Christmas would not be the same without pantomimes, so Katherine MacAlister picks some of the highlights for this festive season

A visit to the theatre is always fun at Christmas but if you want to make sure of getting the date you want, it’s time to book your show.“Christmas is a wonderful time to visit the theatre with the family,” says Dean Stewart, general manager at New Theatre, Oxford.

“Performances do start to sell out very quickly over the festive period so it’s always best to book early to avoid being as disappointed as finding yourself on Santa’s naughty list.”

For those looking for a seasonal treat, Oxfordshire has a good variety of shows on offer from traditional pantomime to subversive comedy and West End favourites.

Here are some of the highlights:

Robin Hood – The Theatre, Chipping Norton until January 10

Celebrating its 42nd year of traditional panto, The Theatre ventures into Sherwood with a new version of classic Robin Hood.

The cast of characters accompanying the man in green, include old friend Friar Tuck and the wicked Sheriff of Nottingham, with a few less familiar faces – Little Joan, a wandering minstrel and a company of singing rabbits.

There’s original music from award-winning composer Sarah Travis and a promised laugh-a-minute script from playwright Ben Crocker. The show is directed by Abigail Anderson and fight sequences are choreographed by Phillip d’Orleans, who recently worked on the film Pan with Hugh Jackman.

A favourite is Dame Connie Clatterbottom who wails piteously “I’m a poor, defenceless female, and a damsel in distress.” Vital to the show, Connie is a tall, friendly lady, who looks gorgeous, courtesy of Emily Stuart’s costume designs. She is a teacher but – in a classroom scene that will delight to school-age audiences – it is apparent she has zero skills in teaching maths. It’s his first appearance in panto frocks, but actor Andrew Pepper takes to this Dame role like a duck to water.

Stuffed full of dames and damsels, and sweeties by the sack-load, it is excellent fun... Oh, yes it is!

Tickets: £12 to £26 plus concessions, schools £10.50, 01608 642 350/chippingnortontheatre.com

The Snow Dragon– Cornerstone, Didcot, December 19, 20, 22, 23 and 24

For ages three-plus, Cornerstone’s Christmas show, presented by Tall Stories, is the magical tale of The Snow Dragon. Billy is a spoilt young goat whose parents give him everything he wants. The night the legendary Snow Dragon is meant to bring more goodies, Billy bumps into a pack of hungry wolves in the forest. How will he escape and has he been naughty or nice?

Tickets: £7 to £12.50 (£38 family ticket), 01235 515144/cornerstone-arts.org

Christmas shows – Unicorn Theatre, Abingdon

There are plenty of offerings at the Unicorn this festive season. A different version of Dickens’s classic A Christmas Carol with Miss Scrooge is presented by LAMPS on Monday, December 21, (£8.50/£7 from The Bookstore, The Abingdon Precinct, 15 Bury Street) and panto arrives when Abingdon Drama Club presents Santa in Space on January 15,16,21,22 and 23 (£10/£8 from The Bookstore or 0845 4636638).

Tickets: 01235 525339/abingdonabbey-unicorntheatre.org.uk

Alice – The Mill Arts Centre, Banbury, December 8 to January 2

Oxford Mail:

To mark the 150th anniversary of the publication of Lewis Carroll’s Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland, Creation has set loose the Mad Hatter, the Cheshire Cat and the Queen of Hearts in a new adaptation for Alice fans young and old. This seasonal production gets a touch of Creation’s festive magic as well as music, puppetry and acrobatics. Recommended for ages five plus.

Tickets: £16/£18, children £14/£16, 01295 279002/themillartscentre.co.uk

Jack and the Beanstalk – Kenton Theatre, Henley, December 17 to 27

Tradition panto is delivered in this Kenton Theatre presentation written and directed by Ian McFarlane. Join Jack on his adventure as he climbs the beanstalk to defeat the wicked giant, save his beloved Jill and bring a happily ever after to all in Ye Olde Henley Town. It promises magic, comedy, live music and beautiful costumes to enchant the whole family.

Tickets: £20/£18, children £15, family £62, 01491 575698/kentontheatre.co.uk

Annie – New Theatre, Oxford, until January 3

Oxford Mail:

You can bet your bottom dollar that this Christmas will be a great one at the New Theatre as Annie takes over for the festive season.

The show will star Jodie Prenger, who was seen at the theatre earlier this year in Calamity Jane.

Jodie is probably best known for winning the role of Nancy in Cameron Mackintosh’s West End production of Oliver! through the BBC television series I’d Do Anything.

During her run in the show at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane she received both critical and public acclaim for her portrayal of the role. She has also starred in the National Theatre’s hit production of One Man, Two Guvnors both in the West End and on tour and as Lady of the Lake in Spamalot. Jodie is also a regular presenter on BBC Radio 2.

Set in 1930s New York during The Great Depression, brave young Annie is forced to live a life of misery and torment at Miss Hannigan’s orphanage. Determined to find her real parents, her luck changes when she is chosen to spend Christmas at the residence of famous billionaire, Oliver Warbucks. Spiteful Miss Hannigan has other ideas and hatches a plan to spoil Annie’s search.

With its award-winning book and score, this new production includes the unforgettable songs Hard Knock Life, Easy Street, I Don’t Need Anything But You and Tomorrow.

Annie is directed by Nikolai Foster, the artistic director at Curve in Leicester, whose most recent theatre credits include Calamity Jane, The Witches of Eastwick and the 20th Anniversary production of Jonathan Harvey’s Beautiful Thing in the West End.

Tickets: £12.50 to £43.50, 0844 8713020/atgtickets.com/oxford

The Flint Street Nativity – Old Fire Station, Oxford, December 17 and 18

Oxford-based BMH Productions return to the Old Fire Station with a subversive festive comedy for grown-ups. Mizzis Horrocks’ class of seven year olds is about to perform their nativity play at Flint Street Junior School for the proud mums and dads – and the occasional social worker. Squabbles arise: Gabriel wants to play Mary, Herod won’t stop waving to his mum and dad and the subversive innkeeper is determined to liven up the traditional script.

And then the stick insect escapes. An uplifting, fast-paced comedy from the writer of Calendar Girls. Performed entirely by adults.

Tickets: £12/£10, 01865 305305/ticketsoxford.com

Treasure Island – North Wall, Oxford, until January 9

Oxford Mail:

Join the innovative Creation theatre company as it sets sail for Treasure Island with Long John Silver and Jim on the trail of pirate treasure.

Creation has returned to The North Wall for its fifth family Christmas show. From the team behind last year’s riotous and eccentric The Wind in the Willows comes a new adaptation full of sea shanties, swashbuckling and sword fights.

Recommended for ages five plus. Friends of Creation get 20 per cent off up to six tickets for each show. Visit the website to find out more information and how to join.

Tickets: £13.50 to £32, 01865 766266/creationtheatre.co.uk

Aladdin – Oxford Playhouse, until January 10

Join Widow Twankey, Aladdin, Princess Perfect Rose, Wishee Washee the Dog and Pee King the Duck on their adventures in the ancient city of Ox-A-For as they Reach for the Stars on a magic carpet ride of non-stop panto thrills, spills and downright silliness.

Can Aladdin become a Prince and marry Princess Rose? Will the evil Abanazer be stopped or even seduced by Twankey? And what will become of the Dog and that Duck?

Hot on the heels of last year’s spectacular Beauty and the Beast, the Playhouse brings you an Aladdin’s cave of sparkling festive entertainment, written and directed for the first time this year by Steve Marmion, artistic director of Soho Theatre and creator of a host of critically acclaimed pantos for London’s Lyric Hammersmith and elsewhere. It promises to be sheer GENIEus. Book before Sunday, November 1 and get your tickets at 2014 prices.

Tickets: £15 to £26, 01865 305305/oxfordplayhouse.com

Dear Father Christmas – BT Studio, Oxford, Playhouse, until January 3

There will be morning and afternoon performances of the Oxford Playhouse production for three to six-year-olds.

Everything is going wrong for Father Christmas.The show has stories, songs and activities for youngsters in this interactive adventure for children and their families.

Tickets: £6 to £9, 01865 305305/oxfordplayhouse.com