Fodor's Travel Talk Forums - London Pantomime. BH

A feature of London now is the range of pantomimes across the southern and eastern suburbs. These are folk tales turned into knock-about comedy, with songs and audience participation. The actors encourage children in the audience to behave badly, shouting, laughing, and hissing the villain, so the best shows are the matinees, with plenty of children present. As the last curtain falls good triumphs over evil, and we go cheered out into the dark evening, the children skipping as they go.

There are usually seats free, so a good plan is to choose a show, take a credit or debit card, phone the theatre, book a seat well back where you can see the audience and avoid flying bananas, and take advice on where to find lunch, perhaps with a beer, before the show. The strongest traditions are at the Lyric Hammersmith, Theatre Royal Stratford East, and Greenwich Theatre. Methodists with their hair down are something to see. Some theatres tend to bring in television actors and references, so are less clear to you from overseas: the Richmond Theatre, the Churchill Theatre Bromley, and the Ashcroft Theatre, Croydon. Moreover, I think the children there are better behaved in those parts, and less fun.

[email protected]

Cinderella
Lyric Theatre, Hammersmith
District Line
Nov 28-30, Dec 1 & 2, 5-8, 12-15, 18-23, 26-30,
Jan 3-10, 7pm (press night Dec 2),
mats Nov 29, Dec 6, 13, 20-23, 26-30, Jan 3, 10, 2.30pm
9 to 20 pounds
Box Office 08700 500 511 and 020 8741 2311

Red Riding Hood
Theatre Royal Stratford East, Gerry Raffles Square,
Stratford E15 1BN Central Line
[email protected]
1 December to 24 January
Box Office 020 8534 7374

Aladdin
Millfield Theatre
Silver Street, Edmonton, London N18 1PJ
Trains from Liverpool Street
3 December to 11 January
Box Office 020 8807 6680.
Email [email protected]

Sleeping Beauty
A fun packed, traditional family pantomime for the whole family!
Queen's Theatre, Hornchurch
Central Line
6 December to 17 January
Box Office: 01708 443333

Sleeping Beauty
Hounslow Theatre
Piccadilly Line
9 December to 25 January
All the talents of local people. News releases suggest this pantomime will draw upon South Asian music, theatre and jokes
Box Office 0845 456 2840

Mother Goose and the Wolf
Greenwich Theatre
Trains from London Bridge
London Bubble Theatre production
9 December to 17 January Evenings 7pm Matinees 2pm Mornings 10am
17, 15, and 13 pounds Children half price
Box Office 020 8858 7755

Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs
Richmond Theatre
District Line
11 to 26 December
19, 17, 15 and 12 pounds
Box Office 020 8940 0088

Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs
Churchill Theatre Bromley
Box Office 0870 060 6620
Train to Bromley South
11 December to 18 January

Aladdin
Ashcroft Theatre Croydon
Trains from London Bridge and Victoria to East Croydon
12 December to 11 January
Box Office 01902 429212

Aladdin
Kenneth More Theatre, Oakfield Road, Ilford, Essex IG1 1BT
Trains from Liverpool Street
18 December to 14 February
Box Office - 020 8553 4466

Jack and the Beanstalk
Broadway Theatre, Catford
Trains from London Bridge or Blackfriars
20 December to 11 January
All tickets under 10 pounds
Box Office 020 8690 0002
www.broadwaytheatre.org.uk

Cinderella
Sir James Hawkey Hall, Broomhill Road, Woodford Green.
Central Line
2 January to 10 January
Box Office 020 8550

Cinderella and the Thieving Magpie
Methodist Centre
Footscray Road, New Eltham
Trains from London Bridge
33rd Pantomime by New Eltham Methodist Church.
Fun for all the family. Tickets cost just 4 pounds
Saturday, 10 January, 3pm,
Friday, 16 January, 8pm
Saturday, 17 January, 3pm and 7.30pm
Box Office 020 8302 1342, 10am - 9pm