CHANUKAH at JW3
Chanukah light-ups
December 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 21
Family-friendly community candle lighting, storytelling, music and doughnuts. With pianist and vocalist Suzie Rubin and some special guests. On the 21st, includes meet and greet with cast members of the panto Cinderella and the Matzo Ball.
How to Write a Panto
December 14
Join the master of “unforgivingly Jewish and undeniably British” storytelling, Nick Cassenbaum, for an interactive workshop. Learn the tricks of the trade, from punchlines to classic panto gags. Having written all JW3’s pantomimes, plays, created solo works and sold out shows internationally, Nick will share his expert knowledge, Age 10 to adult. You could make a day of it and see the panto first, at 11am, before the workshop at 2pm.
Young JW3 Chanukah Extravaganza
December 14
Ages 20s and 30s
Cinderella and the Matzo Ball panto, followed by a Chanukah meal. All food is supervised kosher, with vegan option bookable.
Festive food bank volunteering for families
December 24
A fun and meaningful way to spend the winter break with the whole family. Help prepare fresh, home-cooked meals for those in need while learnin how to make some delicious classics. Suitable for children and teens age eight to 16 but they must be accompanied by a parent or guardian. In partnership with Feast With Us.
New Year’s Family Disco with Ilana Banana
December 28
Glittering dance tunes, interactive games and surprises with the queen of kid-friendly funk and feel-good fun.
Manchester Jewish Museum
Chanukah Fun Day
December 14
From noon to 3pm, creative, hands-on activities perfect for visitors of all ages.
Learn about the Chanukah miracle and celebrate through games and crafts. Make your own colourful clay Chanukiah or dreidel, and mould your own chocolate coins to play dreidel with. Your tickets include entry to the museum so you’ll also have the chance to explore the fascinating galleries and step inside the museum’s beautiful Spanish & Portuguese synagogue. Families can also try out activity backpacks to help little ones explore the history of Jewish Manchester.
ART
Brooke-Walder Gallery
2nd Floor, 15 Duke Street St James's
London, SW1Y 6DB
December 4 to 23
Winter exhibition featuring Charlie Schaffer and Yonia Fain (1913-2013).
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Kerry James Marshall, Knowledge and Wonder, 1995. Oil on canvas, 294.6 x 698.5cm. City of Chicago Public Art Program and the Chicago Public Library, Legler Regional Library. © Kerry James Marshall. Photo: Patrick L. Pyszka, City of Chicago.[Missing Credit]
Royal Academy
A Story of South Asian Art: Mrinalini Mukherjee and Her Circle
Until February 24
Telling the story of Indian artist Mrinalini Mukherjee (1949–2015) through people and places that informed her practice. Featuring approximately 100 works that trace a century, including sculpture, painting, drawing, textiles, ceramics and printmaking.
Kerry James Marshall: The Histories
Until January 18
Marking the artist’s 70th birthday, this major solo exhibition explores Marshall’s expansive career to date. It features over 70 works, bringing together primarily paintings, as well as
examples of the artist’s prints, drawings and sculpture, from museums and private collections across North America and Europe. Includes a dramatic new series of paintings made especially for the show.
National Gallery
The Welcome Space offers self-guided fun for all the family, inspired by the National Gallery’s collection. Each weekend and school holiday, play boxes are set out. Will you dress up as one of the paintings? Be inspired to build from the architecture in the paintings, or investigate gold with light and reflection? There are drawing resources, drawing prompts and a space to relax and enjoy packed lunch together.
For ages seven up, with adult supervision, The Keeper of the Paintings: Canvas Quest is an immersive game that takes children on a hide and seek adventure in the new Roden Centre for Creative Learning. Free web app can be accessed on phone or tablet with no download needed.
Shaun the Sheep Belsay[Missing Credit]
STORIES
Shaun the Sheep and English Heritage
Wrest Park, Bedfordshire, November 22 to January 18
Belsay Hall, Castle and Gardens, Northumberland, November 22 to January 25
Find the Flock features 12 decorated, supersized Shaun sculptures hidden in the grounds of each site. Created in partnership with Aardman, the animation studio behind Shaun the Sheep and Wallace & Gromit, and global art producer Wild in Art, Find the Flock invites visitors to explore these historic sites and discover each uniquely decorated Shaun along the way.
The trail is part of English Heritage’s winter line-up of family fun, which features marshmallow toasting, creative weekend crafts and plenty of woolly surprises.
Kenwood
Neverland at Kenwood
Until January 3
Outdoor trail. Venture through the Lost Boys’ secret tree trunk, navigate the eerie glow of Skull Rock, cross over the misty waters of Crocodile Creek and much more, before coming face to face with Captain Hook’s legendary pirate ship. JM Barrie’s classic tale, reimagined through lights, immersive storytelling and soundscape.
BRITISH Library
Story Explorers
Until January 18
A free, experiential space offering children aged two to nine and their families the chance to discover the British Library’s collection through imagination and play, featuring sound recordings from the Library’s sound archive, artworks, prints and books from across the world. Co-created with local families from Camden.
Following an activity trail illustratively led by Daisy the library cat, explorers
begin their journey in a library filled with incredible objects, including a Victorian record from the Library’s Sound Archive featuring animal sounds, an Indonesian shadow puppet from the early 20th century and an Ancient Egyptian stone tablet engraved with hieroglyphs.
From the library the explorers will travel into space, carve a path through the jungle and dive into the depths of the ocean, discovering further British Library marvels.
bl.uk
London County Hall
The Paddington Bear Experience
A multi-room immersive experience on London’s South Bank. Step into Paddington’s world by helping him and the Brown family prepare for the Marmalade Day Festival.
Board the train from Paddington Station to 32 Windsor Gardens and be transported to the Peruvian jungle, where you’ll meet characters from the films, help them solve puzzles and play games. Join Paddington himself for a photo, dance to the Calypso band and even try a marmalade sandwich.
Drayton Manor
Selected dates to December 31
Winter wonderland experience, rides and attractions, including Thomas [the tank engine] Land.
Elves Behavin’ Badly offers cookie decorating and marshmallow toasting, slides and snowball fights, pranking workshops, as well as a live show.
Also festive family shows, interactive games and performances. On weekends, Drayton Manor’s Falls Theatre will present a panto, Cinderella.
In the evenings, visitors can ride on the Twinkling Express – a gentle journey through glowing lights.
Drayton Manor has an onsite hotel, where guests can choose from themed Vikings and Thomas and Friends rooms, with additional entertainment.
HISTORY & HERITAGE
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London Transport Museum
Term-time weekends, November 29 to December 19, then daily until January 4 (except December 24-26)
Visitors can meet costumed characters from London’s past, bringing the history of seasonal travel in the capital to life. The characters will be a Victorian lady, a tram passenger, an Auxiliary Fire Service wartime volunteer and a 1970s Caribbean conductor (two characters a day).
Festive trail
November 29 to January 4 (exc December 24 to 26)
Explore 200 years of seasonal stories. From Victorian carriages to steam trains, discover how Londoners travelled during holidays past.
Chanukah shopping
Stock up on eight-night transport-inspired gifts at the London Transport Museum shop. The range includes the City of London Wooden Train set, an 18-piece toy featuring London landmarks and iconic transport vehicles. Gifts can also be purchased online.
Myddelton House Gardens
Selected dates, see website
Eight-acre historical gem at Bulls Cross in Enfield will feature creative workshops and a rare opportunity to dine in the elegant Exhibition Room of Myddelton House, home to the gardens’ creator Edward Augustus Bowles.
visitleevalley.org.uk/myddelton-house-gardens
SCIENCE & NATURE
Natural History Museum
Wildlife Photographer of the Year
Until July 12, 2026
Top 100 images from the world’s biggest nature photography competition. Insights into the beauty, drama and complexity of the natural world.
Our Story with David Attenborough
Until August, 2026
New 360° experience, presented by Sir David Attenborough.
Space: Could Life Exist Beyond Earth?
Until February 22
Touch a piece of Mars, wrap your hands around a fragment of the Moon and snap a selfie with the Allende meteorite.
Fixing Our Broken Planet Gallery
Ongoing
More than 200 specimens, from a Sumatran rhino to an ancient cow skull. Together they tell the story of our impact on the natural world and the opportunities we have to save it.
Science Museum
Tim Peake: Celebrating 10 years since blast-off
December 14
Free activities including a space show; Raspberry Pi space-themed coding workshops for age 10 plus, space suit dress-up, replica space toilet and more.
Visitors can get up close with the spacecraft that carried Tim into orbit and back in our new Space gallery and may even meet Tim himself, who will be sharing stories of his time in space with museum visitors throughout the day.
The space show
Weekends until January 5
Free family show with live science experiments. There will be flames and a floating plate of whipped cream.
Power Up
Ongoing
Age five plus hands-on gaming experience, featuring the best video games and consoles from the past 50 years, from Pong to Pacman and Minecraft to Mario.
Wonderlab
Ongoing
Age seven to 14. Interactive gallery, with live science shows and demonstrations.Includes a giant friction slide, live lightning demonstrations, a large rotating model of the solar system and more.
OUTDOORS
All Dogs Matter Chanukah dog walk
December 21
Meet at 1pm at Romeo & Juliet’s, 5 Lyttleton Road, London N2
Queen’s House Ice Rink
Until January 4
At the heart of the Greenwich Unesco world heritage site, the rink offers views of Canary Wharf and the striking architecture of the Queen’s House.
rmg.co.uk/queens-house/attractions/queens-house-ice-rink
Go Ape
See website for opening times
Select Go Ape locations are open on weekends over winter offering high ropes experiences.
goape.co.uk
Lee Valley
Open spaces are free and accessible all year round so they’re perfect for a family walk, scooter or cycle ride with wildlife spotting along the way.
visitleevalley.org.uk
Booking advisable for all attractions, and essential for some. Some attractions may include Christmas elements. Always check websites for updated opening times.
Song and stories on every stage
Concerts
Bat Ella
Manchester Jewish Museum
December 7
Live concert by Israeli singer Bat Ella themed around Chanukah, light, hope and renewal. Age 12-plus.
PANTOMIMES
Cinderella and the Matzo Ball
JW3
December 7 to January 4
Traditional Jewish pantomime by Nick Cassenbaum. Baker Cinderella and her bad sisters Milchig and Fleishig endure beatings (eggs), mixings (cakes) and soggy bottoms at their bakery in Yeast Finchley in the Kosher Kingdom. Talya Soames brings whirlwind energy to the role of Cinder’s bread-friends-forever, Buttons, with puppeteer and E15 graduate Lillith Freeman as Beigel Streisand, Monsieur Croissant and First Aide, and Michael Cowan as Pita Rabbit and Lemon Aide, plus Ronan Quiniou as the Prince with a cheese twist.
Also on stage are multi-instrumentalist, klezmer specialist and musical director Josh Middleton, acrobatic circus performer and klezmer expert trumpeter and tuba player Oliver Presman and Mexican drummer Migdalia van der Hoven. Plus a magical Fairy Cob Mother and Fairy Cake.
As the clock strikes Shabbat, Cinderella’s magical journey takes her to an upside-down cake land that is not so Jewish, the Land of Traif.
RED
Chickenshed
Until January 10
Reimagining of Little Red Riding Hood for age five plus. When Red and her siblings swap their city life for the snowy mountains, they find uneasy villagers, a jittery woodsman, mysterious mountain spirits and the shadow of a legendary wolf.
chickenshed.org.uk, 020 8292 9222
MORE STORYBOOK FRIENDS
The Storm Whale
Little Angel Studios
Until January 24
Noi longs to see his friend, the little whale. Will it take a winter storm to bring them back together? Benji Davies’ story of friendship, love and courage. Age four to eight.
ME…
Little Angel Theatre
Until January 25
A baby penguin finds his feet. A touching story by Emma Dodd. Ages two to five.
The Tiger Who Came to Tea
Artsdepot
December 3 to January 4
Join the tea-guzzling tiger who arrives at Sophie’s house for oodles of magic, sing-a-long songs and clumsy chaos.
Based on the picture-book classic by Judith Kerr, adapted and directed by David Wood. Age three plus.
artsdepot.co.uk
A Squash and a Squeeze
Leicester Square Theatre
December 4 to 23 and tour
With puppets and songs. From the book by Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler, adapted for the stage by Barb Jungr and Samantha Lane. Age three to eight.
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Peppa Pig’s Big Family Show
Theatre Royal, Haymarket
December 5 to January 4
The family are getting ready for a new arrival, and Peppa Pig, Mummy Pig, Daddy Pig and George need your help.
peppapiglive.com/big-family-show
Bluey’s Big Play
Bradford Live
December 5 to 7
SEC Armadillo Glasgow
December 11 to 14
Southbank Centre, Royal Festival Hall London
December 18 to January 11
The award-winning TV cartoon family of dogs in a live show, with music, laughter and puppets.
Punchdrunk Enrichment- Fireside Tales
Punchdrunk Enrichment Stores, Wembley Park
December 6 to January 4
Interactive adventure for children age seven to 11 and their grown-ups. A show about the stories we tell, the ones we pass down, the ones we forget and what happens when we take time to listen. Encourages young audiences to draw, write and share their own stories.
punchdrunkenrichment.org.uk/brent
The Elmer Adventure
Soho Theatre Walthamstow
December 20 to January 4
Tall Stories’ musical adaptation of David McKee’s Elmer books.
The Snowman
Brighton Dome
December 21
A winter classic brought to life with a live orchestra, plus music from composer John Williams.
OPERATION OUCH: Quest for the Jurassic Fart!
Royal Festival Hall
December 22 to January 2
Twin doctors Chris and Xand van Tulleken (from CBBC’s Operation Ouch! and the podcast What’s Up Docs?) go on an adventure to unearth the most powerful fart in history. With crazy experiments. Age five plus.
CIRCUS
Flip Fabrique: Blizzard
Brighton Dome
December 27 to 31
Acrobatic journey into the dead of winter, from acclaimed Canadian circus company Flip Fabrique. For all the family.
CABARET
A Very Hampstead
Channuk-mas
Circle & Star Theatre
December 20
See page 9 for more about this and other events at Circle & Star.
BALLET
Nutcracker in Havana
UK Tour
Until February 11
A Cuban take on the ballet classic from Carlos Acosta’s company.
ONGOING & BOOK AHEAD
Young Frankenstein
Hope Mill Theatre & Liverpool Playhouse
December 3 to January 3
Mel Brooks’s musical directed and choreographed by Nick Winston. Frederick Frankenstein, grandson of the infamous Victor, inherits his family’s estate in Transylvania and brings to life a creature to rival his grandfather’s. The monster escapes and hilarity abounds.
hopemilltheatre.co.uk/event/young-frankenstein
Ride the Cyclone
Southwark Playhouse Southwark
Until January 10
When a freak rollercoaster accident claims the lives of six teens, they find themselves trapped in limbo – and offered one last shot at life. Age 12 plus.
Manuel Harlan[Missing Credit]
The Producers
Garrick Theatre
Booking until September 19, 2026
This outrageous musical has audiences and critics roaring, awarding it five stars and declaring it “the funniest show in London” (Evening Standard). It is the first major London revival of Mel Brooks’s The Producers, with “his genius for hammily catchy melodies and taboo-busting gags” (Sunday Express). Now playing at the Garrick Theatre after its sold-out run at the Menier Chocolate Factory.
Based on Brooks’s cult classic film, the original Broadway production won a record-breaking 12 Tony Awards, and this revival proves why. When down-on-his-luck producer Max Bialystock teams up with timid accountant Leo Bloom to stage a surefire flop, their scheme backfires, with thunderous applause and unstoppable laughter.
Reimagined by Tony Award-winning director Patrick Marber and with triumphant performances from Andy Nyman, Marc Antolin, Trevor Ashley, Raj Ghatak, Harry Morrison and Joanna Woodward, The Producers is officially “‘the musical riot of the century” (Mail on Sunday) – a riotous, joy-filled hit you can’t afford to miss.
Top Hat at Chichester Festival Theatre in 2025: Music & Lyrics – Irving Berlin, Adapted for the stage – Matthew White & Howard Jacques, Directed & Choreographed – Kathleen Marshall, Set Designer – Peter McKintosh, Costume Designers – Peter McKintosh & Yvonne Milnes, Musical Supervisor – Gareth Valentine, Musical Director – Stephen Ridley, Orchestrator & Arranger – Chris Walker, Lighting Designer – Tim Mitchell, Sound Designer – Paul Groothuis, Casting Director – Natalie Gallacher (for Pippa Ailion and Natalie Gallacher Casting), Associate Director – Carol Lee Meadows, Assistant Director & Choreographer – Richard Pitt[Missing Credit]
Top Hat
Queen Elizabeth Hall, Southbank Centre
December 12 to January 17
When Broadway star Jerry Travers arrives in London to open a new show, he crosses paths with model Dale Tremont, whose beauty sleep is rudely interrupted by Jerry’s tap dancing in the hotel suite above hers. Instantly smitten, Jerry vows to abandon his bachelor life to win her – but the path of true love never does run smooth. Especially since Dale has mistaken Jerry for his hapless producer Horace, who’s trying to avoid the wrath of his formidable wife Madge, and Dale’s own fiery Italian admirer is planning a trip to Venice for her to showcase his couture gowns…
Based on the classic 1935 film which starred Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers, the stage adaptation’s West End première won the 2013 Olivier Award for Best New Musical and the Evening Standard Award for Best Night Out.
Acclaimed American director and choreographer Kathleen Marshall, whose Tony and Olivier Award-winning production of Anything Goes recently wowed audiences and critics in London and on TV, comes to the UK to stage this brand-new production.
southbankcentre.co.uk/whats-on/top-hat
020 3879 9555
Cable Street the musical
Marylebone Theatre
January 16 to February 28
Musical of the milestone battle. See page 11 for cast interviews.
Apple Photos Clean Up
Cohen, Bernstein, Joni & Me
Upstairs at the Gatehouse
January 20 to February 1
Acclaimed New Zealand actor, singer, songwriter and consummate character artist, Deb Filler brings her solo show to this theatre for its first full London run.
Growing up in a Jewish immigrant family whose identity was powerfully shaped by song, young Deb Filler yearns to find her own kind of music. Courageous, determined and just plain lucky, she finds her way into the lives of some of the greatest musical artists of our time.
In Auckland, maestro Leonard Bernstein performs for Deb and only Deb. In New York, Deb drives Leonard Cohen to the airport and a lifelong friendship begins. In Vancouver, Deb joins Joni Mitchell backstage in a meeting that is simply beyond belief.
The Boy at the Back of the Class
Rose Theatre, Kingston, then UK tour including Southampton, Edinburgh, Eastbourne, Bristol, Salford
February 6 to May 23
Nick Ahad’s adaptation of Onjali Q. Raúf’s novel. After learning that he has fled his own war-torn country, Ahmet’s classmates have a plan to reunite him with his family. Highlights the power of friendship and kindness and reminds us everyone needs a place to call home. Age seven plus.
theboyatthebackoftheclass.co.uk
Some shows may contain Christmas elements