Listings Mon 8 – Sun 14 Dec 2025
What’s on Edinburgh’s Stages this week?
We are deep into panto season now, with five opening this week, to join the Lyceum’s “★★★★☆ Magical” production of Cinderella: A Fairytale (ends Jan 3: tickets) and Porty Town Hall’s Beauty and the Beast – the Pantomomime (ends Dec 28: tickets).
Not to forget the Traverse’ non-seasonal belter “★★★★☆ Moving” Dancing Shoes (ends Dec 20: tickets).
The big amateur panto opener is EPT with their take on Sinbad the Sailor up at the Church Hill (Fri 12 – Sun 21 Dec: tickets). This will be big on the traditional panto fare, with one of the few best boys in town.
The big professional opener is, of course, Jack and the Beanstalk with Grant, Allan and Jordan at the Festival Theatre for the last year, which previews from Friday and opens fully on the 16th (Fri – Jan 11: tickets).
Elsewhere, Forth Act return with their take on A Christmas Carol at St David’s Episcopal Church (Fri/Sat, unticketed) and Saint Salvador’s (Sat/Sun: tickets). But it is returns only for A Lad in.. Cramond at Cramond Kirk Hall (Fri/Sat: tickets) and Snow White at Summerhall (Thurs-Sun: tickets).
And if you don’t want panto? Mamma Mia is at the Playhouse (here it comes again, etc) (ends Sun 4 Jan: tickets).
The Scottish Storytelling Centre has a trio of short pieces from the ever excellent Strangetown. First up is A Christmas Michael Miracle (Fri/Sat: tickets), then Needles (Fri/Sat: tickets) and Jaq and the Beanstalk (Sat/Sun: tickets).
Then that Will Pickvance is spinning tales of a Rag and Bone Christmas – a candlelit cabaret of music, stories, and spectral surprises – at the Pianodrome Bruntsfield (Thurs & Thurs 18-Sat 20: tickets).
Two big bits of new writing. Youngsters Alex Bathe and Josh Aitken open up the Gilded Saloon to theatre with Amadam & Mortair Kill The King (Thurs: tickets). These are the lads behind the hit Dungeons & Dragons live show Tartan Tabletop, so it should be much fun.
And the 4PLAY mob return to the Traverse with four new plays, all playing each night (Thur – Sat: tickets). That is Chips by Ruaraidh Murray, Hunt Andrea McKenzie, Sunday Palms by Sean Langtree and Brace by Geraldine Lang.
Listings Mon 8 – Sun 14 December 2025
Click on the name of the show or the Book here link to go to its ticketing site.
Church Hill Theatre
33 Morningside Road, EH10 4DR.
Sinbad the Sailor (EPT)
Fri 12 – Sun 21 December 2025.
Weekdays (not Mon 15): 7pm; Sat/Sun: 2.30pm.
Sinbad has packed up his adventuring bags – but, when the Persian Pearl of Peace mysteriously disappears, Sinbad must set out on an epic adventure to clear his name and rescue the Caliph’s beautiful daughter. Traditional family pantomime by Alan P Frayn. Book here.
Cramond Kirk Hall
1 Kirk Cramond, Cramond, EH4 6HZ.
A Lad in… Cramond (Cramond Drama Group)
Fri 12/Sat 13 December 2025.
Evening: 7pm; Sat mat: 2pm.
The boy who dared to dream…. Cramond Drama Group and their community cast promise epic tunes and banging boogies in their modern twist on a timeless and much-loved tale. Book here.
Festival Theatre
13/29 Nicolson Street EH8 9FT. Phone booking: 0131 529 6000.
Jack and the Beanstalk (Panto 2025)
Sat 13 Dec 2025 – Sun 11 Jan2026
Mon – Sat: 2pm, 7pm; Suns, Xmas Eve & New Year’s Eve: 1pm, 5pm.
Join Allan Stewart, Grant Stott and Jordan Young for the GIANT of a pantomime we’ve all BEAN waiting for! Doomed to sell his trusty cow, join Jack and his family as they fight to outwit the evil giant, win riches beyond his wildest dreams, and earn the hand of the girl he loves. Book here.
Gilded Saloon
45-47 Lothian St, EH1 1HB.
Amadam & Mortair Kill The King (Tartan Tabletop)
Thurs 11 December 2025.
One perf: 8pm.
When two loyal guardsmen accidentally kill their King, they must scramble to set things right. A rollercoaster hour of non stop gags, Demonic Jesters and Crab Rangoon. Will our heroes make it out alive!? Probably not. Writing debut of Alex Bathe and Josh Aitken, the creatives behind the hit Dungeons & Dragons live show Tartan Tabletop. Book here.
Lyceum Theatre
Grindlay Street EH3 9AX. Phone booking: 0131 248 4848.
Cinderella: A Fairytale
A Royal Lyceum Theatre Edinburgh production.
Fri 28 Nov 2025 – Sat 3 Jan 2026
This week: Wed – Fri: 6pm, Sat: 2pm, 7pm, Sun 1pm, 6pm.
Æ review: ★★★★☆ Magical..
Sally Cookson’s celebrated adaptation of Cinderella in a new production from The Lyceum. With music, puppetry and Dr Martens, this festive story adds a magical flutter of wings to happily ever after. Ella and her devoted father share a love for woodland birds and their calls, but when her father remarries, everything changes. Now Ella’s feathered friends feel like her only true family. Book here.
Pianodrome Bruntsfield
St. Oswald’s Centre, 41 Montpellier Park, Bruntsfield, EH10 4NB.
Rag and Bone Christmas (Will Pickvance)
Thurs 11 & Thurs 18-Sat 20 Dec 2025
Evenings: 7.30pm.
Gather round close for a candlelit cabaret of music, stories, and spectral surprises. From his piano, Will Pickvance spins tales of Christmas past, present, and future, joined by his band of merry misfits and ghostly guests. There’ll be mince pies, there’ll be punch, there’ll be wassailing. From the chaos there will be salvaged cheer! Book here.
Playhouse
18 – 22 Greenside Place, EH1 3AA. Phone booking: 0844 871 3014.
Mamma Mia!
Tue 9 Dec 2025 – Sun 4 Jan 2026.
Tue – Sat, & Mon 29 Dec: 7.30pm; Thurs, Sat, Sun Mats: 2.30pm
No show 25, 31 Dec & 1 Jan; Extra mat: 24 (no 7.30pm show), 30 Dec & 2 Jan.
Sophie’s quest to discover the father she’s never known brings her mother face to face with three men from her distant romantic past on the eve of a wedding they’ll never forget in the Abba Jukebox Musical. Book here.
Portobello Town Hall
147-149 Portobello High St, Portobello EH15 1AF.
Beauty and the Beast – the Pantomomime (Stage Door)
Fri 5 – Sun 28 Dec 2025
Various times: Mainly Fri/Sat: 2pm & 7pm; Suns: 5pm.
Angus, Prince of Summer has been transformed by Beira, Queen of Winter. Can he be saved, or will he remain a Beast forever? Join us at Portobello Town Hall this December to meet a host of colourful characters in a festive treat of fun, frolics, thrills and true love.. Book here.
Saint David’s Episcopal Church
Royston Mains Place, EH5 1LH.
A Christmas Carol (The Forth Act)
Fri 12 – Sun 14 Dec 2025
Sat/Sat: 7pm; Sun mat: 2pm.
A heartwarming tale of redemption and holiday spirit adapted by Cosette Bolt in support of the food pantry. Tickets on the door.
Saint Salvador’s Episcopal Church
61 Saughton Mains Street EH11 3QX.
A Christmas Carol (The Forth Act)
Sat 13 – Sun 14 Dec 2025
Sat/Sat: 7pm; Sun mat: 2pm.
A heartwarming tale of redemption and holiday spirit adapted by Cosette Bolt in support of the food pantry. Book here .
Scottish Storytelling Centre
43-45 High St, EH1 1SR. Phone booking: 0131 556 9579.
A Christmas Michael Miracle (StrangeTown)
Fri 12 – Sat 13 Dec 2025.
Fri: 6:30pm; Sat: 8:30pm.
When the drama teacher suddenly skips the dress run of the school nativity due to stress, the kids are left to pull this inexplicably George Michael-themed Nativity together all by themselves. Will the play even make it on stage? Perhaps… but only if they have faith. Performed by Strange Town 11-14 group (Fridays). Book here.
Needles (StrangeTown)
Fri 12 – Sat 13 Dec 2025.
Fri :8:30pm; Sat: 6:30pm.
It’s Christmas Eve and all the lights are out. When the clock strikes midnight, ten kids get out of bed. They can’t sleep, but it’s nothing to do with Santa Claus – there’s something calling for them out on the streets, something lurking in the shadows. If only they can make it disappear before Christmas morning… Performed by Strange Town 11-14 group (Wednesdays). Book here.
Jaq and the Beanstalk (StrangeTown)
Sat 13 – Sun 14 Dec 2025.
Sat:3pm; Sun: 11:30am.
Have you ever sold your cow for magic beans? No? Well, Jaq has. And you’ll never guess what she did next. Strange Town returns to the Storytelling Centre presenting one of our favourite pantos with a twist to delight all the family. Performed by Strange Town 8-11 group (Fridays). Book here.
Summerhall
1 Summerhall, EH9 1PL.
Snow White (EAS)
Thurs 11 – Sun 14 Dec 2025
Th/Fr: 7pm; Sat: 12noon, 4pm; Sun 2pm, 6pm. (Dissection Room).
A Snow White like you’ve never seen it before. A curious soul who marches to the beat of their own drum; a missing Father; Stepmaw concerned only about her image, Magic Mirror full of sass, the straight- talking Dame of Summerhall and a few new pals thrown in along the way… Book here.
Moonlight, Mistletoe & Magic (LMTC)
Sat 13 Dec 2025
One performance: 8pm. (Dissection Room)
A wholesome and heart-warming journey with soaring song, dazzling dance, and evocative spoken word, all celebrating the most wonderful time of the year. Directed by Cat McInally, choreographed by Megan Nicol and written by James O’Neill. Book here.
Traverse
10 Cambridge Street, EH1 2ED. Phone booking: 0131 228 1404.
Dancing Shoes (Traverse in association with PPP)
By Stephen Christopher and Graeme Smith.
Thurs 4 – Sat 20 Dec 2025
Evening: 7.30pm; Sat Mat 13 & 20: 2.30pm (Trav 1).
Æ review: ★★★★☆ Moving
Donny lives with his mum and has been struggling with addiction most of his life. He also has a secret hobby… dancing alone in his bedroom. A life-affirming comedy-drama about isolation, support groups and bedroom dancing that challenges how we treat the most vulnerable people in society. Book here.
4 New Plays By 4 Scottish Playwrights (4Play)
Thurs 11 – Sat 13 Dec 2025
Evening: 7pm (Trav 2).
On the back of a successful Edinburgh Fringe Festival run with Mikey Burnett’s award winning Colours Run, 4PLAY brings you four starts to four new plays. Our playwrights will present the first quarter of their play to be seen by audiences for the first time. Where else could they lead? Come along for a glimpse of the beginning of four thrilling new pieces from four of Scotland’s exciting writing talents. Book here.
