Katherine MacAlister presents a festive round-up of theatreland fun aimed at the under fives, who just might get overlooked a wee bit when booking that boisterous panto

While Christmas is a time for families to get together and catch a show or two, little-ones often get overlooked.

Expecting a toddler to sit through an entire pantomime or a full musical is hard work for everyone involved.

But theatres around Oxfordshire are catching onto the fact that there is a gap in the market and that the right show will sell out, so this year there is a real swing towards our under fives, to ensure they are included in the festive entertainment line-up. Here’s our top picks:

* Snow And Tell is a brand new Christmas show from the Story Museum in Oxford, devised by local actor, storyteller and musician Robin Hemmings who is debuting this tailor-made musical story for those age 3-plus.

Based around three much-loved tales: The Elves and the Shoemaker, How the Robin Got His Red Breast, and Charles Dickens’ Christmas Carol, the small boy, the old shoemaker and the brave little robin will be helping Robin the Postman deliver the last few presents on Christmas Eve.

“This is something gentle and intimate for families with littler little ones. An annual reminder of what is important in this funny old world we live in, in a relaxed, cosy and magical environment where these stories can come alive,” Robin explains.

Snow and Tell runs from December 5 January 4 at The Story Museum.
ticketsoxford.com or 01865 305305.

* The Mill Arts Centre in Banbury is also delighted with its first ever Christmas production The Ballad of Rudy for ages 3-plus. Created by Goblin Theatre, it’s the story of a young reindeer called Rudy, who instead of having a red nose, stands out from the crowd because of his passion for Jazz. Featuring live music, original songs and lots of imagination, young children can sing the blues with a polar bear, jam with the puffins and beat-box with an arctic fox in the North Pole Jazz Lounge; the coolest place on earth. Together with a magical jazz penguin, Rudy embarks on an adventure teaching him that life isn’t necessarily about following the herd.

The Ballad of Rudy is at The Mill Arts Centre from December 10-31.
www.themillartscentre.co.uk

* Having started the trend, Hurry Up, Father Christmas! is now the third in a series of Christmas shows presented in the Burton Taylor Studio, for children aged 3 to 6 years and their families. Written by Helen Eastman, who wrote the sell-out Father Christmas and the Icicle Bicycle and Dear Father Christmas for the BT in previous years, this concentrates on Father Christmas having too much to do and everything running late at the North Pole.

Hurry Up, Father Christmas! at The BT Studio runs from December 11 to Sunday January 4.
01865 305305 or book online at oxfordplayhouse.com

* A more environmentally-friendly but equally accessible festive show is Cinderella Green Recycling Queen, Emma Boor’s Christmas pantomime, a well-loved tale with an environmentally friendly twist.

Cinderella Green the Recycling Queen will be running from December 14 to 22 at the Jacqueline Du Pre Music Building, St Hilda’s College. 01865 305305 n As if this wasn’t enough, Pegasus is hosting The Abominable Snowman – a snowy tale of a lazy boy, a greedy woodcutter and a large and lonely snowman.

The Abominable Snowman is being held on Sunday December 7 at 11am and 2pm. pegasustheatre.org.uk

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