Festive Theatre Guide 2025

The Theatre Royal’s main stage production this year is Rapunzel, written by Chris Hannon and packed with music, laughter and plenty of audience participation fun. The show brings dazzling costumes, witty one-liners and a few surprises as Rapunzel lets down her long locks to find out what life is like beyond the tower. It’s everything a family pantomime should be!

For more information visit https://theatreroyal.org/events/rapunzel-pantomime/

At the Theatre Royal, little ones can enjoy a delightful festive adventure at The Little Train, part of the Theatre Royal’s Christmas Cabin. Join Santa and his cheerful elf Fudge as they set off on a journey filled with toys, stories and giggles. This interactive twenty-minute show is designed for children aged two to seven, making it an ideal first taste of theatre for younger audiences.

For more information visit https://theatreroyal.org/events/theatre-royals-christmas-cabin-presents-the-little-train-santa/

If you prefer something a bit more playful and immersive, head to Abbeygate Cinema for a Festive Murder Mystery Dinner. Enjoy a delicious three-course meal while unravelling a 1940s-style whodunit, complete with eccentric characters and a few clues hidden in plain sight. It’s a brilliant way to get the cogs whirring, and celebrate the season with friends and family; and guaranteed laughter between courses as you try to work out the mystery.

For more information visit https://www.abbeygatecinema.co.uk/programme/festive-murder-mystery-dinner/

Set in the atmospheric surroundings of the majestic St Edmundsbury Cathedral, Christmas by Candlelight; an impressive show where West End singers perform much-loved carols and Christmas songs by the soft glow of candlelight. This combination of Christmas ambience and beautiful classical melodies truly captures the essence of Christmas spirit.

For more information visit https://www.theapex.co.uk/whats-on/details.cfm?id=1012548&ins=1641791

At The Apex, festive cheer takes centre stage as John Barrowman’s Camp as Christmas fills the venue with glitter, humour and plenty of heart. The show features soaring vocals, cheeky storytelling and all the warmth and charm Barrowman is known for, a light and funny way to spend an evening.

For more information visit https://www.theapex.co.uk/whats-on/details.cfm?id=1012548&ins=1641791

For a night of fabulous entertainment, ICE Restaurant hosts its Christmas Drag Extravaganza, featuring spectacular costumes, comedy and live performances from a cast of dazzling drag artists. Sequins, sass and seasonal sparkle fill the room in a show that delivers pure entertainment from the get go.

For more information visit https://ice.restaurant/drag-show/

For those who love a timeless story beautifully told, A Christmas Carol comes to the Food Museum this December for an unforgettable festive performance. Join CB Jackson as he brings Dickens’ beloved tale to life in a mesmerising one-man retelling, capturing every twist, turn, and ghostly encounter with captivating energy. In this faithful and imaginative recreation, all the familiar characters — from Marley’s Ghost and Bob Cratchit to Belle and, of course, the miserly Scrooge himself — appear before your eyes in a spellbinding celebration of Christmas spirit and redemption.

For more information visit https://foodmuseum.org.uk/events/a-christmas-carol/

Get ready to swing into the festive season with A Swinging Christmas at The Apex. The show features the acclaimed Chris Ingham Quintet alongside the mesmerising vocals of Joanna Eden, delivering a stylish blend of mid-20th-century holiday classics with jazz flair, heart and a dash of cheeky irreverence.

Expect a festive repertoire full of rich harmonies, swinging rhythms and dazzling energy in a warm, intimate evening of live music that promises to leave you feeling merry long after the final note.

For more information visit https://www.theapex.co.uk/whats-on/details.cfm?id=976747&ins=1552390

Known to millions as the beloved 'Ballroom King' from Strictly Come Dancing, Anton brings his show Christmas with Anton Du Beke to The Apex. He will be joined by his live band, the incomparable vocalist Lance Ellington and a troupe of exceptional dancers to deliver an evening of festive songs, sensational ballroom routines, and plenty of laughter and cheer.

Audiences can expect a spellbinding mix of Christmas classics, show-stopping choreography and warm holiday spirit set in one of the UK’s most acclaimed performance venues.

For more information visit https://www.theapex.co.uk/whats-on/details.cfm?id=965347&ins=1519390