Christmas shows for adults across the UK for winter 2024 – with immersive theatre, ballet and naughty pantomimes

GOING to the theatre at Christmas doesn’t have to be all about PG-rated pantomimes and stories of goodwill.

There are plenty of opportunities for adult-only nights out during the festive season, minus the Christmas cliches.

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There are plenty of shows for adults to enjoy over the Christmas period up and down the country[/caption]

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Rick Astley is returning to the Albert Hall in London this December for a special big band concert[/caption]

We’ve put together a list of some of best Christmas shows for adults happening up and down the country – and a lot of them are definitely no kids allowed!

London

The Nutcracker by the English National Ballet

The English National Ballet’s Nutcracker is a brand-new production for 2024, with over 100 dancers and musicians to dazzle audiences.

Follow Clara as she travels to the land of Sweets & Delights, meets the Sugar Plum Fairy, and bravely defends her home form the Rat King.

Yes, kids are allowed at the ballet but they are also great for the adults too.

Venue: London Coliseum, 12th December – 12th January.

Rick Astley’s Swinging Christmas

Multi-million selling global star Rick Astley will be returning to the Royal Albert Hall this December for a special big band concert, performing swing and festive classics.

The show will see Rick perform in the Hall’s stunning historic auditorium.

Venue: Royal Albert Hall, 17th December.

A Very Naughty Christmas

Direct from down under, Australia‘s favourite adults only Christmas comedy is coming to London.

Audiences can let loose and indulge in some adult-only ‘elf-care’, with a live band, eight above-average performers, and plenty of surprises from Santa’s sack.

Venue: Southwark Playhouse, 18th November – 11th January.

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The Crown Ballet will be performing The Nutcracker up in Manchester, based on the original story by E.T.A. Hoffmann[/caption]

Manchester

Crown Ballet presents The Nutcracker

The Crown Ballet will also be performing the classic Christmas story up in Manchester.

The story is based on the original story, The Nutcracker and the Mouse King written by E.T.A. Hoffmann.

Venue: The Plaza, Stockport, 25th November.

Tinderella

A show where you definitely need to leave the kids at home. It’s a scandalous twist on the classic fairy tale – Tinderella is a whizz on social media, but it’s all a charade because she has no money, no man and none of the glamorous life she claims to be living. Until one day, she meets not one, but two Princes in the woods…

Expect a night of raucous laughter, innuendos and unexpected encounters.

Venue: Hope Mill Theatre, 4th-23rd December.

Come From Away

Winner of four Olivier Awards including Best New Musical in London and the Tony Award for Best Direction of a Musical on Broadway, the smash hit show shares the incredible real life story of the 7,000 air passengers from all over the world who were grounded in Canada during the wake of 9/11.

Experience this joyous story and soaring music as spirited locals and global passengers come together to forge friendships that will stay with them forever.

Venue: The Lowry, 3rd December-5th January.

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Love Actually will be screened live in concert in Liverpool, with a full orchestra playing the score live-to-film[/caption]

Liverpool

The Holiday: Film with Live Orchestra

The beloved Christmas rom com, The Holiday will be presented live in concert, as part of a 15 date UK-wide tour, which will see the film’s score played live-to-film with a complete concert orchestra.

The orchestra will also be making stops at London, Birmingham, Poole, Portsmouth, Brighton, Bath, Southend-on-Sea, and Nottingham.

Venue: Liverpool Empire, 30th November.

Love Actually In Concert

If you’re more of a Love Actually fan, a similar thing will be happening at Liverpool’s Philharmonic Hall.

Love Actually will be screened live in concert, with a full orchestra playing the score live-to-film.

Venue: Liverpool Philharmonic Hall, 2nd December.

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The Ballroom King and Strictly Come Dancing judge joins forces with a dynamic live band, vocalist Lance Ellington, and a troupe of extraordinary dancers for his festive show[/caption]

Birmingham

The Nutcracker

In this Birmingham Royal Ballet production, Tchaikovsky’s glorious score will be performed live by the 60-strong Royal Ballet Sinfonia.

There are also daring sword fights, falling snow, magic, and a 30-foot Christmas tree. 

Venue: Birmingham Hippodrome, 22nd November-14th December.

A Christmas Carol: A Ghost Story

Mark Gatiss‘ acclaimed retelling of Dickens’ winter ghost story visits The Rep this Christmas, starring Matthew Cottle as Scrooge and Rufus Hound as Jacob Marley.

Filled with Dickensian, spine-tingling special effects, prepare to be frightened and delighted in equal measure as you enter the supernatural Victorian world of A Christmas Carol: A Ghost Story.

Venue: The Rep, 14th November-5th January.

Christmas with Anton du Beke

Embark on a dazzling journey into a festive wonderland as Strictly’s one and only Anton Du Beke brightens up your Christmas with his brand new show – Christmas with Anton Du Beke.

The Ballroom King and Strictly Come Dancing judge joins forces with a dynamic live band, vocalist Lance Ellington, and a troupe of extraordinary dancers to bring an evening of music, dance and laughter. He’ll also be performing in London, Cambridge, Southend-on-Sea, Basingstoke, Woking, Leicester and more.

Venue: B:Music Town Hall & Symphony Hall, 17th December.

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Step Into Christmas features singers, dancers, and speciality acts who give you their hearts and don’t take them away.[/caption]

Glasgow

Step Into Christmas

This Christmas concert brings all the magic of the season to life with people’s favourite songs they know and love.

Featuring singers, dancers, and speciality acts who give you their hearts and don’t take them away.

Venue: Pavilion Theatre, 11th November.

A Christmas Carol

Charles Dickens’ beloved tale is brought to life by students from the BA Performance for Deaf and Hard of Hearing Actors programme in a uniquely visual retelling.

A piece of visual theatre accessible to both deaf and hearing audiences.

Venue: Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, 29th November and 6th December.

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The Northern Ballet will perform A Christmas Carol at Sheffield Lyceum Theatre[/caption]

Leeds

Christmas at the Movies by Candlelight

This concert of timeless classics is stuffed full of magical music from Christmas film favourites including, The Polar Express, Elf, E.T., Home Alone, White Christmas, and Love Actually.

Venue: Leeds Minster, 13th December.

Northern Ballet’s A Christmas Carol

A festive feast for the senses, Northern Ballet brings one of the most loved stories of all time to life.

Dickens’ timeless tale is reimagined through dance, music and storytelling which will transport you to Victorian England and leave your heart aglow.

Venue: Sheffield Lyceum Theatre, 7th November.

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Comedians Helen Thorn and Ellie Gibson will be bringing their Scummy Mummies Christmas Show to Tyne Theatre & Opera House[/caption]

Newcastle

The Scummy Mummies Christmas Show

Comedians Helen Thorn and Ellie Gibson bring their special Christmas themed comedy show back.

Expect scummy carols, yuletide sketches, festive stand-up and scummy Santa stories.

Venue: Tyne Theatre & Opera House, 28th November.

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Fairytale of New York will feature lots of festive musical numbers, including ‘Driving Home for Christmas’ and ‘Step Into Christmas’ and, of course, ‘The Fairytale of New York’[/caption]

Sheffield

Fairytale of New York

From the producers of Seven Drunken Nights – The Story of The Dubliners, immerse yourself in the rich tapestry of Irish culture as talented singers, musicians and dancers perform a world class concert.

All the festive favourites will be featured, including ‘Driving Home for Christmas’ and ‘Step Into Christmas’ and, of course, ‘The Fairytale of New York’.

Venue: Sheffield City Hall, 3rd December.

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Keith and Krysten Getty are Grammy-nominated artists known for modern hymns and carols[/caption]

Belfast

Ulster Orchestra Messiah

No Christmas would be complete without the majestic performance that is Handel’s Messiah.

The Ulster Orchestra will provide an evening of festive fun at the Waterfront Hall.

Venue: Waterfront Hall, 14th December.

Keith and Krysten Getty

Keith and Krysten Getty are Grammy-nominated artists known for modern hymns and carols.

This year’s Christmas tour will feature brand new songs from the duo, along with many of the traditional Christmas carols people have come to know and love.

Venue: The SSE Arena, 19th-20th December.

Hallow’istmas: The Xmas Chainsaw Massacre

Belfast’s cult comedy cabaret is back. (G)host with the most, Sir Arthur Chichester (Dan Leith) presents an evening of fiendish festive fun.

Hallow’istmas will be serving up live comedy, music, and the chance to win some fantastic prizes. It also promises to add a little horror to the holidays.

Venue: Accidental Theatre, 22nd-23rd of November.

Sleeping with Beauty

This iconic adult pantomime returns, ballsier than ever.

Be taken on a wild ride through the unconventional tale of Sleeping with Beauty – the faint hearted/prudish have been warned.

Venue: Waterfront Hall, 28th-29th December.

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The country’s best comedians are coming to Nottingham for a spectacular all-star festive show, including Sara Pascoe[/caption]

Nottingham

Christmas at the Musicals

Be treated to a festive feast of West End showstoppers performed by Stephanie McKeon, Alice Fearn, Jon Robyns and Scott Davies, accompanied on stage by the West End Theatre Orchestra.

Expect songs from the greatest musicals, including Mamma Mia!, The lion King, The Book of Mormon, Cabaret, Starlight Express, Frozen and Wicked.

Venue: Theatre Royal, 19th December.

Sara Pascoe, Tim Key, Steen Raskopoulos, Janine Harouni, Ivo Graham, and Alex Horne: Live At Christmas

The country’s best comedians are coming to Nottingham for a spectacular all-star festive show.

Joining Sara is a spectacular line-up with cult comic/poet and Alan Partridge star Tim Key, bumbling charmster Ivo Graham, master character comic Steen Raskopoulos, viral phenomenon Janine Harouni, and BAFTA-winning Taskmaster host Alex Horne as MC.

Venue: Theatre Royal, 18th December.

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Join Bob Cratchit, Tiny Tim and Scrooge himself at the Bristol Old Vic this Christmas[/caption]

Bristol

A Christmas Carol

Told in true Bristol Old Vic style, Tom Morris (The Grinning Man, Swallows & Amazons) joins forces with Lee Lyford and Gwyneth Herbert (The Snow Queen) to present an enchanting new adaptation of Charles Dickens’ timeless tale, A Christmas Carol.

Join Bob Cratchit, Tiny Tim and Scrooge himself in this riot of music and theatrical imagination.

Venue: Bristol Old Vic, 29th November-13th January.

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Aled Jones and the Welsh POPS Quartet will be performing music from The Snowman and other festive favourites in Cardiff[/caption]

Cardiff

My Favourite Things

For two nights only, Soho’s most mischievous drag-diva, Heiress Blackstone, will host the season’s merriest night of international variety. This festive event features a dazzling all star line-up, blending sensational cabaret, breathtaking circus, joyous burlesque and raucous comedy.

Join Heiress and her Christmas favourites for a night filled with laughter, glamour, and festive cheer.

Venue: Sophia Gardens, Pontcanna, 20th-21st December.

Welsh of the West End of Christmas

Join Welsh of the West End, the musical theatre super-group, as they perform Christmas classics and musical theatre favourites.

Prepare to be dazzled by performers from shows such as Les Misérables, Phantom of the Opera and Wicked.

Venue: Sophia Gardens, Pontcanna, 29th November-22nd December.

Aled Jones’ Christmas Songbook Featuring The Snowman

Aled Jones and the Welsh POPS Quartet will be performing music from The Snowman and other festive favourites.

Aled will perform and narrate The Snowman in the first half of the show and in the second half perform some of his own favourite show and classical numbers and then lead a seasonal sing along.

Venue: Sophia Gardens, Pontcanna, 7th-8th December.