Tales from Acorn Wood Live. Photo credit Mark Senior. There’s lots going on at Warwick Arts Centre this February Half Term (covering Saturday 14 February to Sunday 22 February 2026). Classic tales, woodland adventures,  revolting science experiments, free workshops, magic and more! Preview Writer Julia Donaldson and illustrator Axel Scheffler’s beloved stories come to life in  Tales From Acorn Wood Live  (Saturday 21 & Sunday 22 February 2026). Packed full of toe-tapping song

The Glasswing Butterfly. Photo courtesy of Stratford Butterfly Farm. As the half term holiday (14 – 22 February) falls over Valentine’s weekend, Stratford Butterfly Farm is inviting families to enjoy the magical experience of wandering through the tropical rainforest filled with colourful butterflies. With fish-filled pools, waterfalls and lush plants and blooms, the popular family attraction is the perfect place to share a moment of wonder. Being one of the most romantic set

John Leader as The BFG backstage at the RSC. Photographer credit: Simon Hadley. Jaw-dropping giants, oversized snozzcumbers, iridescent dream jars and frobscottle fit for the Queen of Enger-land herself; these are just some of the incredible items currently to be found backstage at the Royal Shakespeare Theatre in The BFG, a new co-production from the Royal Shakespeare Company (RSC), Chichester Festival Theatre, the Roald Dahl Story Company, Singapore Repertory Theatre and Es

Steve Bradnam as Nanny the Dame, Simon Burne as Longjohns Silver, Victoria Gillias as Jim Hawkins. Photo by Martin Pulley. Treasure Island at Rugby Theatre from 23 January to 1 February. Directed  by Emma Bright. Script by Michael Read. Preview    Ahoy me hearties! Set sail on a swashbuckling adventure with Rugby Theatre's family panto Treasure Island. With pirates, parrots and plenty of audience participation (oh yes there is!), join cabin boy Jim Hawkins and a cast of la

Playbox celebrate their 40th Anniversary Season. Photo courtesy of Playbox Theatre. Playbox Theatre celebrate their 40th Anniversary Season — A Year of Unmissable, Live-Only Events at The Dream Factory in Warwick. Playbox Theatre — long recognised as one of Europe’s most adventurous and imaginative theatres for young people — launches its 40th Anniversary Season with a bold promise: every production will be a one-off theatrical event that can only be experienced live. What be

Anansi The Spider. Photo by Helen Murray. Anansi The Spider, Presented by the Birmingham REP and Unicorn Theatre, at The Door, Birmingham Rep until 11 January 2026. Suitable for 4 – 8 years and their families. Created by Justin Audibert, Directed by Robin Belfield. Preview.   The greatest tales ever spun… Sit under the canopy of the banyan tree and experience the laugh-out-loud West African and Caribbean tales of the infamous Anansi! People say that in a time long, long ago,

The cast of Robinson Crusoe. Photo by Robert Warner. Robinson Crusoe by Stephen Duckham at The Talisman Theatre and Arts Centre, from Saturday 20 December 2025 to Saturday 3 January 2026. Review by Ashley Hayward. As I set out to watch the Talisman’s annual panto I was intrigued as at how a novel written over 300 years ago about a castaway who spent many years on a remote tropical island could be adapted for Christmas family entertainment. However, I can now reveal that those

Goldilocks and the Four Bears community pantomime presented by The Henley in Arden Drama Society (HADS) at Henley Memorial Hall from 18 – 21 December 2025.  Directed by Laurence Marshall. Review by Ashley Hayward This was my first visit to the annual Henley in Arden pantomime and on arrival you could tell from the warm welcoming atmosphere that it was eagerly awaited by the local community. It was a complete sell out and HADS had even laid on an additional performance to meet

Matt Rousseau and Elysia Sully. Photo by FuzFilmz. Cinderella, performed by Tread the Boards at The Attic Theatre, Stratford-upon-Avon. Running from 14 December 2025 until 4 January 2026. Written by John-Robert Partridge. Directed by Andy Woolley. Review by Charles Essex. A humorously painted backdrop of Cinderella’s kitchen is almost the only prop in this familiar pantomime. Being devoid of furniture, director Andy Woolley was able to use the Attic’s relatively small stage a

Jo Banbury, Robert Bateman, Rose Bird and ensemble. Photo by James Calver. Goldilocks and the Three Bears, performed at The Priory Theatre, Kenilworth, from Wednesday 17 December 2025 until 4 January 2026. Director: Mike Brooks. Review by Charles Essex. The Priory’s version of Goldilocks and the Three Bears was a novel take on a well known story.  The plot was that a circus owned by Dame Sadie (Paul Sully) was in financial difficulties and being threatened by Baroness Winkl

Jon Kerr and Abigail Drennan. Photo by FuzFilmz. Sleeping Beauty performed by Tread the Boards at The Cidermill Theatre, Chipping Camden, from 13 December to 31 December 2025. Written and directed by John-Robert Partridge. Review by Charles Essex   Tread the Boards theatre company once again showed the depth of their talent running two pantomimes concurrently over Christmas, both written and directed by John-Robert Partridge (JP).  Cinderella is being performed at their base

Fantastic line up coming to Warwick Arts Centre in 2026. Warwick Arts Centre has announced its expansive Spring/Summer 2026 season line-up which includes Mo Gilligan, Ruby Wax, Vitamin String Quartet, Haircut 100, Zog, Hamza Yassin and many more... Preview   Amongst those heading to the popular Coventry arts space are such familiar faces as Mo Gilligan (7 Feb 2026), I'm A Celebrity... disruptor Ruby Wax (21 Jun 2026), No Such Thing As A Fish co-host Dan Schreiber (15 Mar 2026

Playbox Theatre's Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. Photo courtesy of Playbox Theatre. Roald Dahl's Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, performed by the Playbox Theatre at The Dream Factory, Warwick. Directed by Juliet Vankay. Performances run until Sunday 28 December 2025. See Playbox Theatre's website for dates and times. Review by Gracie Tomlin. On 12 December 2025, my family and I were treated to a gift of a Christmas performance; Playbox Theatre’s opening night of ‘Charl

Fun with The Gingerbread Man. Photo courtesy of Macready Theatre. Nonsense Theatre present The Gingerbread Man, playing at Macready Theatre, Rugby on selected dates and times from 14 December to the 4 January 2026 with matinees, a relaxed performance and a PJ performance. Preview   Treat the whole family to a magical festive adventure that’s simply too good to miss! From the moment he pops out of the oven, the Gingerbread Man is off on a whirlwind escapade – dodging danger,

John Leader and puppeteers. Photo by Marc Brenner. Roald Dahl’s The BFG at the RSC until 7 February 2026.  Adapted by Tom Wells with additional material by Jenny Worton. Directed by Daniel Evans. Review by Hilary Hopker At some point as a child or a parent, you will have read Roald Dahl’s magical tale of a Big Friendly Giant, who spends his time catching dreams. Looking at last night’s audience the very many adults and children were driven to come see the performance by the l

Kings International Ballet, The Nutcracker. Photo courtesy of Macready Theatre. There's still time to enjoy Festive Fun at Macready Theatre. There's the festive favourite The Nutcracker performed by Kings International Ballet. Stuff and Nonsense Theatre along with Macready bring you the children's favourite The Gingerbread Man. And for those aged 18 and over, a fabulous Gin and Jive Christmas Special. Here's the details: Kings International Ballet presents The Nutcracker at

Have some Christmas fun at the British Motor Museum. Photo courtesy of the BMM. Step into a Christmas to remember at the British Motor Museum from the 5 to 30 December. From their brand-new 12 Cars of Christmas trail to a hands-on sleigh-building workshop, there's festive fun for everyone to enjoy! The 12 Cars of Christmas sees six mischievous elves hiding in historic motors and six festively decorated cars making up the 12 Cars of Christmas! Children can help find the elf-cu

Joseph Frerichs. Photo by Chris Clarke. The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe. At The Bear Pit Theatre, Stratford-upon-Avon, from 5 to 14 December 2025. Directed by Emily Myerscough. Review by Charles Essex  Adrian Mitchell’s dramatisation of CS Lewis’s The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe , the allegory of the Gospel story, gave The Bear Pit’s cast and crew a challenge which they met in spades.  The four main roles of Peter (Harry Sinclair). Susan (Georgia Hood), Edmund (Hal

Dame Clarissa (Ben Ionoff) with Robinson Crusoe R (Harry Bowser) & Billy Crusoe L (Jack Ives). Photo by Robert Warner. Robinson Crusoe, written by Stephen Duckham, directed by Gill Halford at The Talisman Theatre, Kenilworth from 20 December to 3 January 2026. Preview    The Talisman Theatre is delighted to announce this year’s festive family pantomime: Robinson Crusoe, written by Stephen Duckham. Packed with swashbuckling fun, colourful characters, and plenty of laugh-out-lo

The Blue Morpho Butterfly. Photo courtesy of Stratford Butterfly Farm. This festive season, Stratford-upon-Avon Butterfly Farm is set to sparkle with an extraordinary sight, an abundance of dazzling ‘Blue Morpho’ butterflies. Known for their iridescent, shimmering wings, the Blue Morpho is one of the most breathtakingly beautiful butterfly species in the world! Visitors will be able to experience them in greater numbers than ever throughout the Christmas period. From mid-Dec

L-R: Elisa de Grey, Shaun McCourt, Aki Nakagawa, Ben Thompson, John Leader, Ailsa Dalling and Onioluwa Taiwo. Photo credit Seamus Ryan.  Opening in The Royal Shakespeare Theatre, Stratford-Upon-Avon From 25 November a Royal Shakespeare Company, Chichester Festival Theatre, Singapore Repertory Theatre - Esplanade Theatres On The Bay, and Roald Dahl Story Company Production. Featuring Puppetry Design by Toby Olié in a magical new production directed by RSC Co-Artistic Director