Fourteen Christmas Shows, One Scrooge: Britain's Festive Theatre Guide

Matthew Bourne's Cinderella, a 30-year-old ballet set in blitz-torn London, tours 17 venues over 24 weeks this Christmas. That is the season's biggest single commitment. Around it, British theatres have stacked fourteen festive productions, from Sondheim in Manchester to penguins in London. Scrooge, naturally, makes his annual appearance in Edinburgh.

What's playing where?

Selina Cartmell directs Stephen Sondheim's A Little Night Music at the Royal Exchange theatre, Manchester, from 5 December to 30 January. The musical, originally inspired by an Ingmar Bergman film, charts mismatched couples and contains some of the most exquisite songs in Sondheim's catalogue. Arlene Phillips, a former Strictly judge, choreographs.

The RSC co-produces The Three Musketeers with Told By an Idiot, a company known for visual comedy. The show runs at the Royal Shakespeare theatre, Stratford-upon-Avon, from 28 November to 9 January. It is billed as a "wild" new adaptation of Alexandre Dumas's novel, with an international company of performers.

The list runs long. Highlights include:

• Honk! — Barn theatre, Cirencester, 21 November to 3 January. George Stiles and Anthony Drewe's musical about Ugly, a duckling teased for his looks, who chases the beautiful drake within.
• The Snowman — Birmingham Rep until 1 November, then the Peacock theatre, London, 21 November to 3 January 2027. Howard Blake's score returns, now directed and choreographed by Will Tuckett, with puppets by Tahra Zafar, who recreated Paddington Bear for the West End.
• The Merry Adventures of Maid Marian — Sherman theatre, Cardiff, 27 November to 2 January. Maid Marian of south Wales leads the resistance, played by actor-musicians and directed by Lee Lyford.
• Antarctica — Polka theatre, London, 27 November to 17 January. Penguins, albatrosses, clowns and puppets, aimed at three- to seven-year-olds.
• Robin Hood and the Merry Mandem — Theatre Royal Stratford East, 21 November to 2 January. This Robin hails from E15; Sherwood Forest becomes housing estates, retail jungles and the Central Line.
• The Reluctant Dragon — Marlowe theatre, Canterbury, 5 December to 3 January. Kenneth Grahame's tale of a poetry-reciting dragon, now a musical family show.
• Santa's First Christmas — Unicorn theatre, London, 14 November to 3 January. Mac Barnett's book, adapted with direction and choreography by Olivier award-winner James Cousins and songs by Harry Blake.
• The Further Adventures of Peter Pan: The Return of Captain Hook — Grand Opera House York, 5 December to 3 January. Pantomime, with songs and aerial stunts.
• Miss Bennet: Christmas at Pemberley — Park theatre, London, 2 December to 10 January. Lauren Gunderson and Margot Melcon's play centres on bookish middle sister Mary and a visit from Lord Arthur de Bourgh.

Where does the National Theatre land?

The National Theatre's Christmas record has hit the mark in recent years. This season it stages The Jungle Book, 13 November to 6 February, reimagining Rudyard Kipling's Mowgli through the mangroves of the Sundarbans. Anupama Chandrasekhar adapts; artistic director Indhu Rubasingham stages; Nick Barnes and Finn Caldwell handle the puppetry.

Can Scrooge still surprise?

A Christmas Car