Last Updated on 2 April 2026 by Colette
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Is it Christmas without a pantomime? Probably not. (I’m sure I’ve missed a pun there . . . ) This Christmas in Manchester there’s traditional pantomimes, musicals, puppetry and even a full symphony orchestra on offer to get you into the festive spirit. We are of course spoiled for choice when it comes to theatre venues in Manchester, from the very traditional Palace Theatre or Manchester Opera House, to the more modern Bridgewater or Lowry theatres and the most intimate of performance spaces at Sale Waterside and Oldham Library, there’s plenty of things to take the kids to see in Manchester this year to get you in the festive spirit.
Please note that, to the best of my knowledge, the information in this post was correct at the time of publishing but do check with individual venues when booking!
Check out these handy links to plan your next adventure …
Here’s what’s on at the theatre in Manchester this Christmas
Contents - Click here to jump to the section you need
Manchester Opera House, 3 Quay St, Manchester M3 3HP
Fairytale for Christmas – Monday 17th / Tuesday 18th November 2025
Same show differnet name, Fairytale for Chrismas returns to Manchester this November.
Get into the festive spirit with “the ultimate Irish-inspired Christmas concert” – featuring all the festive favourites including ‘Driving Home for Christmas’, ‘Step Into Christmas’, ‘Oh Holy Night’ and, of course, ‘The Fairytale of New York’ as well as the greatest Irish sing-a-long songs of all time including ‘The Galway Girl’, ‘The Irish Rover’, ‘Dirty Old Town’ and ‘The Black Velvet Band.’
Book tickets for Fairytale of Christmas
Robin Hood – Saturday 6th December 2025 to Sunday 5th January 2026
If you’re looking for a traditional panto this festive season, look no further than Manchester Opera House where you can watch Robin Hood and his trusty band of Merry Men strive to outwit the evil Sheriff.
This year’s panto cast includes Jason Manford, Ben Nickless who have made a great team for the last few years so I’m pleased to see them back again!
You can book tickets for Robin Hood at Opera House Manchester online now.
You can read more about pantomime at Opera House Manchester here:
Robin Hood at Opera House Manchester – Review [2025]
Cinderella at Opera House Manchester – Review [2024]
Jack and the Beanstalk at Opera House Manchester – Review [2023]
If you’re looking for parking near Manchester Opera House, you’ll find that here and you might find this list of the best restaurants near Manchester Opera House handy too!
Palace Theatre, Manchester, 97 Oxford St, Manchester M1 6FT
No festive shows listed for 2025 as yet
If you’re looking for parking near the Palace Theatre, you’ll find that here and this list of places to eat near the Palace Theatre might be useful too.
You can read more about festive shows at Palace Theatre here:
Elf The Musical – Review – 2024
The Bridgewater Hall, Lower Mosley St, Manchester M2 3WS
The Muppet Christmas Carol – Sunday 22nd November 2025
Disney’s much loved musical comedy (and one of Dave’s favourites) The Muppet Christmas Carol – presented live in concert – returns to The Bridgewater Hall this December.
“The Muppet Christmas Carol boasts a stellar cast, with Kermit the Frog being played by Steve Whitmire, Frank Oz as Miss Piggy, Michael Caine as Ebenezer Scrooge and Gonzo, as Dickens, narrates the story with the help of Rizzo the Rat. Scrooge receives visits from spirits of three Christmases; past, present and future. They show him the error of his self-serving ways, but the miserable old man seems to be past any hope of redemption and happiness.”
You can book tickets for The Muppets Christmas Carol at Bridgewater Hall (or there is a second performance here)
Love Actually in Concert – Wednesday 3rd December 2025
Love Actually in Concert has become an annual festive tradition for many, attracting a sell out audiences in previous years. Watch this festive classic accompanied by a full orchestra
Book tickets for Love Actually in Concert – Wednesday 3rd December 2025
Hallé Family Christmas Concert – Sunday 7th December 2025
This year’s Hallé Family Christmas Concert features the Halle Youth Training Choir. Enjoy Christmas music old and new including famous tv and film music as well as carols and sing-alongs to get everyone in the festive mood.
You can book tickets for Hallé Family Christmas Concert at Bridgewater Hall online now.
Home Alone in Concert – Monday 15th December 2025 | SOLD OUT
Is it even Christmas if you haven’t watched Home Alone? Watch this festive classic accompanied by the International Film Orchestra!
Book tickets for Home Alone in Concert – Monday 15th December
The Holiday in Concert – Tuesday 16th December 2025
The Holiday is absolutely my all time favourite Christmas movie. Watch this festive classic accompanied by a complete concert orchestra!
Book tickets for Home Alone in Concert – Tuesday 16th December | Wednesday 17th December
The Hallé – The Snowman & Shaun the Sheep – Saturday 20th / Sunday 21st December 2025
To my mind, The Snowman is the ultimate Christmas film – perhaps this is heavily laden with my own childhood nostalgia and, as such, I think I’d enjoy taking the kids to watch this even more than they would but hey!
This Christmas, watch Raymond Briggs’ classic animated film accompanied by the Hallé and members of Halle Youth Choir performing Howard Blake’s magical score.
You can book tickets for The Snowman at Bridgewater Hall: Saturday 20th December 4pm | Sunday 21st December 11am | Sunday 21st December 1.30pm
Horrible Histories – Horrible Christmas – Saturday 28th December 2025
This December, Horrible Histories is mixing history with Christmas cheer for a festive show like no other. The story follows a young boy trying to save the holiday, with help (and hindrance) from figures like Santa, Charles Dickens, Henry VIII, and St Nicholas. Expect plenty of laughs, a touch of history!
Book tickets for Horrible Christmas at Bridgewater Hall – 2pm | 4.30pm
The Lowry, The Quays, Salford M50 3AZ
Count Arthur Strong’s Christmas Carol – Sunday 30th November 2025
Count Arthur Strong is Charles Dickens in ‘A Christmas Carol’
“Due to public pressure, Count Arthur Strong extends his fond farewell to you, for a ‘once in a lifetime’ limited run. As he takes on, one of the literary greats, the famous Charles Dickens, and then goes on to present his one-man interpretation of A Christmas Carol. ‘If you miss it, you weren’t there!’”
Book tickets for Count Arthur Strong’s Christmas Carol
The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe – Wednesday 3rd December 2025 to Sunday 11th January 2026
Step through the wardrobe into the magic kingdom of Narnia where a world of wonder awaits.
Join Lucy, Edmund, Susan and Peter as they meet new friends, face dangerous foes and learn the lessons of courage, sacrifice, and the power or love.
Book tickets for The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe at the Lowry
You can read more about The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe here:
The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe – Review
Little Bear and the Christmas Lights – Sunday 28th December 2025 to Sunday 4th January 2026
Little Bear and the Christmas Lights is a perfect first theatrical experience for your little one.
It’s almost Christmas and Little Bear and her friends are getting ready for the most magical day of year. The fire is lit; the stockings are hung but there’s still one thing missing…
Little Bear just can’t find the perfect Christmas lights. Her friends try to help but nothing is quite right. There’s only one thing to do! Little Bear must set off on an adventure to discover the perfect Christmas lights. Will you join her for some festive fun and frolics and help make it a truly magical Christmas?
You can book tickets for Little Bear and the Christmas Lights at the Lowry online now.
AO Arena, Victoria Station Approach, Hunts Bank, Manchester M3 1AR
Currently no Christmas shows listed for AO Arena.
You can find parking near Manchester Arena here.
Waterside, 1 Waterside, Sale M33 7ZF
Raymond Brigg’s Father Christmas – Thursday 4th to Saturday 27th December 2025
A Christmas play at Waterside in Sale is one of our most treasured Christmas traditions and this year sees the return of Raymond Brigg’s Father Christmas which we absolutely adored when we first watched it some seven years ago!
Brought to life by the brilliant team at Pins and Needles Productions and co-produced with Lyric Hammersmith Theatre, this sparkling festive treat is packed with live music, puppetry, and plenty of laughs – making it the perfect Christmas outing for children and families alike (I should say that Dave loved it so much last time he said he’d quite happily have watched it without the kids!)
Book tickets for Raymond Brigg’s Father Christmas
To give you a feel for what to expect you can read our previous Christmas at Waterside reviews here:
Raymond Briggs’ Father Christmas [2025]
The Man Who Wanted to be a Penguin
Raymond Briggs’ Father Christmas [2018]
Oldham Library Performance Space, Greaves St, Oldham OL1 1AL
Hansel & Gretel – Thursday 4th to Wednesday 24th December 2025
Oldham Theatre Workshop are back to tell the story of Hansel & Gretel this Christmas at the super intimate Oldham Library Performance Space. This is one of our favourite Christmas traditions and never fails to bring the magic to our Christmas!
You can book tickets for Hansel & Gretel online now priced from £8 per person.
To give you a feel for what to expect you can read our previous OTW reviews here:
Z-arts, Zion Arts Centre, 335 Stretford Rd, Hulme, Manchester M15 5ZA
Mother Goose – Wednesday 19th to Saturday 22nd November 2025
Following last year’s sell out panto ROBIN HOOD, South Manchester AOS return for their seventh spectacular pantomime at Z Arts, bringing all the magic and spectacle to Mother Goose that audiences have come to love and expect.
Running time is approximately 2hrs 30 minutes.
T’was the Gig before Christmas – Saturday 6th / Sunday 7th December 2025
You’re invited to a secret party, for elves, yourselves, and ALL magical Lapland creatures. Join Yemi Bolatiwa and her band for an epic Christmas celebration, whilst Adam Westley tells the tale of the secret party.
The running time is just 40 minutes with no interval.
Book tickets for T’was the Gig before Christmas
The Snowy Day – Friday 12th to Tuesday 30th December 2025
The Snowy Day is a brand new dance adaptation of Ezra Jack Keats’ award-winning picture book, created by Polka Theatre and Can’t Sit Still—the award-nominated company behind Oh No, George! and Well Done, Mummy Penguin. Designed for children aged 1–4 and their grown-ups, the show follows Peter as he explores his snowy New York neighbourhood in a gentle, sensory adventure. Featuring one dancer, original music, and an enchanting set, The Snowy Day brings the magic of fresh snowfall to life at Z-arts this winter.
Book tickets for The Snowy Day
HOME, 2 Tony Wilson Pl, Manchester M15 4FN
A Christmas Carol – Thursday 18th to Saturday 20th December 2025
This Christmas, join HOME and The Book of Darkness & Light for a ghostly adaption of the most beloved festive classic (and GCSE English Literature text!) A Christmas Carol.
“Join Ebenezer Scrooge on a supernatural journey into the past, present and yet-to-come. The chilly atmosphere of Victorian London is brought to life and the spirits of Christmas return from the dead – all through the spellbinding art of storytelling in this thrilling solo show.
Adapted and performed by Adam Z. Robinson in his inimitable style, this production of A Christmas Carol teases out the gothic aspects, presenting Dickens’ remarkable story as you’ve never seen it before. This enthralling version is by turns hair-raising, thrilling and heartwarming.
Using a combination of gripping narration, eerie recorded voices and an immersive soundscape, the show transports audiences to the office of Scrooge and Marley, the humble Cratchit household and the fearful, final resting place of that most infamous miser.”
Book tickets for A Christmas Carol
Middleton Arena, Lance Corporal Joel Halliwell VC Way, Middleton, Manchester M24 1AG
Sleeping Beauty – Tuesday 26th November to Monday 30th December 2024
I have heard great things about the Christmas panto at Middleton Arena in the past and as such, we had planned to book it ourselves the other year but the day we needed had sold out before we got round to booking it! This year’s Amy’s school have booked it for their school panto in place of their traditional trip to Oldham Coliseum Theatre.
Suitable for all ages, Sleeping Beauty at Middleton Arena stars a superb cast including BBC Strictly Come Dancing‘s Karen Hauer as Carabosse (from 21st Dec) CBBC’s Chris Johnson as The Castle Clown, X Factor‘s Sean Smith as Prince, the hilarious Mark Slowey as Queen Ruby, singing sensation Lauren McCrory as Princess Beauty, and introducing Rosie Winter as The Fairy.
“Once upon a time, in a Pantoland far away, a beautiful Princess is cursed by the evil Carabosse to perish on her 21st birthday by pricking her finger on a spinning wheel. Thanks to Beauty’s fairy, she only falls into a deep sleep that can be broken by her one true love. Will her handsome prince come to her rescue, fight the dragon, destroy Carabosse and save the day? There’s only one way to find out…”
You can book tickets for Sleeping Beauty at Middleton Arena online now.
The Plaza, Mersey Square, Stockport SK1 1SP
A Christmas Carol – Thursday 12th / Wednesday 13th November 2024
Dickens Theatre Company arrive at Stockport Plaza with their joyously authentic staging of this Victorian classic.
“Two of Dickens’ closest theatrical companions find themselves trapped in the footlights’ glare. With the rest of the cast stuck on a train, actress Frances Ternan and Dickens’ faithful tour manager George Dolbytake on the daunting challenge of portraying over 30 characters. But, who will play Scrooge?”
Book tickets for A Christmas Carol
Sleeping Beauty – Friday 6th December 2024 to Sunday 5th January 2025
This Christmas The Plaza are bringing Sleeping Beauty to Stockport with Wendi Peters as Carabosse.
With a sensational cast, spectacular costumes and magnificent scenery, Stockport’s Sleeping Beauty is pitched as an “affordable family treat that everyone can enjoy this festive season”.
Book tickets for Sleeping Beauty (BSL Interpreted performances will take place on Saturday 7th December at 7.30pm & Thursday 12th December at 10.30 and 2.30pm)
Stockport Town Hall, Edward St, Stockport SK1 3XE
The Snowman Tour 2025 – Sunday 30th November 2025
This Christmas, enjoy a special screening of The Snowman, accompanied by a live orchestra.
As an extra bonus, each performance will include a second short film, also accompanied live by the orchestra.
See Box Office listings to find out more about the venues, dates, times and combination of films at each show.
Performances will last approximately 60 minutes (80 minutes in venues with intervals).
Book tickets for The Snowman Tour 2025
Contact Theatre, Oxford Rd, Manchester M15 6JA
Rumpelstiltskin – Thursday 11th to Wednesday 31st December 2025
The Big Tiny bring magic, mayhem and above all, true love as Cupid comes to Contact this Christmas for a Pantomime like no other. Featuring a diverse and all-local cast, join us to find out whether Cupid can overcome the wicked tricks of Rumpelstiltskin and help Prince Dierdrick find true love!
Book tickets for Rumpelstiltskin priced from £17 for under 16s and £25 for adults.
Oldham Coliseum Theatre, Fairbottom St, Oldham OL1 3SW | Currently Closed
There will be no pantomime at Oldham Coliseum Theatre this year after it’s doors permanently closed in March 2023 due to a lack of funding however after a successful campaign, the Coliseum is set to reopen for Christmas 2026
Of course this does mean that there may be increased demand for other local pantomimes as people seek to replace their family traditions.
Hope Mill Theatre, 113 Pollard St, Manchester M4 7JA
Jack Off The Beanstalk – 4th December – 30th December 2025
This is one for the grown ups – recommended for age 18+!
Warning: this is not your childhood fairy tale—unless your bedtime stories came with a parental advisory!
Full of filthy innuendos, outrageous outuendos, laugh-out-loud routines and plenty of beantickling antics for you to join in with. Expect more naughty twists than you can shake your giant beanstalk at.”
Book tickets for Jack Off The Beanstalk
Octagon Theatre, Howell Croft S, Bolton BL1 1SB
A Christmas Carol – Thursday 13th November 2025 – Saturday 10th January 2026
This Christmas, The Octagon Theatre brings to the stage a new musical adaptation of A Christmas Carol by Kate Ferguson and Susannah Pearse.
“Whilst Christmas cheer and goodwill thrive across Victorian England, tight-fisted Ebenezer Scrooge goes to bed on Christmas Eve with no compassion or love in his heart. However, that night he is visited by the ghost of his old business partner Jacob Marley and is taken on a mystical journey through yuletides past, present and future – will he be able to see the error of his ways before it’s too late?”
This joyful stage adaptation features toe-tapping music, festive fun and a good splash of magic making it the perfect festive treat for the whole family (recommended for age 5+)
You can buy tickets for A Christmas Carol at Octagon Theatre online now.
The Albert Halls, Victoria Square, Bolton BL1 1RU
The New Adventures of Peter Pan – Saturday 29th November 2025 – Wednesday 31st December 2025
This Christmas Albert Halls present The New Adventures of Peter Pan.
Staring Lloyd Warbey (Disney’s Art Attack) as the hilarious Smee, Kivan Dene as Captain Hook, Calum O’Rourke as the heroic Peter Pan, Megan Edmondson as Tinks, Chelsey Morgan as Wendy and Ella Heywood as Persil the Mermaid, this pantomime is suitable for the entire family. With a full supporting cast of professional dancers and three teams of talented young people from the local area, this trip to Never Island will leave you believing in the power of magic.
Expect spectacular scenery, dazzling costumes, amazing special effect, lots of audience participation, plenty of comedy and a good helping of fairy dust!
You can buy tickets for The New Adventures of Peter Pan at The Albert Halls online now.
Heywood Civic Centre, LCpl Stephen Shaw MC Way, Heywood OL10 1LW
Currently no event details available for Christmas 2025
Heywood Sports Village, West Starkey Street, Heywood, Greater Manchester, OL10 4TW
Currently no event details available for Christmas 2025
The Queen Elizabeth Hall, Oldham, Greater Manchester, OL1 1NL
The Snowman Tour 2025 – Monday 1st December 2025
This a school performance of The Snowman so is not open to the public. Other local dates include Stockport.
Book tickets for The Snowman Tour 2025
Quarry Bank Mill, Styal Rd, Styal, Wilmslow SK9 4HP
JACK! – Saturday 14th December 2024
“For as long as tales have been told, the character of Jack has been a constant presence in stories. Sometimes clever and cunning, sometimes lazy and foolish, but always coming out on top, fairy tales, folklore and nursery rhymes are full of tales of a lad named Jack.
Now, in this new musical for families and children, discover the truth behind the original fairytale hero.
Join Jack in his many guises as he seeks his fortune, finds the love of his life, learns the perils of a pail of water and, of course, takes on the fearsome giant.”
Tickets for JACK! at Quarry Bank Mill are available now priced at £11 for adults and £8 for children. Non-members do not need to purchase an additional Quarry Bank admission ticket unless they also wish to visit the Mill, other historic buildings and gardens.
Trafford Centre, Trafford Park, Stretford, Manchester M17 8EH
Snowstorm Northern Lights –
This Christmas, Snowstorm Northern Lights in the heated Big Top outside The Great Hall at The Trafford Centre, brings you 16 top ice skaters, aerial acrobatic circus acts and state of the art special effects plus an appearance from Mr Claus too!
Tickets for Snowstorm Northern Lights are available now priced from £12.99
What shows are on for kids this Christmas in Manchester?
Well hopefully this round up has given you some inspiration of things to take the kids to see at the theatre this Christmas – but if you know of something happening that I’ve not included in the list, please do drop me a message on Colette@goingonanadventure.co.uk
Read these posts next!
Where to see Father Christmas in Manchester this year
Christmassy things to do in Manchester
Festive light trails near Manchester
Where to get the best hot chocolate in Manchester
Where to go ice skating in Manchester this Christmas
What’s on for kids on New Year Eve in Manchester
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