Guide to THE BEST events in December
THEATRE
EastEnders and Goodness Gracious Me star Nina Wadia leads the cast of Jack and the Beanstalk, this year’s fe-fi-fo-FUN family pantomime at York Theatre Royal. Nina, in her first panto for 35 years, will play Fairy Sugarsnap. She’s joined by Robin Simpson, who returns as the Dame – Dame Trott, this time – and Scottish actor James Mackenzie, best known as the presenter of CBBC’s fantasy adventure game show, Raven, as the villainous Luke Backinanger.
December 8-January 7, York Theatre Royal. yorktheatreroyal.co.uk
EARLY MUSIC
The YEMCF is back to celebrate music associated with Advent, Christmas and Epiphany, with artists including Baroque in the North; Flutes & Frets; and Gesualdo Six with Fretwork Viol Consort. Most concerts take place at the National Centre for Early Music, aka St Margaret’s Church — and many are by candlelight.
December 2-9, various venues, ncem.co.uk
CHRISTMAS MOVIE
Bizarrely, this 1992 movie — with Kermit as Bob Cratchit and the great Sir Michael of Caine as stingy Ebeneezer Scrooge — has become something of a Christmas classic. It’s showing at York Barbican with a live orchestra playing Miles Goodman’s score, with musical numbers written by award-winning songwriter Paul Williams. Also at Sheffield City Hall (December 5).
December 8, York Barbican, yorkbarbican.co.uk
MUSICAL
Well, DO you feel lucky? Presumably that all hinges on your liking for the sounds of Stock, Aitken and Waterman, who gave us songs by Kylie, Jason, Rick Astley and, er, Samantha Fox — whether we wanted them or not. This jukebox musical, about a wedding that goes wrong, is directed by Debbie ‘Nativity!’ Isitt.
December 12-30, Leeds Grand Theatre, leedsheritagetheatres.com
ART
Cranston is a Scottish painter whose work has been described as ‘seductive in terms of its use of narrative and humour’ — as this show amply demonstrates. It features the artist’s most recent paintings, comprising still life, landscape, seascape, portraits and interior scenes. These include Cat and cheeseboard from 2018, and A snake came to my coffee table on a hot, hot day to drink there, which he only completed this year.
November 25–June 2, 2024, The Hepworth Wakefield, hepworthwakefield.org
EVENT
Hull is an apt place for this cult event — a mix of live music and multi-media projections — which tells the life story of one of the city’s most famous sons: influential guitarist Mick Ronson. He featured in David Bowie’s band, the Spiders from Mars, playing on his biggest hits from the early Seventies — including the Ziggy Stardust album — and died young (aged just 46). The show was conceived as part of Hull’s City of Culture celebrations in 2017.
