Ali Baba
Greenwich Theatre, London SE10
A change of venue this year for the Bubble Theatre Company, whose intelligent and classic pantos make Christmas in London worthwhile.
· December 9 until January 11. Box office: 020-8858 7755.
Jack and the Beanstalk
Theatre Royal Stratford East, London
The annual East End knees-up deservedly has a following far beyond London.
· Until January 25. Box office: 020-8534 0310.
The Sleeping Beauty
Theatre Royal, Northampton
The Derngate Theatre next door may attract the TV stars, but for a really magical and transforming panto, the Theatre Royal is the place to come.
· December 10 until January 18. Box office: 01604 624811.
Babbies in the Wood
York Theatre Royal
If you could wave a magic wand and get to see any panto in the country, it would surely be Berwick Kaler's annual fiesta, which breathes new life into traditional panto.
· December 11 until February 1. Box office: 01904 623 568.
Beauty and the Beast
Nottingham Playhouse
Kenneth Alan Taylor writes his own shows, directs them and stars in them himself - and they are always first-rate.
· Until January 18. Box office: 0115-941 9419.
Aladdin - The Wok'n'Roll Panto
Everyman Theatre, Liverpool
Get your hot pants out and get rocking, as an old favourite returns to Liverpool's Everyman. This certainly isn't a traditional version of the Aladdin story, but it is pretty wild.
· Until January 25. Box office: 0151-709 4776.
Aladdin
Lowry, Salford
Grab that magic carpet and let it transport you to the world of the Arabian Nights, as our hero - a cheeky, streetwise lad - tries to win the heart and hand of a princess.
· December 11 until January 5. Box office: 0161-876 2000.
Aladdin
King's Theatre, Glasgow
Elaine C Smith and Gerard Kelly star in Scotland's greatest crowd-puller in a venue made for the panto experience.
· Until January 18. Box office: 0141-240 1111.
Jack and the Beanstalk
Tron Theatre, Glasgow
Forbes Masson - a man for whom the panto form was surely created - writes and directs this show, in which Jack's genetically modified pet highland cow is sold off to the evil burger giant, Boris Bowfing.
· Until December 28. Box office: 0141-552 4267.
Mother Goose
Northcott Theatre, Exeter
The annual egg-stravaganza is a traditional panto playing at an address that annually serves up solid-gold Christmas fayre.
· December 12 until January 18. Box office: 01392 493493.
