THEATRE
Events are listed by city, then alphabetically by venue. Submit listings at least 14 days before publication by using our ‘Add an Event’ service at list.co.uk. Listings are compiled by Murray Robertson. ✽ Indicates Hitlist entry
GLASGOW
■ THE ADMIRAL 72a Waterloo Street, 221 7705. Enterteasement: Comedy! Magic! Burlesque Sat 13 Dec, 7.15pm. £14 (£10). A spellbinding mix of comedy, magic and burlesque. No tracksuits, sportswear or hats – smart casual and smarter. ■ THE ARCHES 253 Argyle Street, 565 1000. The Little Boy that Santa Claus Forgot Thu 11 Dec–Sun 4 Jan. See Kids listings. Gary McNair: War on Christmas Thu 11–Sun 28 Dec (not Mon 15, Wed 24 & Thu 25), 7.30pm. £10 (£8). Gary McNair presents an anarchic take on the Christmas spirit. Step into the shoes of an enthusiastic young Santa working one of Glasgow’s poorest grottos, as he embarks on a journey to find the true meaning of the season. See Curtain Up, right. Ages 18+.
■ CCA 350 Sauchiehall Street, 352 4900. The Banished Elf Sat 13 Dec, 11am. £3. Christmas show written by Clare Hemphill and featuring child performers from the Acting Up! workshop.
■ CITIZENS THEATRE 119 Gorbals Street, 429 0022. A Christmas Carol Thu 11–Sun 28 Dec, times vary. £14–£18.50 (£5; students £11–£15.50; children £8–£11). Theatrical adaptation capturing the original spirit of Dickens’ beloved tale. Directed by Dominic Hill. Eric the Elf’s Chaotic Christmas Thu 11–Wed 31 Dec, times vary. £8. A special show for wee ones. Join Eric on his adventure to save Christmas. A fun-filled, interactive musical adventure featuring lots of laughs and songs to sing along with. Ages 3–6. Filter’s Macbeth Tue 20–Fri 23 Jan, 7.30pm (Thu 10.30pm also). £15–£20.50 (students £9; children £9). Filter’s radical version of The Scottish Play fuses Shakespeare’s thriller with innovative sound and music. The Garden Thu 22 & Fri 23 Jan, 8pm. £12 (£8.50; children £8.50). A short opera for two singing actors based on Zinnie Harris’ short play of the same name. ■ EASTWOOD PARK THEATRE Eastwood Park, Rouken Glen Road, Giffnock, 577 4956. Cinderella Thu 11–Sat 13 Dec, times vary. £11–£15. Glass slippers at the ready, as Runway Theatre Company present this Christmas panto classic. The Pure Amazing Wizard of Oz Mon 15–Sun 21 Dec, 10am & 1pm & 7.30pm. £13 (£11; students £9). Insideout Productions present a very Glaswegian take on the classic tale of Dorothy and her pals.
■ THE GLAD CAFÉ 1006a Pollokshaws Road, 636 6119. Cinderella – The Southside Slipper Story Tue 16 & Wed 17 Dec, 7.30pm. £5 (£4). Festive panto with a dark and satirical twist.
■ GLASGOW ROYAL CONCERT HALL 2 Sauchiehall Street, 353 8000. White Christmas Fri 19 Dec, 7.30pm. £29.50–£32.50. The classic Irving Berlin musical starring Aled Jones and Tom Chambers. 116 THE LIST 11 Dec 2014–5 Feb 2015
CURTAIN UP WAR ON CHRISTMAS
■ THE SHED 26 Langside Avenue, 649 5020. Cinderella Thu 18–Sun 21 Dec, 2.30pm. £8–£10. Family panto featuring the ugly sisters Bella and Stella and all your favourites. ■ SLOANS 62 Argyll Arcade, 221 8886. Wee Theaters Mondays 15 Dec & 19 Jan, 6.30pm. £10 full pass (£4 single showing). Choose to see one play or buy a pass to see all three, each performed in separate rooms. With time between each for a drink and a chat.
■ THE GRIFFIN 226 Bath Street, 331 5170. FREE John Aldiss’ Magnificent 7 Thursdays 11 Dec & 18 Dec, 8.30pm. Comedy / variety show mixes funny folks, music, spoken word, cabaret, magic with each act getting precisely seven minutes.
■ KING’S THEATRE 297 Bath Street, 0844 871 7648. Peter Pan Thu 11 Dec–Sun 11 Jan, times tbc. £9–£29.50. JM Barrie’s classic story of the boy who wouldn’t grow up. Presented to celebrate the 50th anniversary since the King’s Theatre staged its first pantomime. Featuring Gary Tank Commander’s Greg McHugh. Vampires Rock Fri 16 Jan, 7.30pm. £23–£40. Steve Steinman’s musical mixes comedy with rock music and, naturally, the undead. ■ LANSDOWNE CHURCH (WEBSTERS THEATRE) 416 Great Western Road, 337 2311. Aladdin Thu 11–Sun 28 Dec, times vary. £11.50–£13. Expect family fun and frolics at the Webster Theatre’s annual panto, which features Steven Alexander from BBC’s The Voice as Aladdin.
■ THEATRE ROYAL 282 Hope Street, 0844 871 7647. Top Hat – The Musical Thu 11–Sat 13 Dec, 2.30pm & 7.30pm (Fri 7.30pm only). £10–£47.50. Irving Berlin’s musical about an American tap dancer, who follows the girl of his dreams across Europe to win her heart. Directed by Matthew White.
✽ Saturday Night Fever Tue 16 Dec–Sat 3 Jan, times vary. £15–£25.
New stage production of the 70s John Travolta film featuring songs by the Bee Gees. See preview, page 113.
✽ Scottish Ballet’s The Nutcracker Wed 7–Sat 10 Jan, 2pm
& 7.30pm (Wed & Fri 7.30pm only). £12.50–£35.50. Peter Darrell’s magical world of The Nutcracker has been reimagined by Olivier Award winning designer Lez Brotherston, bringing a new sheen to this classical 40-year- old adaptation. Booking essential. See preview, page 115.
■ MITCHELL THEATRE 6 Granville Street, 287 2999. Beauty and the Beast Fri 12–Fri HEADLINE GOES HERE 19 Dec, 7pm. £17.50. Festive panto written by Alan McHugh and directed by Alasdair Hawthorn. Featuring a cast from UKTheatreSchool Performing Arts Academy. Includes pre-show Winter Barrowland. Watch out Edinburgh, there’s a new kid on the east coast block. Well, OK, chances are Dundee’s bookish extravaganza might never quite reach the exalted status of the capital’s world-beating literary fiesta but it’s making a very strong case for itself with a series ■ TRAMWAY of events that includes the likes of Nick Cave, Jackie Kay, Alan ■ ÒRAN MÓR 25 Albert Drive, 0845 330 3501. Warner, John Carey and Iain Banks (pictured) plus an all-day comics Glimmer Thu 11–Sun 21 Dec. See Kids 731–735 Great Western Road, 357 6200. conference. A Play A Pie & A Pint: The listings. ■ Various venues, Dundee, until Sun 27 Jun. The Second Coming Fri 16–Mon 19 Emperor’s New Clothes – Panto Thu 11–Sat 20 Dec, times vary. £12.50– Jan, 7.30pm. £20. Fusion of traditional £16.87. See review, page 114. Irish music, song and dance with aerial ■ PAVILION THEATRE circus, theatre, narrative and film. Centring 121 Renfield Street, 332 1846. on the concept of Yeats’ ‘second coming’, Treasure Island Thu 11 Dec–Wed as he returns to contemporary Ireland with 14 Jan, times vary. £17.50–£22.50. a message of renewal. Co-produced by Classic swashbuckling panto action Fidget Feet Aerial Dance company and the starring Johnny Mac, Stephen Purdon and Hawk’s Well Theatre in Sligo. Michelle McManus. See review, page 114 and First & Last, page 128.
Having aced the Fringe by crossing the wires of stand- up and theatre, Gary McNair joyrides the festive season through the Arches by declaring War on Christmas. He explains his anti-Santa act. Can’t you just enjoy the season? Absolutely. Enjoy your season, but rather more than that. Enjoy your life, find a way to get happiness every single day, instead of being forced into someone else’s preconceived notion of happiness for a rather stressful period in December. Let Christmas go, relax and enjoy the whole year. How adult is this going to be? I get a shiver down my spine when someone says ‘adult show’– it makes me think of the crass nature of a Jim Davidson show where everything is ‘naughty’. Rather I’d like to think that the show appeals to the child inside of you but doesn’t make the pretence that everything will work out alright, because it won’t. Will fans of the McNair style get what they expect, or are you throwing any curve balls? Come on, I love dealing in curve balls. This show is full of silly characters, costumes and songs. It’s essentially a musical which is about as far away from my usual working style as I think I’ve ever gone, but I hope that people will still see a flavour of the work that sits inside my canon – direct address, audience participation, using humour to poke fun at authority – it’s all in there. What are you hoping to get for Christmas? I’m genuinely hoping for quite a quiet Christmas, one that isn’t too stressful. I hope to see a lot of people whilst they have time off from their jobs and most of all I’d love to see a packed house every night for War on Christmas. Failing that, you can never fail to make me happy with the offer of Um Bongo, or a Wham Bar. (Gareth K Vile) ■ The Arches, Glasgow, Thu 11– Sun 28 Dec.
■ PLATFORM The Bridge, 1000 Westerhouse Road, Easterhouse, 276 9696. The Three Little Pigs Thu 11–Mon 22 Dec (not Sun). See Kids listings. ■ ROOM AT THE TOP 94 West Regent Street, 0141 352 9978. On the Boards Fridays & Saturdays 12–31 Jan, 7.30pm. £10. An hour of theatrical performances, live music and comedy showcasing emerging and established talent.
■ SCOTTISH MASK AND PUPPET CENTRE 8–10 Balcarres Avenue, Kelvindale, 339 6185. Lapin Wants to See Santa Sat 13 Dec. See Kids listings. Looking for Nessie Sat 17 Jan. See Kids listings.
■ SCOTTISH YOUTH THEATRE The Old Sheriff Court, 105 Brunswick Street, 552 3988. Wild Heather Thu 11–Tue 30 Dec. See Kids listings. FREE Hoods Tue 6 Jan, 7pm. The story of Kyle, Jessie and baby Troy, three children abandoned in a deserted car park who wait, in vain, for their mother’s return. Presented by Midnite Youth Theatre Company from Perth, Australia. ■ SECC Finnieston Quay, 248 3000. Cinderella Sat 13 Dec–Sun 4 Jan, times vary. £13–£26. Put on your glass slippers and ballgowns for the SECC’s panto featuring John Barrowman, the Krankies and Melanie Masson, who was in The X Factor back in 2012.
■ TRON THEATRE 63 Trongate, 552 4267.
✽ Miracle on 34 Parnie Street Thu 11 Dec–Sun 4 Jan. See review,
page 114. The Elf By Herself Thu 11–Wed 31 Dec. See Kids listings.
■ WILD CABARET & WICKED LOUNGE 18 Candleriggs, 552 6165. The Big Show Fridays & Saturdays 12–27 Dec, 8pm. Free to all dining guests. An evening of cabaret.
EDINBURGH ■ ALBA FLAMENCA 74 East Crosscauseway, 07540 335270. Flamenco Noche Saturdays 13 Dec & 20 Dec, 7.30pm. £10–£12. Live flamenco music and vivacious dance performances.
■ ASSEMBLY ROXY 2 Roxburgh Place, 623 3000.
✽ Blooming Surprise Fri 12 Dec & Sat 13 Dec, 7.30pm. £7 (£5). Saras
Feijóo’s one-person clown show is set at an airport.
■ CAV 3 West Tollcross, 228 3252. The Dreamboys Saturdays 13–27 Dec, 6.30pm. £25. The ultimate ladies night featuring some of the best looking boys in an all male glamour extravaganza. ■ CHURCH HILL THEATRE 33a Morningside Road, 447 7597. Dick Whittington Thu 18–Sun 28 Dec (not Wed 24–Fri 27), 7pm (Sat & Sun 2.30pm also). £10 (£8). A traditional family pantomime based on the ever- popular fairy tale.