Monday
Jim Broadbent stars as Scrooge in Patrick Barlow’s adaptation of A Christmas Carol directed by Phelim McDermott at the Noël Coward theatre, London. Nottingham Playhouse often does a cracker of a panto, and this year it’s Dick Whittington. Moira Buffini’s entertaining gallop through the lives and times of Liz and Maggie, Handbagged, is at the Theatre Royal in Bath all this week. It’s your last chance for Kneehigh’s fabulous take on Daphne du Maurier’s Rebecca which is at the Mayflower in Southampton all this week. Mike Bartlett’s King Charles III is at Chichester festival theatre from tonight.
Tuesday
Martin McDonagh’s Royal Court hit Hangmen transfers to Wyndhams in the West End. Chris Thorpe explores liberalism and political extremism in Confirmation at Birmingham Rep all this week. Will Adamsdale’s Jackson’s Way returns to Battersea Arts Centre in time to motivate you for Christmas. David Greig’s adaptation of Dr Seuss’s The Lorax starts previewing at the Old Vic. Regent’s Park theatre’s staging of Lord of the Flies goes into the Lowry in Salford. Sonya Kelly’s delightful How to Keep an Alien, a story of love and passports, is at Soho theatre from tonight. The gorgeous Little Bulb bring the woodlands to life in The Night that Autumn Turned to Winter in Bristol Old Vic Studio. The Other Room in Cardiff stages its first Christmas show, Alix in Wundergarten, a twisted black comedy about actors recording a seasonal radio drama. Also in Cardiff, at Chapter Arts, is Tim Rhys’s Touch Blue Touch Yellow, a play about autism that was developed with young autistic people and their carers. Simon Mendes de Costa’s A Better Woman considers middle-aged love at the Marlowe in Canterbury.
Wednesday
Eastern Angles’ festive tradition of madcap spoofs continues with Holy Mackerel!, a slippery look at the 1896 Newlyn fish riots. It’s at the John Mills theatre in Ipswich from tonight. The musical Loserville returns to the Union, Southwark. Two- to five-year-olds will follow a trail around BAC for Town Hall Cherubs, made with Ad Infinitum. Kneehigh’s final dates for the John Gay makeover, Dead Dog in a Suitcase, are at Shoreditch Town Hall from tonight. Sam Yates directs Cymbeline at the Sam Wanamaker Playhouse at the Globe with Pauline McLynn and Joseph Marcell in the cast. Daniel Bye explores how viruses and panic spread in Going Viral, which is at Cast in Doncaster tonight only. Chitty Chitty Bang Bang flies into West Yorkshire Playhouse with James Brining in the driving seat. Hidden City’s latest adventure trail across London, the Sherlock-inspired Moriarty’s Game, begins today and runs until the end of March.
Thursday
Mia Chung’s You for Me for You, about two sisters fleeing North Korea, begins at the Royal Court Upstairs. Dundee Rep’s ensemble are tackling David Wood’s version of Roald Dahl’s The Witches. Little Sure Shot, the true story of how Annie befriends Buffalo Bill, settles in for some sharp shooting at the Egg in Bath. The Guild of Misrule reimagine The Great Gatsby leading the audience on a merry dance from room to room at the Fleeting Arms in York. Getinthebackofthevan are at the Marlborough in Brighton with the unsettling and unpredictable Number 1, The Plaza. Mischief La-Bas and friends take over Stereo in Glasgow with a series of turns and pieces exploring ethics.
Friday and the weekend
If you enjoyed the sleeper hit The Play That Goes Wrong, you’ll be pleased to hear that Peter Pan Goes Wrong crash lands for the festive season at the Apollo. Barrel Organ take up residence at Camden People’s theatre with Some People Talk About Violence, and over the weekend will be showing work in progress as part of Barrel Organ Takeover. Cornelia Funke’s Inkheart is staged by Walter Meierjohann at Home in Manchester. Across town at the Royal Exchange, Matthew Xia revives Sondheim’s Into the Woods. The wonderful Mike Kenny has written Cinderella, and it’s at Derby theatre from tonight, where it’s directed by Sarah Brigham. Curious Directive’s 2014 Edinburgh hit, the cleverly layered Your Last Breath, takes up residence at Southwark Playhouse.
