30 November to 12 January
“In Baghdad, a young woman starts a revolution through the power of storytelling.” This “punky, modern reimagining” of The Book of the Thousand Nights and One Night, is the second production in Indhu Rubasingham’s reign at the Tricycle, following her triumphant Red Velvet, and the theatre’s first ever festive show. Written by Mary Zimmerman, and directed by Lu Kemp, the story of Scheherazade’s mesmerising tale-spinning features music by the Iranian indie band Take It Easy Hospital Photograph: PR
3 to 29 December
Mary Norton’s wonderful story of the mice-sized family who live beneath the floorboards and survive by borrowing from “human beans” is directed by Northern Stage’s artistic director Erica Whyman. Telling the adventures of the adolescent borrower Arrietty, it is set in the north-east of 1899 and features “puppets, live music and straight-talking charm”. The tall Whyman, directing her last show here before joining the RSC, explains she has a soft spot for Arrietty, “who knows that small can be mighty” Photograph: PR
7 December to 26 January
This new version of the Grimm Brothers story has been written by Lucy Kirkwood, who devised the show with director Katie Mitchell. Mitchell’s Christmas productions have become an annual event at the National Theatre her Cat in the Hat was a particularly snappy treat. Hansel and Gretel will have puppetry by Toby Olié, while Vicki Mortimer has the enviable task of designing the gingerbread house and the forest. A tempting cast includes Ruby Bentall, Kate Duchêne and Amit Shah Photograph: PR
17 December to 7 January
The Russian performance artist and clown Slava Polunin reprises the show he created in 1993, which has become a Christmas stalwart in London. Despite the title, the wordless scenes conjure up more than one season, and include slapstick as well as set pieces with giant coloured balls and a great web thrown over the heads of spectators. The most celebrated moments come at the end, when a man-made blizzard, whipped up by a wind machine, blasts tickertape into the audience as Carmina Burana booms out Photograph: Mick Tsikas/Reuters
30 November to 12 January
Janie Dee, who has recently sparkled lethally at the Royal Court, returns to musical theatre in Jerry Herman and Michael Stewart’s 1964 hit, which is driven by a terrific score featuring – apart from the title number - foxtrots, marches, quicksteps and waltzes. Paul Kerryson’s production brings together the talents behind the Curve’s Gypsy and The King and I. Dee takes on the matchmaker role associated particularly with Ethel Merman (stage) and Barbra Streisand (film) Photograph: PR
13 December to 26 January
Dominic West makes his musical theatre debut as the grumpy Henry Higgins in Alan Jay Lerner and Frederick Loewe’s lyrical 1956 show. He will be directed for the second time in his native city by Sheffield theatre’s artistic director Daniel Evans, who will recreate the Floral Hall on the Crucible stage. Last year West played Iago there, with fellow Wire star Clarke Peters. Now he will be performing alongside Carly Bawden as Eliza Dolittle, the phonetically challenged flower girl. With A Little Bit of Luck it should Be Luvverly Photograph: PR
17 November to 12 January
Russell Hoban’s much-loved story about a clockwork mouse and his child abandoned on Christmas Day is adapted for the stage by Tamsin Oglesby and directed by Paul Hunter, of the Told By an Idiot company. As the characters find their way through toyshops, fields and rubbish dumps, they are swept up by a hawk, dropped into a frozen lake, pursued by a rat and encounter a fortune-telling frog. Daniel (Skins) Ryan, who stars, proclaims: “Anyone who thinks playing a clockwork mouse is easy can kiss my whiskers” Photograph: PR
1 December to 19 January
Stratford East is one of the jolliest and prettiest of London theatres in which to catch traditional panto with a modern spin. Paul Sirett, who wrote The Big Life and Reasons to Be Cheerful for this theatre, has provided the book and some lyrics; more lyrics and music are by Wayne Nunes and Perry Melius; Dawn Reid directs. Ugly ogres and harp-shaped divas are promised, as well as Chicken Gaga tap-dancers, an enormous spider organ, songs to sing along with – and Marilyn the much-prized cow. Photograph: PR
26 November to 19 January
The team who created Bristol’s marvellous Swallows and Amazons and Treasure Island join forces for the first family show to be staged in the gloriously refurbished theatre. J M Barrie’s wistful adventure story will have the vital crocodile and Tinkerbell but will be set in an urban playground, with chopper bikes and space hoppers. There will be live original onstage music, four different kinds of flying, including bungee jumping, and tremendous counterweighting: when one actor jumps down seven metres another is sent high in the air Photograph: PR
29 November to 12 January
For this new show poet laureate and Manchester resident Carol Ann Duffy joins forces with Melly Still, the director, designer and choreographer behind Coram Boy and Beasts and Beauties. Inspired by folk tales around the world, Rats’ Tales will draw in particular on the legend of the Pied Piper, and on Duffy’s own collection of short stories The Stolen Childhood, to chronicle the darkly comical business of growing up. Ninety schoolchildren from greater Manchester will appear at the centre of the production as rats Photograph: PR
