Christmas Entertainment: Sylvia Thompson takes a look at what's on offer this Christmas to keep the children, and even the most festivities-fatigued parents, entertained.
Pantomime and other theatre
Armagh
Pinocchio: Musical version of the story of the mischievous puppet. Market Place Theatre, Sats & Suns until Dec 21st, various times, £10/£8 (048-37521830)
Belfast
Dick Whittington: May McFettridge is joined by EastEnders star Leslie Grantham. Grand Opera House, until Jan 17th, various times, £8-£20 (048-90241919)
Cinderella & Beauty And The Beast: Paperplays Miniature Theatre tells these two stories through pop-up characters on a stage the size of a television. Binoculars provided. Old Museum, Dec 14th, 3.30 p.m. & 5.30 p.m., then Dec 15th-18th, 10.30 a.m. & 6.30 p.m., £5 (028-90233332)
Clare
Cinderella: Staged by Ennis Musical Society. Glór Irish Music Centre, Ennis, Jan 1st-4th, 8 p.m., also Jan 3rd & 4th, 3 p.m., €10 (065-6843103)
Cork
Beauty & The Beast: Will the beast find true love in this pantomime version of the classic tale? Cork Opera House, Dec 13th-Jan 18th, 2.30 p.m., 7.30 p.m. or both, €13-€18.50 (021-4270022)
Little Red Riding Hood: With Dame Jim Mulcahy, Basher Bacon and local DJ Neil Prendeville. Everyman Palace, Dec 13th-21st & 26th-30th, then Jan 1st-18th, various times, from €7 (021-4501673).
Derry
A Christmas Carol: Local adaptation of the Dickens tale. Riverside Theatre, Coleraine, today-Dec 23rd, various times, £8.50/£8 (048-70323232).
Donegal
The Little Mermaid: Simon Sharkey's adaptation of Hans Christian Andersen's classic story (see also Pavilion Theatre, Dún Laoghaire).
An Grianan, Letterkenny, Dec 6th, 13th & 20th, 1.30 p.m. & 4.30 p.m., €12/€7 (074-9120777).
Dublin
Jane Eyre: Alan Stanford directs Charlotte Brontë's classic novel. Cast includes Dawn Bradfield, Stephen Brennan, Susan Fitzgerald and Barbara Brennan. Gate Theatre, today-Jan 31st 8 p.m. Also Dec 6th, 10th, 13th, 17th, 20th & 27th, 3 p.m., €15-€25 (01-8744045).
Cinderella: Ronnie Drew plays the stepfather, with You're A Star finalist Susan McFadden as Cinderella. Michael and Nicholas Grennell are the ugly sisters. Gaiety Theatre, previews today & tomorrow, then Thu-Feb 1st, various times, €11-€26 (01-6771717).
Snow White Shows: The Christmas offering from the Lambert team. Lambert Puppet Theatre, Monkstown, Dec 13th, 14th, 20th, 21st & Dec 26th-Jan 7th, 3.30 p.m., €9.50/€8.50 (01-2800974/ 2801863)
The Wolf Of Winter: This imaginative story of a young girl's adventures, written by the poet Paula Meehan, is the fourth in a series of storytelling theatre for young people, with programme notes for teachers. The cast includes Andrew Bennett, Emma Colohan and Niamh Linehan. Peacock Theatre, Dec 13th, 20th, 22nd, 23rd, 27th, 29th-31st, January 2nd, 3rd, 5th, 6th, 10th & 17th, 2.45 p.m. & 5 p.m., €10/€6 (01-8787222)
Jack & The Beanstalk: Leading the cast are TV 3 presenter Alan Hughes, George McMahon (a.k.a. Mondo in Fair City) and former Rose of Tralee Tamara Gervasoni. Liberty Hall Theatre, previews from Dec 15th, then Dec 21st-Jan 18th, various times, €12-€20 (01-8721122)
Charlotte's Web: The talented team from Watershed Theatre Company are back (following sell-out shows of Jacqueline Wilson's Double Act) with an enchanting tale of friendship between Charlotte the spider and Wilbur the pig. The show is an adaptation of the children's book by E. B. White, also author of Stuart Little. The Helix, Dublin City University, Dec 16th-Jan 4th, 3 p.m. & 7.15 p.m., €11-€18 (01-7007000).
Hansel & Gretel: Storytellers Theatre Company adds a contemporary angle to the tale when two naughty children imagine themselves to be Hansel and Gretel. Civic Theatre, Tallaght, previews Dec 21st & 22nd, then St Stephen's Day-Jan 10th (not Jan 1st), 3 p.m. & 7 p.m., €15/€10 (01-4627477).
The Little Mermaid: Classic story of a mermaid who falls in love with a prince. Pavilion Theatre, Dún Laoghaire, St Stephen's Day-Jan 11th, various times, €11-€20 (01-2312929).
Oliver: Welcome revival of an old-style musical. Tivoli Theatre, previews Dec 13th, 14th, 20th & 21st, then St Stephen's Day-Jan 15th, various times, €15-€24 (01-8721122).
Bear In The Big Blue House Live: The gentle seven-foot bear who dances a sassy cha-cha is joined by his friends Pip and Pop, Tutter, Ojo and Treelo in this new show. Olympia Theatre, Jan 2nd-18th, 10.30 a.m. /2 p.m. & 5.30 p.m., €20.50/€22.50 (0818-719330).
Cloudland: British theatre company Travelling Light brings its new show to Dublin. It's an adaptation of John Burningham's story about a boy who falls off a mountain into the land of the light, where air-bubble children play with rainbows. His only worry is how to get home for Christmas. The Ark, Jan 2nd, 2 p.m. & 4 p.m., also Jan 3rd-6th, 1 p.m. & 4 p.m., €8.50 (01-6707788).
Cinderella: Comedy, music, dance, audience participation and a few surprises at this traditional show from Coolmine Panto Group. Draíocht, Blanchardstown, Jan 6th-17th, 8 p.m., also Jan 10th, 11th & 17th, 3 p.m., €15 (01-8852622).
Galway
Sleeping Beauty: Staged by Renmore Pantomime Society. Town Hall Theatre, Jan 1st-11th 8 p.m., also Jan 1st, 3rd, 4th, 10th & 11th, 3 p.m., €14/€11 (091-569777).
Concerts and dance
Galway
Norman Foote: The award-winning Vancouver-born musician and comic returns with his clever songs and "props with attitude". Town Hall Theatre, today & tomorrow, 10.15 a.m. & 12.30 p.m., also Thursday, 10.15 a.m., €6 (091-569777) or (091-509705) for school bookings.
Dublin
The Nutcracker: Seasonal offering from Irish National Youth Ballet. O'Reilly Theatre, Belvedere College, Fri & Sat, 3 p.m. & 8 p.m., phone for prices (01-8586644); Draíocht, Blanchardstown, Dec 13th, 3 p.m. & 8 p.m, phone for prices (01-8852622).
Dublin Youth Symphony Orchestra: Charity Concert: John Finucane conducts a programme that includes An American In Paris and Leroy Anderson's Christmas Festival Overture, in aid of the Laura Lynn Children's Hospice Fund. Draíocht, Blanchardstown, Dec 8th, 8 p.m., €20 (01-8852622).
Russian State Ballet Christmas Show: With Irish ballerina Monica Loughman as a guest soloist for Giselle and The Nutcracker. Point Theatre, Dec 11th, 7.30 p.m., also Dec 14th, 7 p.m. (Giselle), then Dec 12th, 7.30 p.m., also Dec 13th, 2.30 p.m. & 7 p.m. (The Nutcracker), €25-€65/€15-€55 (01-8363633).
Young European Strings Christmas Celebration Concert: Showcase of young musicians, featuring the Young European Strings Chamber Orchestra with soloists Gina Maria McGuinness on violin and Ruth Gibson on viola.
National Concert Hall, Dec 21st, 3.15 p.m., €11-€15 (01-4170000).
The Glory Of Christmas: Family concerts of seasonal music, including O Holy Night, In The Bleak Midwinter and Ave Maria. National Concert Hall, Dec 22nd & 23rd, 8 p.m., €17-€36.50 (01-4170000).
The King And I: Following the success of The Sound Of Music last year, Festival Productions returns with a sumptuous version of this musical set in 19th-century Siam. National Concert Hall, Dec 27th-30th, 7.30 p.m., also Dec 28th & 29th, 2.30 p.m., then Jan 2nd, 2.30 p.m. & 7.30 p.m., also January 6th & 7th, 7.30 p.m., €16-€30 (01-4170000).
Kíla: A fusion of traditional music and contemporary sounds in four interactive performances. The Ark, Dec 28th & 29th, 1 p.m. & 4 p.m., €8.50 (01-6707788).
De Jimbe Drummers: Irish and West African percussion. The Ark, Dec 30th, 1 p.m. & 4 p.m., €8.50 (01-6707788).
RTE Concert Orchestra's Adventure Concert: Including excerpts from Grieg's Peer Gynt and Mozart's A Little Night Music. National Concert Hall, Jan 4th, 3.30 p.m., €10/€5 (01-4170000).
Touring Santa's Magical Christmas: Different troupes from the Talisman Theatre company are on tour. Featuring songs such as When Santa Got Stuck In The Chimney and I Want A Hippopotamus For Christmas, this seasonal musical is set in the home of Polly Green Jeans on Christmas Eve.
Garter Lane, Waterford, Thu & Fri, 10 a.m. & noon, €10 (051-877153); Glór, Ennis, Co Clare, Dec 10th, 10 a.m. & noon, also Dec 13th, 2 p.m. & 4 p.m., €10 (065-6843103); Town Hall Theatre, Galway, Dec 12th, 10 a.m. & noon, €10 (091-569777); St John's, Listowel, Co Kerry, December 11th & 12th, 10 a.m. and noon, €8 (068-22566); Belltable, Limerick, Dec 11th & 15th, 10 a.m. & noon, also Dec 14th, 2 p.m. & 4 p.m., €10 (061-319866).
Workshops and demonstrations
Cork
Dancing Paints: A Christmas party for 5-12-year-olds in which the children participate in guided art and crafts projects inspired by the gallery's permanent collection. Crawford Municipal Art, Dec 6th, 10 a.m.-noon, €10/6 (021-4723377).
Dublin
Christmas Open Day: Toys, games and playthings from times past, including a finger-puppet workshop, choral performances, storytelling and a demonstration of doll's-house restoration. Museum of Decorative Arts & History, Collins Barracks, Dec 13th, 11 a.m.-5 p.m., free (1890-687386).
Christmas Card Workshop: Design and make Christmas cards, drawing inspiration from the museum's collection. Ages six and over. Museum of Decorative Arts & History, Collins Barracks, Dec 14th, 3 p.m., free (1890-687386).
A Medieval Christmas: See how Christmas was celebrated in medieval times with the Irish Arms Living History Group. Museum of Archeology & History, Kildare Street, Dec 21st, 2-5 p.m., free (1890-687386).
Christmas Family Art Holiday: Children's workshops, gallery tours and music in the atrium. National Gallery of Ireland, Dec 27th-29th, 3-4 p.m., free (01-6633505).
Art Workshop: A four-day camp for seven- to 12-year-olds. Botanic Art School, Glasnevin, Dec 30th-Jan 3rd, 10 a.m.-2 p.m., €100 (01-8304720).
Animal Magic Workshop: Make your own piece of art inspired by the animals on display. Natural History Museum, Jan 4th, 10.30 a.m.-12.30 p.m. or 2-4 p.m., free, booking essential (01-6486332).
The Snowman: A Musical Adventure: The stage version of Raymond Briggs's children's story is coming to Ireland for the first time. It's an enchanting tale of how James (Niall Bruton, above, with Neil Watkins, photograph: Frank Miller), a little boy left out of the hustle and bustle of Christmas preparations, befriends a snowman and flies away with him to the North Pole, meeting badgers, foxes, penguins, cruel Jack Frost, the scintillating Ice Princess and, ultimately, Santa before flying home on Christmas Eve. Michael Scott, its director, says it took six months of negotiations to bring the show to Dublin. "We've developed new storyboards based on the cartoon of The Snowman. The London version was pure ballet, but we've created a show with elements of ballet and mime. It has been intriguing to do a 90-minute show with no words, because you have to be inventive with every beat and develop a physical language to match the music."
Howard Blake, who composed the score for the 1980s television version of The Snowman, which featured the voice of Aled Jones, collaborated with Scott as they adapted the music for the nine-piece orchestra that will perform at every show. "The show is about finding your first friend, being valued, losing that friend - alas, the snowman melts - but learning to grow beyond loss and become a better person from the experience," he says. If the production goes well, Scott plans to bring The Snowman back next year. In the new year, he will begin writing a children's opera based on The Selfish Giant by Oscar Wilde.
SFX City Theatre, Dublin, tomorrow-Jan 11th, various times, €18.50 (01-8554673)
The Carolling Corcorans Christmas Telly Special: The Ark will be converted into a television studio for The Carolling Corcorans Christmas Telly Special, which runs from today until December 21st.
This make-believe show promises to entertain young people with a mix of Christmas carols, spectacular dance routines, hilarious comedy and some farcical behind the scenes carry-on. With daily performances at
1 p.m. and 4 p.m., the show centres on a group of people billed as "Ireland's answer to the Osmonds", who are reliving their moments of glory. They are confident that their hits, such as Man in Red and Let's All Light a Candle for the Turkey, will endear them to generations of fans.
Young people from four upwards along with their families are invited to sing along with "the Carolling Corcorans", who will be welcoming special friends to their TV special, including Rudolph the Rednose Reindeer and dancers Liz and Jenny Roche.
Directed by Eric Fraad, with music direction by Andrew Synnott and staging and choreography by Liz Roche, the audience is invited to join "Ireland's greatest musical family" for songs and stories. The television special will "revisit" their glory days in the spotlight during the illustrious career in the 1960s when the world knew about the Carolling Carolans!
The Ark, Dublin, Dec 7th, 8th and 21st, 1 p.m. and 4 p.m., €8.50 (01-6707788).
