THEATRE LIST
01 Glasgow and Edinburgh Christmas Shows.
Aladdin And His Wonderful Lamp
Citizens Theatre. Gorbals. Glasgow. ()41 4290022. Tue 1 Dec— Sat 161an. 10am (15. 22 Dec:12.1an);2pm(Everyday); 5pm(12.19.24.26.31Dec;2.9.16.lan): 7pm (9-10. 14. 16-18. 21 . 23. 28-3(lDec. 4-7.11.13-151an).£l-£4.50dependingon day and time — please phone theatre. Advisable to book before Christmas. Myles Rudge‘s Christmas show. as in previous years. works on many levels— spinning a well-known yarn. but adding to his lively retelling more subtle moral and psychological detail than usual. Aladdin and his sister Sara live in Baghdad with their impoverished mother. Aladdin lusts after riches - to such an extent that he mistakes the wicked Abanazar for his kindly uncle - and then the trouble starts. Good characterisation. matched by strong performances in Giles 1 lavergal‘s production. strong story-line. lovely design (from Colin MacNeil) — weaker on songs and scarey bits. Peter Raffan‘s wicked Abanazar is nice and luridly bad. however. Babes in the Wood Tron Theatre. 63 Trongate. Glasgow. 041 552 4267/8. Thurs 10 Dec— Sun 10.lan. 7.30pm. £5 non-members; £4.50 members; £2.50 members in cone groups and under 18s. Thurs 10 Dec Evening Times Preview. all seats £2.50. More like Babes in the Botanics. The Tron's panto this year is written by Forbes Masson and Alan Cummings. creators of the notorious Victor and Barry. and stars the latter in the title roles. Victor and Barry - as ‘Babes‘ - run away to Glasgow‘s Botanical Gardens where they meet a mad scientist called Vivien Section . . .
Beauty and the Beast
Royal Lyceum. Grindlay Street. ()31 229 9697. Tue 8 Dec - Sat 2 Jan. 10am8-11 Dec.14-16. 18 Dec: 2pm 8-10. 14-17. 19. 26 Dec. 2.1an; 3pm 21-24. 28-31 Dec: 5pm 26 Dec. 2 Jan; 7pm 18-23. 28-31 Dec; 8pm 26 Dec. 2 Jan. £2.70—£6. The Lyceum's Christmas Show is. as has become customary. written specially for them by Stuart Paterson. with original music this year by Savourna Stevenson. The tale has been adapted to incorporate a nice. wholesome THREE witches (See Interview) and a dithcry goblin called Dunt.
Care Bearsto the Rescue
Scottish Exhibition and Conference Centre. Finnieston. Glasgow. ()41 248 3000. Info. line 041204 2161 . Care Bears Hot Line ()41 221 3881. Wed 16 Dec — Wed 6Jan. 11am; 1.30pm;4.30pm. Adults £4.50. £4.£3.50. Children and OAPs
PANTOS
£3.50. £3. £2.50. The cuddlesome cuties from C are A Lot beam down in Glasgow. where they take on the wicked Professor Coldheart (played by Iain Lauchlan). Bring Your Own Bear to help them. Cinderella
Kings Theatre. Bath Street. Glasgow. Phone Bookings Ticket Centre. Candleriggs.04l 227 551 1. Until Sat6 Feb. 7pm. Wed 8: Sat mats 2.15pm. £2-£6.75. Rikki Fulton and Walter Carr shimmy onto the Kings' stage and hold it throughout as the resplendent Ugly Sisters. Panto with panache.
Cinderella. The Pantomime
Netherbow Arts Centre. 43 High Street. Edinburgh. 031 556 9579. Wed 9 — Sat 19 Dec. 7.30pm. £2.50 (£1 .50). The first-ever panto from the Netherbow Youth Theatre. Johnni Stanton's version ofthe talc combines traditional pantomime elements with topical political reference. being played out against the backdrop ofa king who is trying to con the peasants with a new tax . . .Thc Dame (Edwina front Currie) is played. unusually. by a girl.
A Christmas Carol
Cumbernauld Theatre. Cumbernauld. 0236 732887. Until Sat 26 Dec. 10am (Every day except Sat); 1.30pm (Every day);7.30pm(9&10Dec):£3.25(£1.90). Parties of ten or more £2.90 (£1 .90). Family ticket £10 (2 adults & 2 children or 1 adult & 3 children. 4 ice-creamsincll). The classic tale for Christmas. Dickens‘ story of the unfcstive Scrooge. adapted by Cumbernauld Theatre's Robert Robson. A Christmas Carol
Churchhill Theatre. Morningside Road. Edinburgh. Wed 16— Sat 19 Dec. 7.30pm. Sat mat 2.30pm. £2.50(£1.50). Leitheatrc in a traditional Christmas show which adds to the atmosphere of Dickens' original story with Dickensian carols.
Dick Whittington
Mitchell Theatre. Granville Street. Glasgow. 041 221 4526. Until Sat 12Dec. 7.30pm. £3.50 (£2.50) The Pantheon Players in their traditional panto.
The Incredible Brechin Beetle Bug Pleasance Theatre. 60 The Pleasance. Edinburgh. Until Sat 12 Dec. 10am9& 10 Dec: 1.30pm 8-11 Dec;7.30pm 11 & 12 Dec. £3.50 (£2.50) ALSO Mitchell Theatre. Granville Street. Glasgow. ()41 2214526.
Tue 15 Dec—Sat9Jan.7.30pm.16-19.23. 26. 28-30 Dec; 2. 5-9Jan. Matine’es 1.30pm 15-18. 21.22. 23.24.28-31 Dec: 6-8Jan. £3.50 (£2.50). 7:84 Theatre Company bring back Matt McGinn‘s panto. Gregor McGregor. intent on
following a recipe to become Sandy Claws‘
assistant. makes a wee mistake and is tragically transformed into a large and yukky beetle bent on destroyingthe world's toys. Christmas doesn‘t look too hopeful. until Gregor‘s fiancee and Grand Auntie Annie step in to help.
Jack and the Beanstalk
Kings Theatre. 2 Leven Street. Edinburgh. 031 229 1201. Mon 7 Dec- Sat 20Feb. 7pm. Mats 2. 15pm on 12. 16. 19. 21.22.23. 24.26.28.29. 30.31 Dec:2.4. 5. 6Jan. £4.50-£6.50. Concs£2.50-£3.50. More scene changes than you‘ve had hot dinners. the most spectacular beingJack's sword receiving ceremony. which marries the music of Swan Lake with Buzby Berkley-esque set to jaw-dropping effect. Jimmy Logan is a delightful Dame Trotter and Una McLean holds the stage as Wondergran. though she is sadly underused. A good smooth production. but a rather disappointing book — gags are started and not carried on. there isn‘t really enough opportunity for participation. and Euan Mclver‘s Draculstcin needs a shot ofvenom.
The Magic Snowball
Palace Theatre. 9 Green Street. Kilmarnock. 0563 23590. Until Thurs 24 Dec. 7.30pm. £4 (£3). Matinees 2pm on 11.12.17.19.22-24.28-31Dec;2.6.9.13. 16. 20. 23. 27. 30.1an. Adelightfully irreverent new pantomime from Wildcat. in which the Wicked Witch of the South (who bears a startling resemblance to our great Leader) has frozen the North with the help of her unctuous sidekick Malcolm Roughkind (a wonderfully insccty Peter Mullen). It falls to the twins Betwixt and Between to journey South and dethrone said witch by hurling the Magic Snowball at her. and they are abetted in the task bya rather cool feline called Fleas. A bright and breezy panto that accommodates the traditional well into the topical.
Mother Goose
Lyceum Studio. Grindlay Street. Thurs 17 — Wed 23 Dec. 7.30pm. £2 (£1 .50). Edinburgh Youth Theatre in their version
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of the classic tra itrona pantomime. Mother Goose Pavilion Theatre. Renfield Street. Glasgow. 041 332 1846. Until Sat 30Jan. 7.30pm. Matinees 2.30pm on 10. 12. 17. 19.22-24.28-31 Dec:2.6.9.13. 16.20.23. 27. 30Jan. £5.25 (Children £3.25).£3.25 (Children £2.25). Andy Cameron. Johnnie Beattie. Ross King and Alex Montcath are amongst the line-up forthe Pavilion‘s traditional Radio Clyde panto. Mother Goose Portobcllo Town Hall. High Street. Portobcllo. Edinburgh. Tue 15 Dec - Sat9 Jan. 7.30pm on 15-24. 26-30 Dec. 2-9Jan: Matinees 2.30pm on 15-17. 19-24. 26-31 Dec. 2-9 Jan. Also taking on the traditional pantomime tale of Mother Goose are Ron Cockburn Productions. who. in previous years have been seen at the Brunton Theatre in Musselburgh. The Nightingale Theatre Workshop's show specially devised for children with special needs is touring schools in Lothian and Fife. Not really for the general public. but those with special needs who are interested should contact Theatre Workshop on ()31 225 7942. Oliver’s Twisted Royston Wardieburn Community Centre. Pilton Drive North. Pilton. Edinburgh. 031552 5700. Tue 15 & Wed 16 Dec. 7pm. 25p ( 10p). The staff of the centre present a new telling of Dickens' popular old classic. with more than a few topical references. They also get the prize for the cheapest panto tickets this year — even ifyou‘ve bought extraordinarily expensive presents you should be able to afford this one! Robert Brothers Super Circus Scottish Exhibition and Conference Centre. Finnieston. Glasgow. ()41 248 3000. Information lines041 2042161 . Fri 11 Dec — Sat lojan. Please phone for times. Adults £5. £4; Children £3.£2.50. Ringside boxes £35 (8 seats). The Robert Brothers' traditional Christmas Circus. Rock and Roll Cinderella The Old Kirk. Pennywell Road. Muirhousc. Edinburgh. For details tel Muirhousc Festival Association on ()31 336 3934. Wed 16— Fri 18 Dec. 7. 15pm. 50p. Muirhousc Festival Association‘s new panto is a fairly unconventional reworking of the popular tale by Bruce
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28 The List 11 Dec l987-7Jan 1988
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