9 min readThe stage is set for Christmas across Greater Manchester. We’ve decked the halls, and warmed up our vocal cords and now theatres across the city region are ready to put on magical festive performances to get the whole family in the mood for the festive season. From pantos to musicals and everything in between, Christmas theatre in Manchester really is the gift that keeps on giving.
Find out what performances are taking place near you and grab a front-row seat to Christmas this year.
Manchester
Manchester Opera House – The Pantomime Adventures of Peter Pan
Jason Manford is leading the cast of Manchester Opera House’s prestigious pantomime this year, (oh yes, he is)! Take the entire family on a trip to Neverland this festive season with this magical recreation of Peter Pan, you won’t even need fairy dust to get there. Taking on the role of Captain Hook in this classic tale alongside Britain’s Got Talent Finalist Ben Nickless as Smee, Jason Manford and the rest of the cast are guaranteed to have you flying high this Christmas. The show will run from Saturday 10 December to Saturday 31 December. Hook your tickets today from just £13 per person. Book now. .jpeg)
Contact Theatre Manchester – Robin Hood The 80’s Panto
This year why not watch a pantomime with a twist? Contact Theatre’s wildly popular eight-freestyle’s panto is back and this time, it’s going to take you back to the 80s. With their take on Robin Hood, be transported to Sherwood Forest for plenty of laughs, and terrible puns alongside all of your favourite 80s tunes. Watch as Robin joins forces with Maid Marion to thwart the Sheriff of Nottingham’s evil plans to kidnap the young Babes. With action, adventure, laughs, music and magic, this show will be a winner for the whole family. The show runs from Saturday 10 December to Saturday 31 December and tickets are between £14 and £24. Book now.
Hope Mill Theatre – Cinderella
Kickstart your Christmas period with a classic fairy tale full of magic. The Hope Mill Theatre is showing the European Theatrical Premiere of the 2013 Broadway Musical Cinderella. Follow Ella, a smart and beautiful young girl who lives in the car of her wicked stepmother and stepsisters as she strives to go to the ball. Put on your glass slippers and prepare for a truly magical evening, full of magic, glitter and of course, dancing. This show is perfect for all ages and runs from Friday 4 November to Saturday 11 December, tickets start from £25. Book now.
HOME – Who’s Holiday
This is strictly one for the grownups. Starring US Drag Superstar Miz Cracker who you may know from Ru Paul’s Drag Race, this adult-only show at HOME is a hilarious festive treat. In the European premiere of this show by Matthew Lombardo, you’ll discover the story of Cindy Lou Who as she recalls that Christmas Eve she first met the Grinch and the twisted turn of events her life has now taken. Now she’s all grown up, celebrate the holidays with Cindy Lou Who. The show runs from Wednesday 30 November to Saturday 3 December and tickets start from £10. Book now.
Salford
The Lowry Theatre
The Lowry Theatre has a fun-filled festive programme, with something for grownups, little ones and the whole family!
Matthew Bourne's Sleeping Beauty
Dance into the festive season with Sleeping Beauty. This award-winning ballet has been inspiring audiences for the last 10 years and this year it’s back at The Lowry to bring some magic to the stage. This enchanting tale features fairies, vampires and supernatural love which is sure to start your Christmas period in style. Brought to life by New Adventures company, Sleeping Beauty will transport you through time with a tale of gothic romance. Tickets are £18.70 for children and £22 for adults. The show runs from Tuesday 22 November to Saturday 26 November. Book now.
Claus The Musical
This Christmas The Lowry is hosting a brand-new musical, as magical as Christmas itself. From the writer of The Wonderful Wizard of Oz and based on the beloved children’s book The Life and Adventures of Santa Claus by L. Frank Baum, Claus The Musical tells the story of Claus’s upbringing and how he became a Christmas legend. Expert a heart-warming tale all about how Santa Claus and the miracle of Christmas as we know it came to be. With spellbinding songs and a stunning story, this show will make Christmas 2022 one to remember. Running from Wednesday 14 December to Thursday 8 Jan, tickets start from £22.50. Book now.
The Little Penguin’s First Christmas
Little ones can also enjoy some festive theatre at The Lowry with Little Penguin’s First Christmas. Aimed at babies from 0 – 36 months and their grown-ups, this immersive experience will transport you to Little Penguin’s winter wonderland as she discovers her first Christmas. With puppets, music and sensory delights, little ones will be truly captivated. This show runs from Thursday 22 December to Saturday 31 December. Tickets start from £16.50 for parents and babies and ticket prices include a copy of Little Penguin’s First Christmas to take home. Book now.
Oldham
Oldham Coliseum Theatre – Robin Hood
Robin Hood and his band of Merry Men are bringing Sherwood Forest to Oldham this Christmas for a pantomime adventure. The nasty Sheriff is terrorising the people and has even kidnapped Maid Marian, but can Robin Hood stop him? Oldham Coliseum is renowned for hosting the best traditional pantomime in the North West and this Christmas will not disappoint. With silliness, songs and a little bit of magic, Robin Hood is on target for a perfect festive family performance. The pantomime will run from Saturday 12 November to Wednesday 7 January and tickets start from £15.50. Book now.
Millgate Centre Oldham – Aladdin
Hop on your magic carpet and fly over to Oldham’s Millgate Theatre as The Big Tiny are back with their smash-hit show, Aladin. This magical, musical pantomime will transport you to a whole new world with genies, sorcery and wonder. It’s a classic tale that never gets old, and The Big Tiny offer a fresh and fantastic take. The show runs from Saturday 10 December to Saturday 31 December and tickets cost £14 for children under 16 and £17 for adults. Book now.
Bolton
Bolton Octagon Theatre – A Christmas Carol
Would it really be Christmas without A Christmas Carol? This classic novel by Charles Dickens is for many of us, a Christmas tradition. So, you won’t want to miss it coming to life on stage at Bolton’s Octagon Theatre. You’ll be transported to Victorian England to watch the joy of Christmas unfold. Follow the tale of tight-fisted Ebenezer Scrooge as he is visited by ghosts and is taken on a mystical journey through Christmases past, present and future to realise the true spirit of the festive season. The show runs from Thursday 17 November to Saturday 14 January and tickets start from £15. Book now.
Bolton Albert Halls – Jack and the Beanstalk
Bolton’s pantomime this year is a true classic. Jack and the Beanstalk is coming to The Albert Halls in this hilarious pantomime adventure. Join Jack on his magical journey up a giant beanstalk to a castle in the sky as he fights to save Daisy the Cow. This is a truly gigantic adventure and you won’t need a bag of magic beans to watch it unfold. The show runs from Friday 2 December until Sunday 1 January and tickets start from £18. Book now.
Stockport
Stockport Plaza – Cinderella
This Christmas you shall go to the ball as Cinderella comes to Stockport Plaza. The most magical rags-to-riches fairy tale will be brought to life in Stockport’s sensational family pantomime. This year it will star Cheryl Fergison best known for her role as Heather Trott in Eastenders. Grab your glass slippers, put on your best dress and get ready to have a ball, but don’t worry you won’t be turned into a pumpkin at midnight. This glittering show will run from Thursday 8 December to Sunday 8 January, tickets start from £17.05. Book now.
Forum Theatre – Rapunzel
Let down your hair this Christmas, as Rapunzel is coming to Stockport. Step into the storybook and get ready for a magical Christmas performance as Rapunzel escapes the tower and heads on an epic adventure. This is a classic fairytale the whole family will love, featuring stunning costumes, mesmerising dancers and classic pantomime charm. The show runs from Sunday 11 to Saturday 31 December and tickets start from £16. Book now.
Bury
Bury The Met - Dick Whittington
It’s a pantomime classic, Dick Whittington and his cat are coming to The Met. Will they find fame, fortune and adventure? Are the streets paved with gold? And will the cat catch the rat before the rat catches them? Expect glitz, glamour, silliness, songs and laughter from this traditional family pantomime, you may even find a dame! What could be a better way to welcome in the festive season? The Show runs from Thursday 8 December to Saturday 24 December and tickets start from £13 for children and £16 for adults. Book now.
Trafford
Waterside Theatre – The Man Who Wanted to be a Penguin
For a Christmas show with a difference, Waterside Theatre in Sale is telling the extraordinary story of an explorer, conjurer and problem solver who is learning to speak penguin. Join him in the Antarctic as he hopes to join a penguin colony without a frosty reception. With a mix of puppetry, music and songs, this creative performance is anything but cold, and will really capture your imagination this Christmas time. Tickets start from £12 and performances run from Wednesday 30 November to Saturday 31 December. Book now.
Wigan
The Old Courts – Aladdin
Your wish is their command. Pendle productions are back at The Old Courts Art Centre to bring you another magical family pantomime this festive season, and this year they’re showing Aladdin. Get ready to be transported to another land as Aladdin finds a magic lamp (and a magic carpet) that could change his life forever. Will he defeat the wickedest baddie Abanazar has ever seen? Will he rescue the princess? One thing we do know for sure is that this pantomime will be a laugh a minute. The show runs from Saturday 3 December to Saturday 23 December with tickets starting from £15.12. Book now.
