Jack and the Beanstalk

FAIRGROUND attractions abound at Watford Palace’s traditional panto. Jack and his mum are struggling to get by, running a diner at a fun fair. When Jack swaps the family cow for a handful of beans it looks as though the family fortunes have hit rock bottom. But all of a sudden the stakes are sky high as Jack climbs the beanstalk to an exciting and dangerous world of adventure. This traditional show features inventive sets and outlandish costumes, plus young audiences have the chance to milk the cow on stage.

The eight-strong cast is headed up by Harrow actor Terence Frisch as the Dame with Josh Capper, Martin Callaghan, Nadine Higgin, Laura Doddington, Martin Doyle and Alan Pearson, supported by a chorus from Margaret Howard Theatre School in Bushey.

Details: Watford Palace, Clarendon Road, Watford. Runs until Dec 31. 01923 225671, www.watfordpalacetheatre.co.uk

Snow White And The Seven Dwarfs

ROCK around the Christmas tree at The Alban Arena as pop icon Toyah Willcox heads up a star-studded cast as the Wicked Queen. Children’s favourite Phil Gallagher (CBeebies’ Mister Maker) plays The Jester and funnyman Bob Golding (from the Olivier Award winning play Morecambe) is The Henchman. Actress Jemma Carlisle takes the role of pure-hearted princess Snow White with David McGranaghan as The Prince.

Details: The Alban Arena, Civic Centre, St Albans. Dec 9-Jan 1. 01727 844488, www.alban-arena.co.uk

Sleeping Beauty

FAVOURITE faces Rachal Oliphant and James Winter return to Radlett for the delightful tale of the brave prince, who will stop at nothing to rescue his beautiful princess from a wicked spell. Expect lots of slapstick humour from Radlett regular Gavin Ashbarry as the Dame and Tom Giles as Lester the Jester, plus some dastardly behaviour from bad fairy Carabosse, played by Colleen Daley (pictured).

Details: The Radlett Centre, Aldenham Avenue, Radlett. Dec 10-Jan 1. 01923 859291, www.radlettcentre.co.uk

Cinderella

SONG and dance is guaranteed at The Watersmeet as Jonathan Ansell from the X Factor pop-opera group G4, slips on the frock coat as Prince Charming. Meanwhile the Ugly Sisters will have audiences in stitches with their cutting-edge costume changes.

Details: The Watersmeet Theatre, High Street, Rickmansworth. Dec 7-31. 01923 711063.

The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe

EXPECT imagination and adventure as Company of Ten present this seasonal delight. Two casts share the roles of the four human children who rescue the enchanted land of Narnia from the dark designs of the White Witch.

Details: Abbey Theatre, Holywell Hill, St Albans. Dec 15-28. 01727 857861.

Beauty and The Beast

A CAST of homegrown acting talent is always a feature of Harrow Arts Centre’s shows, along with lots of song and dance. This year the venue is staging the timeless tale of the beautiful young girl who must go to live with a fierce Beast in order to save the life of her father. Will Beauty overcome her fear and can true love break a terrible curse?

Details: Harrow Arts Centre, Uxbridge Road, Hatch End. Dec 15-18. 020 8416 8989, www.harrowarts.com

Aladdin

SHARING the role of the Genie are Strictly Come Dancing’s Russell Grant, Anita Dobson and Camilla Dallerup, who take turns to guest alongside pop star Gareth Gates, Britain’s Got Talent finalist Paul Burling and West End leading lady Nicola Brazil.

Details: Milton Keynes Theatre. Marlborough Gate, Milton Keynes Dec 9-Jan 15. 0844 871 7652

A Christmas Carol

BAH HUMBUG! Mike Maran’s sparkling production of this seasonal favourite is a pocket panto – epic in the scope of its imagination but intimate in the scale of its presentation, set in the grounds of Hertswood School.

Details: The Ark Theatre, Thrift Farm Lane, Borehamwood. Dec 21. 020 8238 7264

Jack and the Beanstalk

Join intrepid Jack for some fee-fi-fo fun on his adventure of a lifetime as he bounds up the beanstalk to do battle with Giant Blunderbore. The Wyllyotts team has pulled out all the stops to create a unique stomping giant for the occasion and there will be lots of laughs along the way in this traditional pantomime show. The production stars Sarah Crosswell as Jack, Nicholas Collett as Dame Trott and David Dobson as Simple Simon. Will Dame Trott finally get her man? Will Simple Simon work out which end of Clarabelle The Cow to milk? Find out in this stomping spectacular at the Wyllyotts Theatre.

Details: Wyllyotts Theatre, Darkes Lane, Potters Bar. Dec 10-Jan 1. 01707 660067, www.hertsmereleisure.co.uk

Aladdin

Join Howard Read and his two-dimensional sidekick, stars of CBBC’s Little Howard’s Big Question, for an interactive Christmas. Plus dancers from The Sarah Andrews Dance Academy.

Details: Harpenden Public Halls, Southdown Road, Harpenden. Dec 15-18. 01582 767525.

A Christmas Carol

THE PANTALOONS return to the beautiful surroundings of The Chapel at Shenley Park with a hilarious, fast-paced adaptation of Dickens’ festive favourite A Christmas Carol. With a cast of just four actors, this production is sure to put a smile on even the glummest face (even Scrooge’s), using audience interaction, puppetry, slapstick, original music and traditional carols.

Details: The Chapel, Shenley Park, Shenley. Sat, Dec 10 at 3pm and 7pm.

01923 852 629, www.thepantaloons.co.uk

Aladdin

NORTH London schooled talent Natasha Jayetileke teams up with Hayes favourite Mark Jones in the magical tale of Aladdin. Natasha, who made her musical theatre debut in Guys and Dolls in The Beck Theatre’s Summer Youth Project and also starred in the national tour of Britain’s Got Bhangra. Natasha takes on the role of the beautiful and cultured Princess Jasmine with Matthew Rixon as Widow Twankey.

Returning to Hayes for the fifth year running, having made appearances in Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, Peter Pan, Cinderella and Sleeping Beauty, Mark is delighted to be starring in his favourite panto, Aladdin. Hitch a carpet ride to the Far East for this hilarious pantomime adventure, staged by Qdos Entertainment with One From The Heart, the same team that presented last year’s record-breaking Sleeping Beauty.

Details: Beck Theatre, Grange Road, Hayes. Dec 17-Jan 8. 020 8561 8371, www.becktheatre.org.uk

Jack and the Beanstalk

SINGING sensations Linda and Maureen Nolan lead an all-star cast in The Shaw Theatre’s production of Jack and the Beanstalk. Join Jack, Dame Trott and Daisy the Cow on their adventure to Giant Blunderbore’s castle in the sky. The show also features TV stars Devon Anderson (of EastEnders and Hollyoaks fame) as Jack, Chris Stanton (CBBC’s MI High) as the King, Rodney C Howard as Dame Trott and Rosie Taylor as Princess Jill.

Details: The Shaw Theatre, Euston Road, London, NW1. Dec 6-31. 0844 248 5075/0844 844 2121 (for group bookings), www.shaw-theatre.com

A Christmas Carol

HAIR-RAISING and thrilling, this one-man adaptation of Dickens’ Christmas classic sees the ghost of Jacob Marley recounting the tale of his miserly business partner, Ebenezer Scrooge, and the path that leads to his redemption. Relive the tale of how the three magical spirits open Scrooge’s eyes and make him realise the true meaning of Christmas.

Adapted and performed by award-winning actor and writer James Hyland, and produced by Brother Wolf, this critically acclaimed show is so spooky it’s not suitable for the under-7s.

Details: artsdepot, Nether Street, Tally Ho Corner, North Finchley, N12. Thursday, December 22. 020 8369 5454, www.artsdepot.co.uk

The Nightmare Before Christmas

CHILDREN from the Susi Earnshaw Theatre School, which is based at Barnet’s Bull Theatre, will be performing Tim Burton’s spooky Christmas tale, The Nightmare Before Christmas for one day only in December, with an impressive four shows in one day.

In January 2012 the theatre will also be presenting Wizard of Oz – The Pantomime all the way from over the rainbow.

Details: The Bull Theatre, High Street, Barnet, EN5. Sunday, December 4. 020 8441 5010, www.thebulltheatre.com

Mother Goose

GO and have a gander at Mother Goose at Capel Manor Gardens. This magical tale is brought to you by the Principle Theatre Company. Mother Goose’s handsome but silly son Jack and his beautiful girlfriend Jill discover that beauty and wealth don’t always equal happiness, as Priscilla the Goose teaches them the true value of friendship.

Capel Manor Gardens, Bullsmoor Lane, Enfield, EN1. Dec 11. 0845 612 2122, www.capelmanorgardens.co.uk

Dick Whittington

Our hero journeys to London to seek his fortune, accompanied by his faithful cat... but gold soon becomes the least of his worries. Interval refreshments will be served.

Details: Hornsey Vale Community Centre, Mayfield Road, Crouch End, N8. Dec 10, 3pm-5pm. 020 8348 4612, www.hornseyvale.org

More seasonal shows:

Kings Langley Players (07906 695959) - Cinderella, Jan 12-14.

Chicken Shed Theatre (020 8292 9222, www.chickenshed.org.uk) – Cinderella, until Jan 14.

The Dugdale Centre (020 8807 6680, www.millfieldartscentre.co.uk) – The Snow Queen, Dec 16-31

Jacksons Lane (020 8341 4421) – The Enormous Turnip, Dec 3-31.

Blag Theatre Company (01923 772320)- Our Last Christmas Egg Noggins! at The Pump House Theatre, Dec 15-22.

St James Music and Drama Society (www.stjames-madnews.net/) – Sleeping Beauty, Falconer Hall, Bushey, Jan 26-27.

Talkwood Productions(01442 269489) – A Christmas Carol, Dec 21-24 and Around the World in Eighty Days, Dec 27-30 both at Chorleywood Memorial Hall.