Christmas Shows
Far from being homogeneous or patronising play, Christmas shows are vast in range of story, style and delivery. ‘Christmas shows’ is far broader than pantomime. Quality Christmas shows can be magical and innovative, and each can provide some seasonal spirit, no matter how seasonal the tale.
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They aren’t necessarily ‘christmas’ stories, or even well-known fairytales. The productions are vast ranging and may be traditional or modern. They may or may not be musical and/or playful and are certainly not exclusively for children.
What they do have in common is that events chosen for the festive period are ‘special’. The stories emanate a feel-good factor individual to each production, and are geared as family entertainment. |
The ‘special’ element of the show can be provided in several forms – fantasy brought to life, fun-filled audience participation, sensory stimulation or classic well-delivered story telling, to name but a few.
To illustrate the diversity and richness in Christmas shows, we’ve selected a few examples of this year’s Christmas shows in Scotland.
The Arches in Glasgow:
Renowned for its magical, imaginative and adventurous productions, The Arches Theatre Company brings a brand new version of The Little Mermaid to life this winter. The focus is on enchantment. Actors, musicians and puppets create the magic. The atmosphere is elevated by a set comprising 'spooky shipwrecks, sparkling blue oceans and dazzling lighting'. The result is a 'fascinating, festive adventure' for the family and Primary School groups.
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The Byre Theatre in St Andrews:
The Byre Theatre's own production Beauty and the beast tells a traditional tale. It is an illustration of a young girl's journey of discovery. Passion, imagination and love are set in this 'heart-warming, beautiful and bewitching family show for Christmas'. |
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The Royal Lyceum Theatre in Edinburgh:
The Royal Lyceum's Christmas show this year is Stuart Patterson's version of the childrens' tale Sleeping Beauty. The Lyceum Christmas play is a tradition all of its own: for nearly two decades, audiences of all ages have come to rely on Paterson’s magical versions of favourite festive fairytales. Sleeping Beauty has strong stories, characters to cheer for or hiss at and spectacular sets and costumes – and plenty of knockabout fun and panto-style 'oh-no-she-didn't!' participation too.
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The Dundee Rep Theatre:
Another Stuart Paterson adaptation runs simultaneously this Christmas, by the Dundee Rep Ensemble. Merlin the Magnificent is a magical fantasy adventure, set in a spellbinding world of witches and wizards, paupers and kings. |
Theatre Workshop in Edinburgh:
Theatre Workshop typically produces a Christmas show each year that introduces children to a tale from a different culture, presenting it using the theatrical, musical and dance forms of that culture. It is renowned for its unique and magical global Christmas tales. Unlike the more commonly found Christmas tales, Theatre Workshop’s Christmas show for 2004 is 'The Last Little Fish in the Net' by Dolina Maclennan. It is a Christmas tale from the Highlands of Scotland set in a fairytale castle on the romantic shores of Wester Ross.
Based on traditional childhood stories, the last little fish in the net has the magic of an original fairytale story, which belongs to a bygone age. Magic, myth and legend are evident in the production, as are themes of love and jealousy. It is a story that sets out to touch the hearts of the very young to the very old.
The Traverse Theatre Edinburgh:
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In contrast, the Traverse’s distinctive Christmas Show is LicketySpit’s Christmas Quangle Wangle. It is ‘a hilarious musical show inspired by Edward Lear’s nonsense poems’.
This original production was at first created as part of the Wee Stories Early Years Project and developed working with children at Abbeyhill Primary. The Quangle Wangle has now been given a festive make-over for Christmas at the Traverse.
Licketyspit is a dynamic new children’s theatre company for three to seven year olds, their friends, teachers and families. |
Established to develop and tour high quality child-centred theatre, Licketyspit’s work is characterised by a bold and imaginative performance style. Using original design, music and song, it creates a direct rapport with the audience. Licketyspit believes that good children’s theatre is good theatre for everyone.
| For more details of this years Christmas shows, click on the related links or visit Scottishtheatre.org for listings. | |