Pantomime shows really capture the spirit of Christmas and booking in advance takes the stress out of the festive season for families, giving them another date to look forward to in the run up to the big day. Here are our choices from the Watford and St Albans districts and surrounding areas.

Watford

The Palace Theatre Watford (01923 225671, www.watfordtheatre.co.uk) is staging Cinderella (Nov 28 -Jan 2), which promises to be an even more sparkling than ever with lavish sets and costumes and a talented cast of largely home-grown actors. At The Radlett Centre (01923 859291, www.radlettcentre.co.uk) let’s hear it for the girls again as the popular tale of Snow White and her little helpers comes to the stage (Dec 12-Jan 3).

Snow White and The Seven Dwarfs (Dec 11-Jan 3) is also the panto of choice at The Watersmeet Theatre in Rickmansworth (01923 711063, www.threerivers.gov.uk) starring Allo Allo’s Kim Hartman as the wicked witch and Richard Grieve (Emmerdale) as the prince. Chuckles presents Jack and the Beanstalk (28 Dec-2 Jan) at at The Court Theatre, Tring (01442 823130) with proceeds going towards local charities.

The fun doesn't stop in January either as The Kings Langley Players present Aladdin from Janaury 7 to 9 at The Community centre, The Nap, Kings Langley. Tickets: 07906 695959, klp.org.uk

Also in the new year, St James Music & Drama Society presents Dick Whittington at Falconer Hall, Falconer Road, Bushey from Thursday, January 28 to Saturday, January 30 with an matinee performance at 2.30pm on Saturday as well as the evening performance. Tickets: 020 8950 6844, www.stjames-madnews.net (£5-£7.50)

St Albans

Shiver me timbers, it’s all hands on deck as The Abbey Theatre, St Albans (01727 857861, www.abbeytheatre2.org.uk) presents Robert Louis Stevenson's Treasure Island (Dec 17-Jan 2). It’s the Company of Ten’s 75th anniversary so expect this show to offer plenty of fun and surprises both on and off the stage.

Look out at The Alban Arena (01727 844488, www.alban-arena.co.uk) as the theatre stages an eye-poppingly novel show based on Hans Christian Andersen The Little Mermaid (Dec 12-Jan 3), starring Children's TV's Sarah Jane Honeywell and introducing Cecil The 3D Seahorse. Resident theatre company Lanternfish is staging an original comic version of Aladdin and his Magic Lamp (Dec 19-28) at The Maltings (01727 844222) with plenty of audience participation. Meanwhile at Harpenden Public Halls (01582 767525) Jack will be running up that Beanstalk (Dec 17-20) and over at Campus West, Welwyn (01707 357117, www.welhat.gov.uk)

Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (9 Dec-1 Jan) are joined by special guest CJ de Mooi (Eggheads). Follow the yellow brick road to The Barn Theatre, (01707 357117, www.barntheatre.co.uk) for a date with Dorothy and her pals as Welwyn doubles for Kansas in The Wizard of Oz (Dec 18 -Jan 1).