It’s finally here! Christmas week is upon us, snow is falling (even if it looks suspiciously rain-like this year…), and the season of joy and goodwill has got us all grinning ear-to-ear – at least until we fall asleep by 3.30pm.
But even though we’re all recharging for the New Year, you’d be mistaken to take the first holiday flight out of Theatreland just yet – because Christmas week is when festive theatre really comes alive in the West End. Many London shows switch around their regular schedules and also add on extra matinee performances, so there’s never a better time for the whole family to sample the festive fun of theatre!
So, without further ado, here’s everything you need to know about how to make the most of London theatre this Christmas week. From all of us at Official London Theatre: have a very Merry Christmas indeed! *jazzhands*
Visit the TKTS Booth
‘Tis the season for great theatre discounts – and you’ll be amazed what you can find. A great spur-of-the-moment gift, why not propose a last-minute, cheaper-than-normal theatre trip, courtesy of the TKTS booth?
At the booth this Christmas, you’ll be able to enjoy a whole host of on-the-day tickets – just be sure to check out our seasonal opening hours. You can also buy for up to two days in advance – so take note, Christmas Eve shoppers, as you’ll be able to grab some Boxing Day performance bargains!
The Bat Out Of Hell cast at the TKTS booth
While there are no guarantees as to what show you’ll see, you can be sure of great recommendations and advice from the cheery staff, as well as even greater value London theatre tickets.
Enjoy Boxing Day brilliance
While the idea of spending Boxing Day recovering on the sofa can sound great in theory, in practice, it’s riddled with potential perils: if the temptation to squabble over the tins of chocolates doesn’t strike you, young ‘uns’ restlessness at a second day confined to the house almost certainly will.
Disney’s Aladdin at the Prince Edward Theatre (Photo: Johan Persson)
That’s where a London show can come in. Don’t hang about at home – get yourself down to the West End. In Theatreland-based venues alone, you can enjoy evening performances (from 7pm onwards – times vary by show) from the likes of musicals:
- Kinky Boots
- Tina – The Tina Turner Musical
- Wicked
- Matilda The Musical
- Bat Out Of Hell The Musical
- 42nd Street
- Company
- School Of Rock The Musical
- The Phantom Of The Opera
- Mamma Mia!
- Chicago
- Caroline, Or Change (including matinee at 2.30pm)
- Disney’s Aladdin
- Disney’s The Lion King
- The Book Of Mormon
- Les Misérables
- Dreamgirls
- Motown The Musical
… as well as comedies including The Comedy About A Bank Robbery (including extra matinee at 2.30pm), The Play That Goes Wrong and Don Quixote; family entertainment in Simon Callow in A Christmas Carol and Palladium panto Snow White (both with additional matinees); and gripping dramas in Switzerland, The Woman In Black, Pinter Six, The Curious Incident Of The Dog In The Night-Time, Nine Night and The Mousetrap (which has an extra matinee at 3pm).
Further afield, there are also plenty of great other shows also playing on Boxing Day; check them out using the date search feature on our London shows page.
Grab those last-minute gifts
Okay, so you’ve left it late. Possibly so late, it’s past the 25th of December. It’s fine – we’ve all been there, and we’re here to help.
We’ve the perfect selection of last-minute gifts available. From online (and therefore perfect for the last-minute!) theatrical gift vouchers through Theatre Tokens, to fantastic value tickets to top London productions (and with no hidden costs!) through our New Year Sale, we’ve got you sorted.
And if you’re looking for something alternative? Check out our round-up of the very best Christmas presents for theatre fans this year.
Not found your perfect Christmas present just yet? Not to fear – just browse through our London shows section. From show-stopping musicals to family entertainment, and hard-hitting dramas to stunning dance shows, there really is something for everyone.