the times | Friday November 27 2020 1GT 5
cover story
postponed their resumption of their
conjuring comedy, Magic Goes Wrong,
until next October. Instead they are
returning to their roots as an impro
troupe for these spontaneously
created imaginary films.
Vaudeville Theatre, London WC
(nimaxtheatres.com), Dec 9 to Jan 31Adam Kay: Twas the Nightshift
Before Christmas Live
Adam Kay reopened the West End
in October with This is Going to Hurt,
the show of medical songs and diary
entries from his days as a hospital
doctor, first performed in 2016, that
he turned into a million-selling book.
Now he returns with the stage version
of its stocking-filler follow-up.
Palace Theatre, London W
(nimaxtheatres.com), Dec 21 to Jan 3Bill Bailey: Christmas Larks
The breakout star of this year’s
Strictly Come Dancing returns,
with newly enhanced poise and
freshly finessed hand positioning,
to his regular gig as Britain’s
foremost musical comedian and
ace stand-up. This is a rejigged
seasonal version of the show,
inspired by Bailey’s global travels,
that he first toured and took to the
West End last year.
Lyceum Theatre, London WC
(billbailey.co.uk), Dec 28 to Jan 3PANTOMIME
Potted Panto
Pantomimes are at a premium this
year, so why not see seven at once?
Daniel Clarkson and Jeff Turner,on their luck when a big show flops
and celebrity activism backfires.
Based on the hit Broadway musical.
Watch out for Meryl Streep and her
charming attempts at street rapping
— the star-studded cast also includes
Nicole Kidman, Tracey Ullman and
James Corden.
In select cinemas from Dec 4 and on
Netflix from Dec 11
Wonder Woman 1984
Shoulder pads, big hair and 1980s
nostalgia meet kick-ass thrills in the
latest instalment from Gal Gadot’s
blockbusting heroine. Set against a
Cold War backdrop, this one features
an evil media baron (Pedro Pascal
from The Mandalorian), the return
of adorably clueless boyfriend Steve
Trevor (Chris Pine), and the arrival of
arch villain Cheetah, played by Kristen
Wiig in full furry feline make-up.
In cinemas from Dec 16
Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom
Chadwick Boseman and Viola
Davis are on stunning form as the
protagonists of this fiery adaptation
of August Wilson’s classic play about
a group of jazz musicians at the
recording session from hell in Chicago
in 1927. In Boseman’s last film he plays
the ambitious trumpeter Levee,
determined to get ahead yet defined
by the racial abuse he has received.
In select cinemas from December 4
COMEDY
Mischief Movie Night
The team behind the West End hit
The Play That Goes Wrong this week
who made their names on stage with
the similarly spoofy yet affectionate
Potted Potter, are celebrating the
tenth anniversary of their larky show.
Ages 6+
Garrick Theatre, London WC
(nimaxtheatres.com), Dec 5 to Jan 10Dick Whittington
Unprecedented times mean only the
second pantomime in the National’s
history (the first was a Cinderella in
1983). First staged at the Lyric in
Hammersmith in 2018, but updated
by its writers, Jude Christian and
Cariad Lloyd, this asks Dick and his
friends to save “the true spirit of
London”. Wish them luck. Ages 6+
Olivier, National Theatre, London SE
(nationaltheatre.org.uk), Dec 11 to Jan 23Jack and the Beanstalk: A Socially
Distanced Panto
We’ll have to wait till next year for
local hero Berwick Kaler to return to
writing and directing and starring in
the York panto. First, though, Nik
Briggs and York Stage present a
traditional pantomime with a
Yorkshire born and bred cast in an
untraditional, Covid-secure venue
in the heart of this Tier 2 city.
Theatre@41 Monkgate, York
(yorktheatreroyal.co.uk), Dec 11 to Jan 3Pantoland at the Palladium
Julian Clary once again heads the
best regular panto team in the land,
including Gary Wilmot, Paul Zerdin
and Nigel Havers. Former Palladium
panto stars Elaine Paige, Charlie
Stemp and Ashley Banjo & Diversity
return, as do newcomers Beverley
Knight and Jac Yarrow. For all ages,
but watch out: they mean it when they
say “contains adult innuendo”.
London Palladium, W
(palladiumpantomime.com), Dec 12
to Jan 3DANCE
The Royal Ballet’s The Nutcracker
Peter Wright’s grand Covent Garden
staging gets a reduced, Covid-friendly
makeover to delight young audiences.
But rest assured, the growing
Christmas tree and the enchanting
Dance of the Snowflakes will still
be there, along with the Sugar
Plum Fairy and her Prince in the
delicious Kingdom
of Sweets. Ages 5+
Royal Opera House, London WC
(roh.org.uk), Dec 11 to Jan 3Nutcracker Delights
English National Ballet, which has
danced Nutcrackers in London at
Christmas for the past 70 years, was
determined not to let the pandemic
break that hallowed tradition. So
instead of a full-length spectacle we
are getting a selection of the ballet’s
most popular moments and iconic
scenes. Ages 5+
London Coliseum, London WC
(ballet.org.uk), Dec 17 to Jan 3The Little Match Girl
Arthur Pita’s wondrous children’s
show, a poignant and enchanting
amalgam of song and dance, appeals
to the youngest audiences as Hans
Christian Andersen’s sad little tale
comes alive. Frequently seen on the
tiny Lilian Baylis stage, the production
now transfers to the much bigger main
auditorium to enable social distancing
for audiences. Ages 5+
Sadler’s Wells, London EC
(sadlerswells.com), Dec 17 to 27CLASSICAL
Christmas at Glyndebourne
The Magic Flute is back in
semi-staged concerts and there are
seasonal concerts that feature the
Glyndebourne Chorus and Tour
Orchestra (Dec 9 and 10). The
first half is opera highlights, the
second half traditional carols.
For all performances you can
book the restaurants too for a
real day out.
Glyndebourne, Lewes, East Sussex
(glyndebourne.com), Dec 5-6 & 12-Royal Albert Hall concerts
Take your pick from Guy Barker’s
Big Band Christmas (Dec 11),
Handel’s Messiah with classy soloists
including Katie Bray and Dingle
Yandell (Dec 15), and traditional
carols (Dec 18-23). The hall’s
maximum capacity will be 1,
under the guidelines.
Royal Albert Hall, London SW
(royalalberthall.com)Wigmore Hall
Choirs return in the nick of time
to the intimate West End venue.
Tenebrae will include gems such
as Holst’s setting of In the Bleak
Midwinter (Dec 15, 7.30pm), Stile
Antico perform Christmas music
from the Spanish golden age
(Dec 21, 1pm) and the Cardinall’s
Musick have a seasonal concert
(Dec 21, 7.30pm).
Wigmore Hall, London W
(wigmore-hall.org.uk)A Baroque Christmas
The Bournemouth Symphony
Orchestra is joined by the conductor
Robert Howarth, the violinist Alina
Ibragimova and the soprano Anna
Devin for cockle-warming music
including Corelli’s Christmas
Concerto, Handel arias from
Messiah, and Autumn and Winter
from Vivaldi’s The Four Seasons.
Lighthouse, Poole (bsolive.com), Dec 16
(matinee & evening)The Royal Opera Christmas Concert
Covent Garden presents operatic
excerpts performed by singers
including Jennifer Davis, Hanna
Hipp and Roderick Williams, with
fairytale material from Rossini’s
Cinderella and Humperdinck’s
Hansel and Gretel, as well as
Vaughan Williams’s chestnut-roasting
Fantasia on Christmas Carols.
Royal Opera House, London WC
(roh.org.uk), Dec 18 to 20Handel’s Messiah
Hallelujah! Handel’s invigorating
chorus will be even more inspiring
this year as the Academy of Ancient
Music gives us our traditional
Christmas oratorio fix. Richard
Egarr directs the AAM players and
chorus, with fine singers including
Iestyn Davies and Rowan Pierce.
Barbican, London EC2 (barbican.org.uk),
Dec 19The Nutcracker — Reimagined
This is an upscaled version of
Alexandra Dariescu’s ingenious
touring Tchaikovsky show. She
plays the piano score with support
from the Royal Liverpool
Philharmonic Brass and Percussion
Ensemble, as well as two ballet
dancers, and there’s narration
and animation too.
Philharmonic Hall, Liverpool
(liverpoolphil.com), Dec 30 to 31Above: Corey Annand
in The Little Match
Girl; Althea Burey in
The Gruffalo’s Child.
Top: Ma Rainey’s Black
Bottom; Meryl Streep
and James Corden in
The Prom. Below:
Julian Clary in
Pantoland