Oh Yes It Is!

Curtain’s up on panto season, as Jo Laidlaw checks out the best theatrical family fun to be had in Edinburgh and Glasgow this Christmas

EDINBURGH

SNOW WHITE AND THE SEVEN DWARFS

Billed as Edinburgh’s most spectacular festive show, the major refurbishment of the King’s Theatre means the city’s glitziest traditional panto is taking the Festival Theatre back to its variety roots this Christmas. Allan Stewart and Grant Stott lead the laughs, with pals old and new packing in the jokes, songs and routines.

• Festival Theatre, Saturday 17 December–Sunday 22 January.

SINBAD THE PANTOMIME

The Brunton in Musselburgh always puts on a cracking panto and its smaller auditorium makes it a particularly perfect introduction to theatre for little ones. Expect local references and jokes aplenty as the intrepid Sinbad leaves Fisherrow to seek his fortune, as well as the traditional singalongs and sweeties, pirates and pizazz.

• Brunton Theatre, Wednesday 23 November–Saturday 31 December.

AN EDINBURGH CHRISTMAS CAROL

The night before Christmas, Ebeneezer Scrooge is visited by three mysterious ghosts: Lang Syne, Nouadays and Ayont. Tony Cownie’s retelling of Dickens’ magical tale of humbug and humanity is brilliantly set in Victorian Edinburgh, with a full community choir joining the action. Can Scrooge discover the true meaning of Christmas before it’s too late?

• Royal Lyceum Theatre, Thursday 24 November– Saturday 31 December.

GLASGOW

BEAUTY AND THE BEAST

Panto legend Elaine C Smith is back on the boards in this full-throttle tale of magic and derring-do. Can Belle see beyond the Beast’s outer skin and fall in love with him before the last petal falls from the enchanted rose? We all know the answer; the fun is in the finding out.

• King’s Theatre, Saturday 26 November–Saturday 31 December.

THE MAGICAL ADVENTURES OF ALADDIN

They’ve been packing them into the Pavilion panto for almost a century now. Join a host of familiar faces as Aladdin defeats the Wicked Sorcerer, hangs with a genie, falls in love with the Princess, dances, sings, cracks a few jokes and generally saves the day.

• Pavilion Theatre, Thursday 1 December–Sunday 15 January.

RED RIDING HOOD

The story of a wolf, a granny and a girl called Red who is tired of following the rules; this fun-filled magical show is designed for children aged 5+ and their families. Maureen Carr stars in this high-quality alternative to panto from The Citz team, with P7s from two Gorbalsbased primary schools presenting two curtain-raising performances involving 600 young people.

• Tramway, Friday 9–Friday 23 December.