Christmas Theatre and Concerts

With the big day fast approaching, theatres and concert halls across the North are getting right into the festive swing of things. You’ll find festive classics, charming family shows and our pick of the pantos in our Christmas theatre and concerts guide.

Octagon Bolton brings a brand-new adaptation of A Christmas Carol while The Lowry presents the world premiere of Claus – The Musical, a dazzling show based on L Frank Baum’s celebrated story. Also on the musicals front, grab tickets to Hope Mill’s Cinderella – the perfect theatrical aperitif to start the season. Families with little festive-fun seekers should certainly check out The Man Who Wanted to be a Penguin at Waterside, a heartwarming tale – packed with puppetry, music and adventure – perfectly set in icy Antarctica.

Elsewhere, it wouldn’t be Christmas without a trip to the Everyman for their seasonal Rock ‘n’ Roll panto. We’re also championing Robin Hood at Oldham Coliseum – traditional pantos don’t really come any better than this.

Looking for something a little more alternative? Our favourite musical twosome Bourgeois and Maurice head to HOME with Pleasure Seekers, a brand-new high-energy show. And the historic Levenshulme Old Library hosts Ghosts at the Old Library, an evening of festive ghost stories read by lantern light.

As for Christmas concerts, the ever-brilliant AMC Gospel Choir bring the festive heart and soul to Blues Kitchen and Manchester’s very own Jane Weaver is set to perform a one-off Christmas show at YES.

Read about all this and more below, and don’t sleep on tickets – they’re going fast…