleeting, and highly recommended.<\/p>\n

                      Here at City Academy we’re running our own\u00a0season of Christmas shows, performed by <\/em>our in-house dance, choral, and musical theatre companies. Click here for more details.<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

                      Catching a Christmas show at a London theatre is one of the city\u2019s rightfully-heralded yuletide traditions.\u00a0With some of the world\u2019s…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":8,"featured_media":1452,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[141,132],"tags":[142,171,170,187],"yoast_head":"\n10 Best Shows in London this Christmas | City Academy<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"City Academy choose the 10 best shows to see in London this Christmas. 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