Pantomime season is almost here…oh no it isn’t! Oh yes it is.
Nothing screams Christmas more than heading to the theatre on a cold, crisp evening and watching a brilliant show. Whether you want to risk being pulled on stage by a lavish panto dame or prefer a more civilised evening at the ballet, there’s so many productions happening in and around Leeds this season for you to enjoy.
Northern Ballet's The Nutcracker
Leeds Grand Theatre | Wednesday 29 November - Sunday 10 December 2023
Image: Northern Ballet
Where: Wednesday 29 November - Sunday 10 December 2023
Where: Leeds Grand Theatre, 46 New Briggate, Leeds City Centre, LS1 6NU
Christmas isn't complete without a trip to the theatre to watch the ballet and The Nutcracker is the most festive ballet around. Share in Clara’s adventures as she is swept away by her Nutcracker Prince into an enchanting winter wonderland.
Watch in awe as the dazzling dancing snowflakes, the famous Sugar Plum Fairy and the notorious Mouse King take to the stage this Christmas.
A Christmas Carol
When: Friday 8 - Sunday 10 December 2023
Where: Carriageworks Theatre,Millennium Square, Electric Press 3, Leeds City Centre, LS2 3AD
It simply couldn't get more festive than Dickens’ 'A Christmas Carol'. Follow the journey of Ebeneezer Scrooge in this life-affirming, classic tale which will be taking to the Carriageworks Theatre for three days only - you don't want to miss out on this one.
Robin Hood: The Rock 'n' Roll Panto
City Varieties Music Hall | Friday 24 November 2023 - Sunday 7 January 2024
Image: City Varieties Rock 'n' Roll Panto / Ant Robling
When: Friday 24 November 2023 - Sunday 7 January 2024
Where: City Varieties, Swan Street, Leeds City Centre, LS1 6LW
This is a pantomime with a twist, expect banging tunes, and it will certainly get your toe tapping and staging which will leave you mesmerised.
Oliver!
When: Monday 27 November 2023 - Saturday 27 January 2024
Where: Playhouse Square, Quarry Hill, Leeds City Centre LS2 7UP
This classic musical is coming to the Leeds Playhouse for a three month run and is set to be a sellout. Come down and sing along to Fagin and his gang or get up and dance to 'Oom Pah Pah' in this musical masterpiece which is suitable for all ages.
There will be plenty of accessible performances throughout the festive period, including dementia-friendly shows, BSL, audio described, captioned and relaxed performances.
Snow White
Carriageworks Theatre | Friday 24 November 2023 - Sunday 7 January 2024
Image: Carriageworks Theatre
When: Friday 24 November 2023 - Sunday 7 January 2024
Where: Millennium Square, Electric Press 3, Leeds City Centre, LS2 3AD
Head to the Carriageworks Theatre for a classic pantomime experience. Expect plenty of audience participation, lots of laughter and plenty of song and dance.
The Enormous Crocodile
When: Saturday 2 December 2023 - Saturday 6 January 2024
Where: Playhouse Square, Quarry Hill, Leeds City Centre LS2 7UP
This brand new musical adaptation of Roald Dahl's charming picture book is jam-packed with uplifting music and dance performed by a menagerie of mischievous puppets.
Leeds Christmas Markets is returning to the city centre in just two months' time and some major plans and changes have been announced.
Although Pop Princess Zara Larsson might want us to believe "Summer isn't over yet", it's safe to say that the recent downpours we've had across West Yorkshire disagree.
Leeds Christmas Markets are also ringing in the new season with a jam-packed video posted to social media announcing all the current plans and changes for its 2026 schedule.
This year, outdoor events company Thor’s Tipi are stepping up as the all-new operators of this Christmastime spectacular and are organising a celebration where 'even if you’re not from Yorkshire, you’re going to leave being from Yorkshire'.
Leeds Christmas Markets are returning to Leeds City Square from Thursday 19 November with plenty of Yorkshire-centric stalls / Credit: The Hoot Leeds
Although Leeds locals already know that Yorkshire is 'God's Own Country', the Leeds Christmas Markets team are making sure that the county is represented through its food, drinks and wider stalls.
In a video uploaded to its social accounts, foodie expert and Little Bao Boy Founder James 'Jimmy Chews' Ooi was given the honour of revealing all these exciting plans.
Informing everyone that "You best come hungry", Ooi noted that some of the phenomenal vendors taking part include La Grassa and The Savvy Baker.
Real Markets Yorkshire and Stump Cross Caverns are also getting into the Christmas spirit and setting up their own stalls at Leeds City Square this November.
La Grassa is just one of many familiar foodie faces returning to Leeds Christmas Markets / Credit: The Hoot Leeds
Rated restaurants and bars are contributing to the festive frenzy too, like Cabaret Thursdays at Italian restaurant Bibi's and beer garden destination Green Room are hosting singalongs at Leeds Christmas Markets.
There will be plenty of activities for families happening all around the unofficial capital of West Yorkshire like elf-themed scavenger hunts, various elves on various shelves and lots of live music.
If it wasn't apparent already, in the words of Jimmy Chews himself, there's about to be "So much Christmas that Mariah Carey is going to look like the Grinch".
Leeds Christmas Markets are returning to Leeds City Square from Thursday 19 November and there will be plenty of exciting announcements to the upcoming celebrations ahead of the big day.
Popular TV channel playing Christmas films 24/7 is now back on air in the UK
Emily Sergeant
Think it's too early for 'C word'? Never mind, you've already clicked on this article.
Sure, we may only be into our second full week of September, but given the fact the weather these past couple of days hasn't exactly screamed summer, it already feels like the festive season is around the corner - but whether or not you think it’s too early to be talking about Christmas, it’ll soon be too tricky to escape from.
Especially not when the famous TV channel showing festive film favourites non-stop is now back on air in the UK.
Yes, you heard that right - Christmas films, 24-hours a day, seven days a week.
If you’re ready to wave goodbye to summer, and in welcome autumn and winter with open arms, then there's arguably no better way of getting into the festive spirit than with the long-awaited and highly-anticipated return of the TV channel that's charmed audiences for over half a decade now.
GREAT! Christmas the UK’s biggest seasonal channel, and it's now live on Sky, Freesat, Freeview and Virgin Media.
You can expect almost four months of back-to-back seasonal movies.
The 24-hour feel-good and free-to-air channel will be bursting with non-stop Christmas spirit, and will be showing a heartwarming lineup of festive films - including some absolute fan-favourite classics that make it to screens every year without fail, alongside some cheesy Hallmark classics, new channel premieres, and so much more.
Viewers will find GREAT! Christmas on Freeview channel 51, Sky 319, Sky (Glass/Stream) 317, Virgin channel 424, and Freely channel 47.
Sophie Smith -
16th October 2023 
