Festive Theatre for all the family: What’s on stage in Cornwall

From exciting first outings to Cornwall’s new premier playhouse, the Hall For Cornwall, to outside theatre magic down at the wonderful Minack Theatre, there are lots of shows to enjoy this festive season.

From the start of advent, right through to Christmas and beyond, why not get a few of these festive treats entered into your diary?

The Regal Theatre, Redruth | 01209 216278  http://redruth.merlincinemas.co.uk/regal-theatre

6 Dec, Santa’s Best Ever Christmas

Join Father Christmas and friends in this brand new, festive, musical, interactive adventure for 2- to 7-year-olds. Santa will give every child a present after the show. 

12 to 16 Jan: Dick Whittington,

RAMPS’ traditional pantomime with magic, music, dancing, and slapstick comedy, wonderful family show.

Coppice Theatre Company on tour | www.coppicetheatre.co.uk/whats-on 

Jack Frost 5: Lost in Time.

Silly Jack Frost is lost again and needs your help. This year Jack has found a time machine and he could be anywhere and anywhen! Disaster! Help Celia the Elf search for him across time and hear wonderfully wintery tales along the way!  For ages 5+. £5/£6. 3 Dec, 5.30pm: The Acorn, Penzance. 5 Dec, 2pm & 4pm: The Poly, Falmouth. 15 & 22 Dec 3.30, 5pm & 6.30pm: Victoria Gardens, Truro. 21 Dec 11am & 1pm: Kresen Kernow, Redruth. 

Hall for Cornwall, Truro | 01872 262466 hallforcornwall.co.uk

Cinderella: 1 Dec to 2 Jan

Join this happy-ever-after Cornish adventure as Cinders is whisked from a pantry to a party via a pumpkin! Packed with all the traditional ingredients of laugh-out-loud comedy, spectacular dancing, live music and singing with a large sprinkling of Cornish heart and fairy-tale magic. All at the newly transformed Hall for Cornwall.

Theatre Royal Plymouth | theatreroyal.com 01752 267222

1 Dec to 22 Jan: Stuff & Nonsense’s The Man Who Wanted to be a Penguin

An extraordinary explorer learns Penguin but when he arrives at the Antarctic will the penguins’ reception be frosty?! With playful energy, puppetry, music and song, for all the family, age 3+

13 to 24 Dec: Grimm & Grimmer

Gonzo Moose’s comedy adventure full of hilarious slapstick, verbal wit, live music and a sensational death-defying finale. Age 8+

17 Dec to 15 Jan: Aladdin with Joe Pasquale

Packed with laugh-out-loud comedy, stunning scenery, beautiful costumes and plenty of boos and hisses. Expect flying carpets, a wish-granting genie, an evil sorcerer and a lamp-full of laughs.

Sterts Theatre, Liskeard | 01579 362382   www.sterts.co.uk

2 to 4 Dec: Baba Yaga’s Christmas Party

Join Sterts Youth Theatre Company, Sterts Singers & Nicky Brice Ballet for a Christmas play with songs, dance and presents from Father Christmas. Adult £8, £6 child (includes gift) 

David Mynne on tour | https://www.ticketsource.co.uk/carn-to-cove

A Christmas Carol. A mesmerising one-man performance of Charles Dickens’ timeless, transformative story with added silliness. Bah! Humbug! Age 9+. 4 Dec, Praa Sands Community Centre; 

5 Dec CaVE, Callington Town Hall

Stiltskin’s Soapbox Children’s Theatre, Devonport | stiltskin.org.uk

Selected dates 8 to 24 Dec:

The Christmas Mouse – under 5s’ show.

Selected dates 11 to 24 Dec:

The Magic Lantern and The Story Thief – a fantastical family show.

Christmas with The Story Republic

Friday 17th December at St. Ives Library : Dark Nights’ Stories & Songs with Annamaria Murphy & The Story Republic

Mince pies and mulled wine from 6pm, performance 7pm. Tickets available at https://stiveslibrary.ticketsolve.com/shows/1173617683

Saturday 18th December at Kresen Kernow, Redruth: Stories for a Winter’s Afternoon with The Story Republic

FREE entry. Performance at 2pm
Mince pies and hot drinks after! Tickets available at https://kresenkernow.org/event/stories-for-a-winter-afternoon/

20th, 28th, 30th December at Market Hall, Plymouth: Wintry Tales with The Story Republic

Stories under the stars in their immersive dome
Performances at 11am and 2pm. Tickets available at https://realideas.ticketsolve.com/shows/1173618691/events/428426476

Lane Theatre, Newquay | 01637 876945  lanetheatre.co.uk

9 to 11 Dec 7.30 pm & some matinees:

Beauty and the Beast, £7, Odd Socks Entertainment’s traditional pantomime.  

Landrake Village Hall | https://www.ticketsource.co.uk/carn-to-cove

11 Dec 7pm:

Multistory Theatre’s Beauty and the Beast, an immersive performance full of fun, drama and pathos. Create simple props beforehand to use in the show. Age 5 to 95+

Tolmen Centre, Constantine | 01326 340630

12 Dec 3pm: The Christmassy Christmas Show of Christmassy Christmasness!

Join Squashbox on a quest for The Twelve Sprouts of Christmas and meet a host of Christmassy characters. 

Kidz R Us, St Ives Theatre | kidzrus.net 01736 797007

20 to 23, 27 to 30 Dec, 2 & 6.30pm: Robinson Crusoe and the Pirates

Buckle your swash and set sail with Robinson, Captain Seasalt and Nutty Nick into a world of adventure and hilarity.  You’ll meet a host of colourful characters along the way, together with a band of marauding pirates.

Minack Theatre, Porthcurno | 01736 810181 www.minack.com

20 to 22 Dec: David Mynne – A Christmas Carol

29 to 31 Dec, 11am: storytelling performances – The Piskie in the Garden.

John Brolly’s new one-man show about a hapless gardener who is outwitted by the piskies, with fairy magic, puppets and music. 

The Alverton, Truro | 01872 276 633 thealverton.co.uk

 27 Dec 3pm: Christmas. Time.

Special yuletide comedy performance by Near-ta Theatre.

Solomon Browne Memorial Hall, Mousehole

It wouldn’t be Christmas without Mowzer…

Cousin Jack’s stage adaptation of ‘The Mousehole Cat’ returns to the heart of Mousehole this Christmas, at the Solomon Browne Memorial Hall. 

The Blackbird loves this production, ‘It’ll warm the cockles of everyone’s hearts… almost as much as an ‘efty portion of stargazy pie!’

The charming hour-long show is based on Antonia Barber’s heart-warming version of a Cornish legend, of desperate famine averted by the brave actions of fisherman, Tom Bawcock, and his faithful cat, Mowzer. This transfixing performance with actors and an utterly convincing life-size cat puppet is accompanied by folk music and songs.

Make a night of it and enjoy Mousehole’s famous Christmas lights before or after the show. 

Cousin Jack’s Covid precautions mean that only half the number of tickets will be available. They sell out every year anyway, so book right away! 

Read more about all that’s happening in Cornwall this Christmas in our digital edition below: