Hi Ho Hi Ho, it's off to the panto! Get ready for a hilarious concoction of song, dance, sparkling costumes, audience participation and more than a little bit of innuendo, as Snow White and the Seven Dwarves comes to the Cliffs Pavilion for the 2026 festive season! Is this the fairest pantomime in all the land? Oh yes it is...!

Wind Song Theatre brings a whimsical original adaptation of the Christmas classic The Nutcracker to Southend this year! The Nutcracker: Magic and Mischief features a version of the story we all know and love, with an extra sprinkling of adventure, magic, and the sibling squabbles many families will acutely relate to at this time of year. With original music by composer Ashton Moore, don't miss this delightful production coming to the Palace Theatre this festive season!

A charming adaptation of Dickens' classic A Christmas Carol tours the UK this festive season! The Dickens Theatre Company adapts the tale into a theatrical experience perfect for families, theatre and literature aficionados, and students learning the text as part of their GCSEs. This witty reimagining tells the tale as a play-within-a-play, with a beleaguered Charles Dickens himself having to play all the characters, with the help of his tour manager! Furthermore, matinee performances include an optional post-show Q&A session, in which attendees can pose questions to the cast to help expand their understanding of A Christmas Carol, whether for school revision or just pure curiosity. Don't miss this hugely fun take on the festive story.

As part of their 2027 UK season, Varna International Ballet is bringing back their wonderful imagining of The Nutcracker, offering a little bit of Christmas spirit in a sparkling and classic production that'll delight, even after the big day itself! Expect glittering sets, costumes and traditional ballet, wrapped up in Tchaikovsky's unforgettable score.

Step into Christmas is a joyful show here to light up the season, getting you into the holiday spirit through festive music! With a top live band and vocalists bringing the soundtrack of the season to life, it's an evening designed to wrap you in warmth and send you away sated as the holiday season steps up!

So good it's often been named the best film adaptation of Charles Dickens's festive masterpiece ever, no holiday season is complete without a viewing of The Muppet Christmas Carol, and there's no better way to experience it than in this big-screen concert, with every note played by a live orchestra! Starring Kermit the Frog, Michael Caine, Gonzo, and many more of the iconic Muppet stable, enjoy the classic story, complete with humor, heart, and Miles Goodman and Paul Williams' unforgettable score!