Birmingham's 2022 festive theatre guide

It’s that time of year again, time to gather around the hustle and bustle of the Frankfurt German Market and have a mulled wine or two. Blend your German Market visit with a Christmas show this festive season.  Christmas theatre in Birmingham has a spectacular array of shows for all visitors, from pantomime to ballet and everything in between. If you want to treat yourself, family or friends this season, Christmas theatre in Birmingham is really the gift that keeps on giving.

Birmingham Hippodrome

In the flagship Birmingham Hippodrome, you’ll find musicals, ballet, opera, comedy, dance all taking their turn on stage. More seats are sold at the Birmingham Hippodrome than by any other British theatre each year including the West End! Birmingham Royal Ballet is one of the UK’s premier touring companies based at the Hippodrome, and the only Royal Ballet outside of London. A legendary ballet that runs at Christmas time year-on-year is “The Nutcracker”, the story surrounds a girl who befriends a nutcracker that comes to life on Christmas Eve and wages a battle against the evil Mouse King. World-class dancers beautifully tell this most nostalgic of Christmas stories and bring the festive spirit to life on stage accompanied by Tchaikovsky’s soaring score performed by an incredible 60-strong sinfonia bookings are now open for 2023. The UK’s biggest regional panto, Dick Whittington also returns for 2022, guaranteed to be an unforgettable and unbelievably funny show. The pantomime tells the story of a poor boy from Gloucestershire who sets out for London, determined to make his fortune.

Birmingham Repertory Theatre

Birmingham Rep is the oldest building-based theatre company in the UK. As the festive season approaches, visitors eagerly wait on Centenary Square to be let into some of the most ambitious and innovative productions in the country. Showing at The Rep this winter season is Nativity the musical, a feel-good funny musical adapted for the stage, set in a Midlands school, a teacher promises her class their nativity will become a Hollywood movie.

Crescent Theatre

The Crescent is one of Birmingham’s oldest theatre companies, it is situated in Brindleyplace, the perfect place to grab a bite to eat or drink before the production of your choice. The Crescent Theatre has a selection of Christmas shows for you to get into the spirit with, from The Snow Queen, to the Rat Pack and a few classic favourites including Love Actually and Die Hard.

Symphony Hall

Symphony Hall is widely considered one of the finest concert halls in the world, where the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra regularly wow audiences with world-class classical performances. Over the Christmas period there are a range of orchestras performing to classic Christmas favourites including Home Alone, Love Actually and the Snowman. A full, live orchestra will perform these scores, with the film being projected onto a huge screen. This will really allow you to sit back and get into the ultimate Christmas spirit.