ALL I want for Christmas is … a good murder mystery! And if that comes with a generous dose of laughter all the better. Strange creatures that we are, there is apparently nothing we enjoy more than dead bodies piling up in a splendid country house, crumbling castle or remote island hideaway. Agatha Christie was…
THE inventive and funny New Old Friends are at Frome’s Merlin Theatre, from Wednesday 17th to Sunday 28th December over (not Christmas Eve and Christmas Day) with a revival of their popular comedy thriller, Crimes Against Christmas. Loosely inspired by Agatha Christie’s Then There Were None, the story follows a group of strangers summoned to…
OLIVIER Award-winning actor Guy Masterson comes to Bath Theatre Royal from Monday 15th to Friday 19th December with his tour-de-force solo performance of A Christmas Carol. This acclaimed version of Charles Dickens’ famous fable is directed by Nick Hennegan, who has also adapted Dickens’s original performance text for the production, which also includes original music…
BRISTOL’s historic Old Vic breaks with its usual non-celebrity tradition this year, bringing in local star, comedian, actor and singer Jayde Adams to lead a terrific cast of actor-musicians in a musical retelling of a story that started its life at the Llandoger Trow, just yards down the street. It’s 15 years since King Street…
THE children whose first view of live theatre was watching Little Bulb perform Antarctica at Bristol Old Vic in 2013 are in their late teens now, but possibly are still theatregoers, thanks to that magical experience. Now a new generation is watching a new cast perform the play again, and it is just as enchanting…
THE story of Rapunzel, the girl imprisoned in a high tower by a possessive witch, dates back into the mists of time, but it has lost neither its appeal nor its impact, as the new version by Sharon Clark for the Tobacco Factory Christmas show proves. The five-strong cast of actor-musicians excitingly demonstrate that there…
THE Merlin Christmas show is traditionally a feast of fun and talent, featuring a huge number of performers, technicians and back stage supporters – and this year’s show, on until 13th December, is no exception, with a regular cast of 25 and two alternating teams of ten leading players and dancers as well. Roald Dahl’s…
CHRISTMAS as we know it was almost invented by Charles Dickens – and the festive theatre scene always includes more Scrooges than you can shake the proverbial stick at. But Cirencester’s intimate Barn Theatre always manages to add a special pizzazz to its Christmas shows, and this year is no exception, with an atmospheric Christmas…
WHEN Clara’s mysterious aunt arrives at the family’s grand Christmas ball with a strange gift, she brings unexpected excitement to the festivities. Find out more when Taunton’s Brewhouse theatre presents The Nutcracker (Not the Ballet) this Christmas, from 2nd to 28th December. Join Clara (Nell Baker) on this magical Christmas Eve when her Nutcracker doll…
FANS of Charles Dickens’ festive fable, A Christmas Carol, have their usual huge choice of productions this year, but Dorset’s Artsreach is bringing a company to Dorset with a very different take on the story of Scrooge. The amusingly-named Hah! Bumhug! is performed by Lecoq trained Ethel Darling, of the Lonely Clown Club, with live…