FESTIVE THEATRE

A rundown of the best panto and Christmas shows around this year.

Times vary unless otherwise stated.

Mother Goose at The Octagon, Yeovil.

Mother Goose

Octagon Theatre Hendford, Yeovil Box Office 01935 422884 December 3 - January 2 Pantomime full of all your favourite traditions – a fabulous fairy, a dastardly baddie and a bloke in a dress. With hilarious comedy, beautiful sets and costumes and fantastic music. Everyone loves Mother Goose but she’s not happy as she wants to be beautiful. It just so happens that the evil, self-obsessed Demon Vanity can offer her everything her heart desires but there’s a price… she must give up the thing she loves the most: her prized goose. Tickets £14.50 - £25, children £14.50 - £22.50, family £73 .

Beauty and the Beast

Tacchi-Morris Arts Centre School Road, Taunton Box Office 01823 414141 December 10 - 22 A Tale As Old As Pantomime. A selfish Prince is cursed by an enchantress, turned into a hideous beast and only true love can save him. Thoughtful Belle sacrifices herself for her father and finds herself imprisoned in an enchanted castle. Can Belle see beyond the Beast’s appearance and fall in love with her captor in time? Packed full of stunning scenery, sensational costumes, magical songs, lots of family fun and amazing special effects. Adults £18, children £16, family £64.

Dick Whittington

Memorial Theatre Frome Box Office 01373 462795 December 28 - January 3 The well-known fairytale of Dick Whittington and his feline friend Tommy who go to London in search of fame and fortune. Join the cast for fun on the open seas, slapstick in the galley and the fight against an oversized rat. A magical experience with a large cast, live music, bright costumes, sets and lighting. Traditional pantomime presented by Frome Musical Theatre Company. Tickets £14.

Jack and the Beanstalk

Meet lovable hero Jack and his hilarious Mother Dame Trott. Short of money, the poor woman expected Jack to bring more than a handful of beans in exchange for Daisy the cow. She doesn’t bargain for a giant beanstalk, hungry giant and his henchman, Fleshcreep or the adventures that are to follow. Fee Fi Fo Fum see if Jack can save the day at: McMillan Theatre Bath Road, Bridgwater Box Office 01278 556677 December 17 - 29 A giant pantomime adventure, festive treat for all the family whisking you away to pantoland. With stunning costumes, hilarious comedy, fabulous singalong songs and a wonderful live band. Tickets £14 - £20, family £56 - £68. The Playhouse Western-Super-Mare Box Office 01934 654544 December 11 - January 2 Join in a tale of adventure, love and Christmas celebration in this classic pantomime, a giant of a family experience. Starring Derek Morgan (Milkshake). Tickets £23.95 - £28, family £82 - £92. Brewhouse Coal Orchard, Taunton Box Office 01823 283244 January 8 - 15 We all know the story, but this is pantoland, so you can always expect the unexpected. Wayfarers Pantomime Society present a show full of gags, music and high energy dance routines. Be ready to laugh, cheer, boo and hiss as the story unfolds. Tickets from £12.

Poor Cinderella, her wicked (not to mention ugly) stepsisters treat her as their servant. She’s going to need all the magic her fairy godmother can muster if she is to meet her Prince Charming and find true love before the clock strikes midnight. See how she fares at:

Cinderella at Theatre Royal, Bath 16 December - 9 January.

Theatre Royal Bath

Box Office 01225 448844 December 16 - January 9 This spectacular production, starring Dani Harmer (Tracy Beaker), will delight with its enchanting story, side-splitting comedy, lavish settings and adorable miniature ponies. Tickets from £9 - £38.50.

Puss in Boots

Bridgwater Town Hall St Augustine’s Parade Box Office 07729 573954 January 21 - 29 The family cat doen’t seem much of an inheritance, but there is more to Puss then it seems. Newly equipped with a pair of stylish boots, he sets out to make his master’s fortune. The Purr-fect pantomime presented by Bridgwater Pantomime Society. Adults £11, children £8 from Carnival Centre, High Street from 12 December.

The Panto and the Pea

Rondo Theatre Larkhaill, Bath Box Office 01225 448844 December 9 - 16 Bonkers new Christmas show presented by The Natural Theatre Company linking all the pantomimes and Christmas tales in the world ever into one festive family treat. At the door is a soaking wet woman who just wants to rest on a comfortable bed. Who is she? How did she get here? Will she be able to sleep with a pea under her mattress? Her story comes to life before your very eyes and it involves a glass slipper, a beanstalk, a magic lamp… and a lot of familiar characters being very funny. Tickets £12 to £16, concs £10 - £14.

Snow White

Bristol Hippodrome St Augustine’s Parade Box Office 0844 871 3012 December 4 - January 2 Poor Snow White, forced to flee to the forest to save herself from her stepmother’s murderous plans. She’s lucky enough to be taken in by seven kindly dwarfs who do their best to protect her, but they have to go to work and leave her. What they can’t protect her from is her trusting nature and the cunning Queen. If only a prince would come by and save the day. Pantomime packed with all the traditional ingredients with an

Little Theatre

Wells Box Office 01749 672280 December 11 - 18 Expect the traditional story with one or

abundance of jaw-dropping dance, sidesplitting comedy, sensational special effects and plenty of festive magic. Starring Lesley Joseph and Rob Rinder. Tickets from £13.

Five Children and It

The Egg, Theatre Royal Bath Box Office 01225 448844 December 10- January 16 Sent away to live in the countryside with their reclusive Uncle, five children discover a secret that’s been hidden away for centuries: a magical, mischievous and extremely grumpy Sand Fairy called It with the power to grant spectacular wishes. There’s just one catch… Perhaps a wish granted isn’t always the dream come true you might expect. A sparkling new take on the classic story by E. Nesbit. Adults £20, children £15.

Robin Hood: Legend of the Forgotten Forest

Bristol Old Vic King Street, Bristol Box Office 0117 987 7877 Until January 8 When a 21st-century kid slips through a crack in the time-space continuum, they crash into the middle of an epic fight between good and evil. It’s Sherwood Forest, the 12th century, an uneasy time of cunning thieves, dastardly villains and karaoke-singing monks. It’s up to Robin Hood and the Merry Crew to pull off their toughest mission yet and stop the corrupt Sheriff of Nottingham achieving ultimate power. A magical tale about taking aim at the things you believe in, shooting straight from the heart and becoming the hero you were born to be. For 7 year olds and above, tickets from £8. two twists, lots of music, singing, laughs and sprinkling of magic. Tickets £14, concessions £11. Octagon Theatre

Hendford, Yeovil Box Office 01935 422884 January 25 - 29 YAPS present a brand new spectacular and magical family pantomime. Featuring sensational scenery and costumes, toe-tapping songs and incredible special effects and a modern script with local references. Tickets £16..

Wind in the Willows

Mole has never really left home before. But today, something is different. The world outside is calling, and he feels like it is time to answer. Very soon, Mole is caught up in a whirlwind of wild adventures with his new friends Ratty, Mr. Badger and the absurd but loveable Mr. Toad. Can they overcome angry judges, mischievous weasels, and Toad’s own mad impulses to get their lives back to normal? Brewhouse

Coal Orchard, Taunton Box Office 01823 283244 December 9 - January 2 Heartwarming musical tale of friendship and folly, fun for all the family. Toot toot! Adults from £19.50, children from £16.

Merlin Theatre

Bath Road, Frome Box Office 01373 4659 December 9 - 11 Full of humour, wit, a gorgeous, soaring score and heartwarming lessons of friendship. Adults £9.50, £12.50, children £9.50.