Bristol’s best Christmas shows 2021

After an understandably quiet festive season in 2020, one year on, there is once more an extraordinary abundance of shows in and around Bristol this Christmas.

Bristol 24/7 presents a roundup of what the city has in store for fans of pantomime, theatre, comedy and improv, circus and cabaret, spoken word, film, and music…

Pantomime

• Snow White – December 4-January 2, Bristol Hippodrome

The cast for this year’s Hippodrome pantomime stars Lesley Joseph as The Wicked Queen, with Rob Rinder as the Man in the Mirror and local favourite Andy Ford as Muddles.

• Peter Pan, December 8-11, The Newman Hall, Henleaze

Clifton Amateur Dramatics Society promise a “fast and furious rendition of your favourite fairy tale, complete with fantastic songs and lots of laughter”.

• Jack and the Beanstalk, December 11-January 2, The Playhouse, Weston-super-Mare

Derek Moran appears in the title role in Weston-super-Mare’s rendition of the much-loved story.

• Cinderella, December 14-31, The Redgrave Theatre, Clifton

Polka Dot Pantomimes in association with the Redgrave Theatre bring the nation’s favourite panto to Bristol, starring Daisy King Sanders as Cinderella, Ash Stevenson as Prince Charming and Amanda Salmon and Rhian Gill as the two Fairies – Superior and Flustered.

• Cinderella, December 16-January 9, Theatre Royal Bath

CBBC’s Dani Harmer is the Fairy Godmother, Jon Monie plays Buttons (in his 15th consecutive year in a TRB panto), with Elly Jay and Josh Rose as Cinderella and Prince Charming.

Theatre

• Little Women in Black, November 19-January 16, Wardrobe Theatre, Old Market

The masters of the theatrical mash-up return. From the creators of Drac & Jill, Oedipuss in Boots, and Rocky Shock Horror.

LWIB – poster: The Wardrobe Theatre

• Fairytale of New York: Coming Home for Christmas, November 26, The Playhouse, Weston-super-Mare

“The ultimate feel good Irish-inspired Christmas show”, from the producers of Seven Drunken Nights – The Story of the Dubliners.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IytZZXxrt34&t=11s

• Squirrel, November 27-December 24, the egg, Theatre Royal Bath

A beautiful early years Christmas show from the egg, TRB’s dedicated children’s theatre.

• Robin Hood: Legend of the Forgotten Forest, November 27-January 8, Bristol Old Vic

The Wardrobe Ensemble are set to set the main stage alight at Bristol Old Vic this Christmas with a show that feels like a homecoming.

……………………………………..

Read more: Robin Hood revamped for Christmas

……………………………………..

• Hansel & Gretel, December 1-January 1, Arnos Vale Cemetery

Insane Root bring their immersive magic to Arnos Vale for a promenade performance of the eerie fairytale classic.

Insane Root, Hansel & Gretel – photo: Craig Fuller

……………………………………..

Read more: Stepping into another universe

……………………………………..

• While Shepherds Watched, December 4-5, Redgrave Theatre, Clifton

A nativity show suitable for all ages from Bristol Old Vic Theatre School, also touring around local schools.

• Nutty Noah, December 5, Wardrobe Theatre, Old Market

Your chance to join Nutty Noah in the Wardrobe for a slice of magical entertainment with a Christmas twist.

• That’ll Be The Day Christmas Show, December 7, The Playhouse, Weston-super-Mare

Running for over 30 years and refreshed annually, the most popular touring show in the UK comes to Weston.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nx3Gx0HlbtA&feature=youtu.be

• OZ, December 10-January 16, Tobacco Factory Theatres

Follow the yellow brick road to Southville, for a very special co-production between Pins and Needles and Tobacco Factory Theatres.

OZ – image: Pins and Needles and Tobacco Factory

……………………………………..

Read more: Follow the yellow brick road to Southville this Christmas

……………………………………..

• A Christmas Getaway, December 13-January 8, Ustinov Studio, Theatre Royal Bath

A ‘frantic festive farce’ brought to Bath by the theatre company New Old Friends.

• A wonderful magical Christmas filled with all the usual stuff, December 16-23, The Wardrobe Theatre, Old Market

Expect a gloriously anarchic and funny festive caper sprinkled with magic from Kid Carpet and his merry band of accomplices: Gorilla, Bear, Badger and Hedgehog.

• Of Christmas Past, December 18-23, Tobacco Factory Theatres

Billed as “a funny, festive story for grown-ups that asks ‘what would happen if you actually met Santa Claus?'”

• Snow Mouse, January 12-February 6, the egg, Theatre Royal Bath

Returning for a seventh year, Snow Mouse remains an enchanting treat for young theatre goers.

• The Late-ivity, January 18-29, The Wardrobe Theatre, Old Market

Living Spit revisit their smash-hit festive show. In their own words, audiences can expect a “cornucopia of comic Christmassy crudeness”.

The Late-ivity – poster: Living Spit

Comedy and Improv

• The People’s Comedy, November 26, Ashton Court Mansion

In a night of standup compered by Fella and featuring local talent Jessie Johnson, Julia Stanton and Eva Bindeman, The People’s Comedy swap Stokes Croft for Ashton Court, as part of Winter Warmers: An Alternative 12 days of Christmas.

Julia Stanton – image courtesy of Artspace Lifespace

• Christmas Murder Mystery Evening, December 4, SS Great Britain

Your chance to immerse yourself in a memorable night’s entertainment – and detective work – on board the SS Great Britain. Tickets include an arrival cocktail, a sumptuous three course dinner and the chance to unearth some secrets.

• Merry Christmas! (despite the current circumstances), December 10-12 and 17-22, Bristol Improv Theatre, Clifton

An evening of improvised comedy games, songs and merriment, from a festive bunch of comics, improv experts and musicians.

Merry Christmas! (despite the current circumstances) – poster: the Bristol Improv Theatre

• Standup for the Weekend: The Official Christmas Show, December 18, The Hen & Chicken Studio, Southville

Presented by The Comedy Box, this should be a fantastic night of standup on the last weekend before Christmas. The night will feature Erich McElroy, compere Robin Morgan, and circuit favourite Markus Birdman, who played the London Palladium this October – only four months after suffering a stroke.

Circus and Cabaret

• Christmas at the Spiegeltent, November 25 December 31,

A five week programme of circus, cabaret, drag, dancing, music and comedy, all set within a stunning mirror tent.

Loz James, circus performer with LED hoops – photo: Sandy McClure

……………………………………

Read more: Bringing the fabulous to festive entertainment

……………………………………

• The Great Christmas Circus, December 10 2021-January 2 2022, Sanders Garden Centre, Highbridge

Circus Funtasia returns with a festive family show featuring fire breathers, aerialists, spinning fairies, and the jaw-dropping wheel of death stunt.

Spoken word

• The Crick Crack Club Christmas Carol Show, December 2, The Cube, Kingsdown

Don your Christmas jumpers, and join Sheema Mukherjee playing carols on the sitar, along with ‘stories from the very reverend Tim Ralphs, the not so reverent Ben Haggarty (and maybe others); disorders of service, chaotic carols and Christmas tree shrines’.

Crick Crack Club Christmas Carol Show – poster: Crick Crack Club

Film

• Bristol Film Festival: Christmas screenings, December 11-29, various venues

Your chance to see a variety of Christmas classics in unusual and memorable locations; this year’s screenings include Harry Potter & The Philosopher’s Stone at Clifton College Chapel, Elf at Bristol Museum and Die Hard at Avery’s Wine Merchants.

• Bristol Girl Xmas Film Club presents: Love Actually, December 17, 20th Century Flicks, Christmas Steps

A seasonal special from Bristol Girl, ‘a group of kind, supportive and inclusive girls’ aiming to foster connection and friendship over a classic festive movie.

Music

• Viennese Christmas by Candlelight, December 4, Bristol Cathedral

Renowned chamber orchestra London Concertante present a magical programme of Strauss, Brahms, Tchaikovsky and Schubert, suitable for seasoned as well as first-time concert goers.

• Maddy Prior and the Carnival Band: Carols & Capers, December 7, St George’s

A welcome return for Maddy Prior and her Carnival Band for a festive performance to remember. ‘Together they mix renaissance, modern and ethnic instruments with a refreshing cavalier attittude and plenty of humour’.

• Chapel Christmas concert 2021: Bristol University Singers, December 10, Tyntesfield, Wraxall

Conducted by Elinor Cooper, the University of Bristol’s prestigious chamber choir will be performing a range of the very best in Christmas music, in the historic surroundings of Tyntesfield’s chapel.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LMhSvTpFyf8

• Bristol Bach Choir: Spirit of Christmas, December 11, St George’s

A Christmas celebration in support of St Peter’s Hospice, incorporating ‘uplifting choral music and witty, entertaining readings’.

• Music for Advent and Christmas, December 11, The Lord Mayor’s Chapel, College Green

Bristol Chamber Choir will be presenting a programme of unaccompanied music from the Tudor period through to the present day.

• Bethlehem Christmas 2021 Concert and Singalong, December 11, St Albans Church, Westbury Park

A performance of live extracts from the 1915 Christmas choral drama Bethlehem by Rutland Boughton, with singalong carols at the end.

• Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment: Christmas Crackers, December 17, St George’s

A sparkling night of Baroque music from the OAE to celebrate the season, with the promise of added audience carol singing.

• Carols by Candlelight, with Bristol Cathedral Choir, December 17 & 18, Bristol Cathedral

Carol singing in the atmospheric and candlelit setting of Bristol Cathedral, interspersed with festive readings from John Telfer – this event will herald the official start of Christmas for many concertgoers.

• Children’s Christmas Carnival, December 19, St George’s

Roger Huckle directs the Bristol Ensemble Orchestra in an enchanting concert of Howard Blake’s memorable music from The Snowman.

• Bristol Ensemble: A Baroque Christmas, December 19, St George’s

A programme from the Baroque period, including Christmas Concerto by Corelli, Bach’s Concerto for Two Violins in D minor, and both Pastoral Symphony and Rejoice Greatly from Handel’s Messiah.

• Bristol Ensemble and Exultate Singers: Christmas Spectacular, December 20, St George’s

Conductor David Ogden leads the Bristol Ensemble and the chamber choir Exultate Singers in a celebratory Christmas concert. Expect special touches and some audience participation.

• Bristol Ensemble and City of Bristol Choir: Festive Fiesta, December 21, St George’s

A fun and fabulous evening of festive music, with plenty of audience participation and singing. A night guaranteed to get audiences into the Christmas spirit.

• Handel’s Messiah, from Bristol Ensemble and Choir of Royal Holloway, December 22, St George’s

A semi-staged performance sees choir soloists performing from varying locations around the concert hall, as they sing Handel’s exhilarating and timeless choral masterpiece.

Main photo: Bristol Improv Theatre

Read more: Yuup Christmas gift guide – 2021

Listen to the latest episode of the Bristol 24/7 Behind the Headlines podcast: