Things to do in London at Christmas 2012
Christmas Pantomime in London 2012
You have to love Christmas pantomime - it's more than a London experience, it's a British tradition!
Jack and the Beanstalk
The most popular London pantomime's include Peter Pan, Cinderella, Sleeping Beauty, Jack and the Beanstalk and Snow White. Children absolutely love Christmas panto, so expect to be surrounded by very young kids when you go!
Panto Theatres
Here are the best London xmas panto theatres presenting pantomime this Christmas.
Shaw Theatre - Jack and The Beanstalk (panto)
6th
December - 31st December 2011
100-110 Euston Road, London, NW1 2AJ
Hackney Empire - Cinderella (panto)
26th November 2011 -
8th January 2012
291 Mare Street, London E8 1EJ
Peacock Theatre - The Snowman (panto)
0th November 2011 to 6th January 2012
Portugal Street London WC2A 2HT
Battersea Barge - Red Riding Hoodie, Dusty Limit
4th December - 8th
December 2011
Nine Elms Lane, London, SW8 5BP
The Broadway Barking - Aladdin (panto)
30th November -
31st December 2011
Broadway Barking IG11 7LS
Rosemary Branch Theatre - Beowulf
9th December 2011 - 8th January 2012
2 Shepperton Road, London N1 3DT
Beck Theatre, Hayes - Aladdin (panto)
17th December 2011 - 8th January 2012
Grange Road, Hayes, Middlesex UB3 2UE
Greenwich Theatre - Aladdin (panto)
24th November - 8th
January 2012
Crooms Hill, London SE10 8ES
Richmond Theatre - Cinderella (panto)
9th December 2011
- 15th Jan 2012
The Green, Richmond, Surrey, TW9 1QJ
New Wimbledon Theatre - Dick Whittington (panto)
9th
December 2011 - 15th January 2012
The Broadway, Wimbledon, London SW19 1QG
Broadway Theatre - Jack and the Beanstalk (panto)
10th
December 2011 - 2nd January 2012
Catford, London SE6 4RU
Hampstead Theatre - Beasts and Beauties (panto)
1st
December 2011 - 7th January 2012
Eton Avenue, Swiss Cottage NW3 3EU
Tara Theatre - Bollywood Cinderella (panto)
1st
December 2011 - 24th December 2011
Garratt Lane, London SW18 4ES
Pantomime Conventions
For some reason the British like to dress up, in the clothing of the opposite sex. And in Xmas Pantomime its a convention - the leading male character (the principal boy) is traditionally played by a young woman, usually in tight-fitting male clothes that make her female charms obvious to the audience, and the Pantomime Dame, an older woman, is usually played by a man in drag.
One thing you may not know is that the good guys tend to enter the stage from the right, and the bad guys from the left. This tradition began in medieval mystery plays, where the right side of the stage symbolised Heaven and the left side symbolised Hell. Perhaps an approach for your next christmas party?
btw - has anyone seen Captain Hook? What? He's behind me?
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