Theatre
Events are listed by city, then alphabetically by venue. Submit listings at least 14 days before publication to theatre@list.co.uk. Listings are compiled by Laura Ennor. ✽✽ Indicates Hitlist entry GLASGOW
■ THE ARCHES 253 Argyle Street, 565 1000. Pinocchio Until Sun 2 Jan. See Kids listings. ✽✽ Da Entstünde Ein Engel Sun 5 Dec, 5pm. £7 (£5). Choreographer
Jarkko Lehmus works with dancers to create a group piece exploring spiritualism, the experience of the performer, and the influence of martial arts and yoga on dance. See preview, page 84.
■ CITIZENS THEATRE 119 Gorbals Street, 429 0022. Beauty and the Beast Until Fri 31 Dec. See Kids listings. Wonderland Until Fri 31 Dec. See Kids listings. Wicked Christmas Wed 15 Dec–Fri 17 Dec, 7.30pm; Sat 18 Dec, 7.30pm & 9.30pm. SOLD OUT. Tuck into the Citizens’ Community Company’s adults- only selection box of festivity, satire and fun. Taking a drier-than-your-turkey look at what’s become of Christmas, it’s guaranteed to cheer you up and restore your faith in angels.
■ EASTWOOD PARK THEATRE Eastwood Park, Rouken Glen Road, Giffnock, 577 4970. Ali Baba and the 40 Thieves Thu 2 & Fri 3 Dec, 7.30pm; Sat 4 Dec, 2.30pm & 7.30pm. £11 (£8). Annual panto from the Eastwood Entertainers set in the sandy climes of Baghdad where Pollyanna Jones and her father seek the Tomb of Doom. Cinderella: A Giffnock Fairytale Mon 6 Dec–Thu 9 Dec, 9.45am & 1.30pm; Fri 10 Dec, 9.45am; Sat 11 Dec, 11am. £10 (£8). A traditional Christmas treat with a decidedly local twist from NLP Theatre and Des Dillon.
Murder Mystery Evening Sat 11 Dec, 7.30pm. £3. Christmas turns deadly with a seasonal mystery from the local youth theatre groups. Jack & the Beanstalk Mon 13, Tue 14, Thu 16 & Fri 17 Dec, 7.30pm; Wed 15 Dec, 1.30pm & 7.30pm; Sat 18 Dec, 11am, 3pm & 7.30pm. £6–£13. Runway Theatre Company presents the classic panto about the gullible boy with an unruly beanstalk. Suitable for all ages. ■ KING’S THEATRE 297 Bath Street, 0844 871 7648. Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs Fri 3 Dec, 7pm; Sat 4 Dec, 2pm & 7pm; Sun 5 & 12 Dec, 1pm & 5pm; Mon 6 & Fri 10 Dec 10.30am & 7pm; Wed 8, Thu 9, Tue 14, Wed 15 & Thu 16 Dec, 1pm & 7pm; Sat 11 Dec, 10.30am, 2pm & 7pm; various times until Sun 9 Jan. £6–£27.50. Festive theatrical extravaganza starring Barbara Rafferty as the Wicked Queen and Darius Campbell as the Prince.
■ MUGDOCK COUNTRY PARK Craigallian Road Milngavie, 956 6100. Jack and the Beanstalk Sat 11 Dec, 2pm & 4pm; Sun 12 Dec, 4pm; Tue 14 Dec–Fri 17 Dec, 6.30pm; various times until Fri 24 Dec. £9 (children £6). Beans mean magic at Mugdock this Christmas. ■ ÒRAN MÓR 731–735 Great Western Road, 357 6200. A Play, a Pie & a Pint: Sleeping Beauty Thu 2–Sat 4 Dec, Mon 6–Sat 11 Dec & Mon 13–Sat 18 Dec, 1pm. £8–£12.50. The usual lunchtime theatre slot at Oran Mor gets a festive twist. Ticket price includes a pie and drink.
■ PAISLEY ARTS CENTRE New Street, Paisley, 887 1010. Aladdin Thu 2, Fri 3, Mon 6, Tue 7, Wed 8, Thu 9, Fri 10, Mon 13, Tue 14, Wed 15, Thu 16 & Fri 17 Dec, 7pm; Sat 4 & 11 Dec, 11am, 3pm & 7pm; various times until Fri 31 Dec. £8–£15. Traditional family fun with original music, audience participation and a lamp full of surprises.
Scottish Ballet: Cinderella
■ PAVILION THEATRE 121 Renfield Street, 332 1846. The Magical Adventures of Robin Hood Thu 2 & Fri 3 Dec, 7.30pm; Sat 4 & 11 Dec, 2pm & 7.30pm; Sun 5 &12 Dec, 2pm & 6.30pm; Tue 7, Thu 9 & Tue 14 Dec, 11am & 7.30pm; Wed 8, Fri 10, Wed 15 & Thu 16 Dec, 1.30pm & 7.30pm; various times until Sat 22 Jan. £15.50–£19.50. Thigh-slapping fun with Jim Davidson as Robin Hood (which means you can’t boo him) and everyone’s favourite decorators, Colin and Justin. ■ PLATFORM The Bridge, 1000 Westerhouse Road, Easterhouse, 276 9696. The Selfish Giant Fri 10 Dec–Wed 22 Dec. See Kids listings.
■ RAMSHORN THEATRE 98 Ingram Street, 552 3489.
✽✽ Old Time Music Hall Thu 9 Dec–Sat 11 Dec, 7.30pm. £12 (£8).
The Celebrated Gaslight Gaieties recreate the larger-than-life characters and cabaret vibrancy of the music halls. See preview, page 84.
■ RSAMD 100 Renfrew Street, 332 5057. Pinocchio Tue 7, Wed 8 & Fri 10 Dec, 2pm & 7pm. Thu 9 & Sat 11 Dec, 10am, 2pm & 7pm. £13.50 (£9.50). Pantomime time at the RSAMD, as the little wooden fibster embarks on a quest to escape the clutches of wicked puppet master Stromboli and return to his father Gepetto.
■ SCOTTISH MASK AND PUPPET CENTRE 8–10 Balcarres Avenue Kelvindale, 339 6185. Pockets Full of Christmas Puppets Sat 4 Dec. See Kids listings. Little Christmas Eve Sat 11 Dec. See Kids listings. ■ SECC Finnieston Quay, 0844 395 4000. Jeff Wayne’s The War of the Worlds Fri 3 Dec, 8pm. £42.50–£60. Take cover – it’s the original (prog-rock) score for the HG Wells novel adaptation, performed live. Aladdin Sat 11 Dec, 2pm & 7pm; Sun 12 Dec, 1pm & 5pm; Tue 14 Dec–Thu 16 Dec, 1pm & 7pm; various times until Sun 9 Jan. £14–£27.50. John Barrowman takes centre stage in this big budget panto, also featuring the Krankies and a 3D genie. Cinderella Sun 12 Dec–Thu 23 Dec, 7pm. £16. UK Theatre School presents its version of the classic pantomime. Diversity Tue 14 Dec, 7.30pm. £21.50–£29.50. Street dance skills from the winners of the third series of Britain’s Got Talent who actually, believe it or not, have some of the afore- mentioned talent.
■ THEATRE ROYAL 282 Hope Street, 0844 871 7647.
✽✽ Scottish Ballet: Cinderella Tue 14 & Wed 15 Dec, 7.30pm; Thu 16 Dec, 2pm & 7.30pm; various times until Fri 31 Dec. £10–£28. Scottish Ballet’s festive production directed by Ashley Page, set to the score of Prokofiev and performed by the Scottish Ballet Orchestra. See picture caption, left.
At this time of year, demand for sugar-coated Christmas fairytales runs high. But what about those who like their ballets a little bit different? Happily the formidable partnership of choreographer Ashley Page and designer Antony McDonald ticks both boxes. Filled with beautiful costumes, remarkable scenery and magical moments, Scottish Ballet’s Cinderella also has a wonderfully quirky side. First performed in 2005, this lavish full-length ballet is still as fresh as a newly plucked pumpkin. ■ Theatre Royal, Glasgow, Tue 14–Fri 31 Dec. 86 THE LIST 2–16 Dec 2010
■ TRAMWAY 25 Albert Drive, 0845 330 3501. Gender Divide Thu 16 & Fri 17 Dec, 7.30pm. £6.50 (£4.50). A new work by experimental youth performance collective Junction 25. ■ TRON THEATRE 63 Trongate, 552 4267. Flo White Fri 3 Dec, 7.30pm; Sat 4 & 11 Dec, 2.30pm & 7.30pm; Sun 5 & 12 Dec, 1pm & 5pm; Tue 7, Thu 9, Fri 10, Tue 14 & Thu 16 Dec, 10am & 7.30pm; Wed 8 & 15 Dec, 1pm & 7.30pm; various times until Sat 8 Jan.
£7.50–£16.50 (family ticket £36; preview shows Fri 3–Sun 5 Dec all tickets £9). An intergalactic new alternative panto by Gordon Dougall and Fletcher Mathers (Ya Beauty and the Beast and Mother Bruce) and the Tron Theatre Company. A Very Cosy Christmas Sat 4 Dec–Fri 24 Dec. See Kids listings. EDINBURGH
■ BEDLAM THEATRE 11b Bristo Place, 225 9893. The Phantom of the Panto Thu 2 Dec–Sat 4 Dec, 7.30pm. £5 (£4.50). Love and tragedy at Christmas time.
■ BRUNTON THEATRE Ladywell Way, Musselburgh, 665 2240. Mother Goose Thu 2 Dec 10am & 7pm; Fri 3, Fri 10, Tue 14, Wed 15 & Thu 16 Dec, 10am & 7.30pm; Sat 4 & 11 Dec, 2pm & 7.30pm; Mon 6, Tue 7, Wed 8, Thu 9 & Mon 13 Dec, 2pm & 7.30pm; various times until Fri 31 Dec. £13.50–£15.75 (£10.50–£12.75; family ticket £46–£55). Traditional family panto fun as Mother Goose flies into Musselburgh.
■ CHURCH HILL THEATRE 33a Morningside Road, 529 4147. Bonnie and the Beast Thu 2–Fri 3 Dec, 7pm; Sat 4 Dec, 2pm & 7pm. £12 (£8). A local Christmas panto from Balerno Theatre Company. For tickets call 443 2278 or buy from Balerno Post Office. Humpty Dumpty Fri 10 Dec & Tue 14–Fri 17 Dec, 7pm; Sat 11, Sun 12 & Sun 19 Dec, 2.30pm; Sat 18 Dec, 2.30pm & 7pm. £9 (£7). Edinburgh People’s Theatre performs the annual Church Hill Theatre panto, this year chronicling the exploits of a careless egg and a wicked wizard who seeks to scramble his plans for a peaceful Christmas. ■ EDINBURGH ZOO Corstorphine Road, 334 9171. Beauty and the Beast Sun 5 Dec, 11.30am & 2.30pm. Included in zoo admission: £15.50 (£13; children £11). A beast of a different sort is on the loose at Edinburgh Zoo in this heartwarming family tale from M&M productions. The easily-influenced should take note, however; the attempted snogging of tigers is still not recommended. Suitable for ages 4+.
■ EDINBURGH FESTIVAL THEATRE 13–29 Nicolson Street, 529 6000.
✽✽ The Secret Garden Thu 9, Fri 10, Tue 14, Wed 15 & Thu 16 Dec, 7.30pm; Sat 11 Dec, 2.30pm & 7.30pm; Sun 12 Dec 3pm; various times until Sat 8 Jan. £8–£33 (£5–£30). Frances Hodgson Burnett’s classic novel about a young orphan girl who discovers a hidden walled garden is brought to the stage for Christmas, with Siobhan Redmond leading the cast as housekeeper Mrs Medlock. See preview, page 83.
■ THE GATE Cruise Liner Terminal, Ocean Drive, Leith, 555 4104. A-lad-in Leith Wed 15 Dec–Fri 17 Dec, 7.30pm; Sat 18 Dec, 2pm & 7.30pm. £7 (£5; under 3s free). Sat evening show £10. Leith-set panto from the people behind Leith Festival, telling the rather familiar tale of a plucky lad tasked with saving his community from Abanazar the, er, evil Council worker, and trying to get the girl (the delectable Princess Treat) along the way. ■ KING’S THEATRE 2 Leven Street, 529 6000. Jack and the Beanstalk Sat 4, Wed 8, Fri 10, Sat 11, Tue 14, & Wed 15 Dec, 2pm & 7pm; Sun 5 & 12 Dec, 1pm & 5pm; Tue 7, Thu 9 &