Out & About December 2017

OA what’s on

It’s seasonal silliness time again – oh yes it is – when madness and mayhem breaks out in a rash of pantomimes and Christmas shows. Prepare for men in tights and frocks and girls who play boys in festive spectaculars throughout December. Arts Editor Trish Lee rounds up what’s on offer in our area. December dates for your diary

What a whopper Jack & the Beanstalk Friday, November 24 to Sunday, January 7 Oxford Playhouse 01865 305305 www.oxfordplayhouse.com The Playhouse boasts its most gigantic production yet (get it?), with writer Steve Marmion bringing a contemporary edge to the traditional panto about the plucky but

naïve Jack and his handful of beans. In humongous trouble with his mother for selling their hapless cow for them, his dreams begin to come true when the beans start to grow … and GROW. Who knows what surprises lie in store, but with original music, current tunes and some golden oldies, there’s merriment for adults and kids alike, with more jokes cracked than festive nuts. Boo the baddies and applaud the goodies as Jack climbs the beanstalk on his quest to conquer the giant.

Dreams take flight Peter Pan December 9 to January 7

Paul Morse will be sporting a fantastic array of frocks as Nanny McSmee. They promise a family- friendly panto full of adventure, a stunning set, spectacular song and dance routines, buckets of traditional slapstick and, of course, that ticking crocodile. Join them on a magical journey as they fly away to Neverland for the festive season.

The Hexagon Reading www.readingarts.com

You wait ages for a Peter Pan and two come along at once – this time Cbeebie’s superstar Justin Fletcher will be joining the Hexagon cast as Smee and

Little show with a big heart The Borrowers November 16 to December 31 The Watermill www.watermill.org.uk The Watermill always delivers a seasonal treat, a subtle alternative to the brash panto. The Clock family live under the floorboards of a large country house. Resourceful, clever and just four inches tall, Pod, Homily Fly away to Neverland Peter Pan December 14 to January 7 The Anvil, Basingstoke www.anvilarts.org.uk All children, except one, grow up – but this Christmas everyone can be a child at The Anvil as they take the second star to the right and fly away with the mischievous Peter Pan. Follow Wendy, John and Michael Darling as they meet

and their intrepid daughter Arrietty, have their lives thrown into peril when Arrietty ventures out into the big blue-skied world and is spotted by a ‘human bean’. Theresa Heskins’ adaptation of Mary Norton’s classic adventure story The Borrowers – the final show in the Bagnor theatre’s 50th anniversary year – is directed by the Watermill’s artistic director Paul Hart and performed by actor-musicians with a new score composed by Tarek Merchant.

Tiger Lily and the Indians, the Lost Boys, and the impish Tinker Bell. Boo and hiss as the evil pirate Captain Hook and his motley crew take on the children – but beware of the crocodile that ticks! Directed by Andrew Agnew of Cbeebies Balamory , who also plays Smee, the cast is joined by comedy acrobats The Nitwits as the pirate crew. Taking to the stage, too, are young performers from the North Hampshire Academy of Dance, Basingstoke Academy of Dancing, Theatre 4 Kids and JG Dance.

Hiss and boo Beauty &The Beast December 1 to January 7 The Corn Exchange Newbury www.cornexchangenew.co.uk

by their favourite award-winning writer Phil Willmott. There will be some familiar faces in the cast, returning to make you laugh, clap and boo along, as well as some new ones breaking in their panto boots in this new adventure. Will the Beast ever break the terrible curse that entraps him? Will love conquer all? And which pop star will pen the next big hit that’ll feature in this year’s extravaganza?

A fairytale about a monstrous prince and a beautiful young woman. Expect an action- packed tale full of songs, mischief and plenty of magic woven into the Corn Exchange show

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