CHRISTMAS CRACKERS: a treasure trove of spellbinding and sparkling shows

So let's enter this sparkling cave of wonders...

GRASMERE Players’ Christmas production is a new adaptation of the much loved Charles Dicken' favourite A Christmas Carol. Anne Miller's version of the timeless tale has all the elements required from a Christmas ghost story. Curmudgeonly old Scrooge is visited by the spectre of his long dead business partner Jacob Marley who warns him to mend his ways or suffer eternal damnation. Three ghosts - Christmas Past, Christmas Present and Christmas Yet to Come take him on a journey through his past and future life.

The large cast of all ages features players' regular Hugh Wright in the lead role of Scrooge. There will be singing, dancing and some fabulous special effects.

Running at Grasmere Hall from December 15-17. Tickets from Barney’s Newsbox, Grasmere, on 015394-35627 during shop hours.

'TIS pantomime season for Storth Entertainers and its talented youth arm Kids on the Bay as they raise Storth Village Hall roof with an uproarious Cinderella by James Barry, from January 11-14. A traditional family pantomime with a modern twist, the production is packed with everything you could wish for - Cinders, Buttons, an evil step-mother, downtrodden husband, a Prince, a fairy Godmother and of course those Ugly Sisters. For more information and ticket details visit Facebook page www.facebook.com/storthentertainers.

THE Brewery Arts Centre's tinsel-tinted production this year is Secret Santa, a spellbinding seasonal story of friendship, childhood wonder and Reindeer-pigs.

Centre stage is Holly, an ordinary eight-year-old girl from Kendal who has a hunch that the kindly, but mysterious, old man who lives next door is really Father Christmas.

As the two become friends, and the big day approaches, disaster strikes and Holly find herself embroiled in a magical mission to save Christmas.

A joint effort between Elite Productions and the Kendal arts centre, Secret Santa is written and directed by Ollie Birch. School performances run from December 12-15 (10am and 1pm) with public performances from December 17-24. For further information telephone the Brewery box office on 01539-725133.

FORUM 28 is staging Peter Pan, a swashbuckling pantomime adventure, about the boy who refuses to grow up and his fairy sidekick Tinkerbell as they visit the nursery of Wendy, John and Michael Darling.

Running at the Barrow venue from December 13-30, Ulverston's Georgie Jackson plays Tinkerbell with stage and screen actor Nik Wood Jones as Captain Hook.

Among her claims to fame, Georgie is a former Britain’s Got Talent semi finalist; she appeared as part of a Disney-themed girl band, Misstasia.

Box office 01229-820000.

TREAD Productions hire a carriage and deliver Cinderella to Kendal Town Hall from December 5-7, in a magical production written, directed and choreographed by former leading West End actor, Graham Tudor.

Following the tragic death of her father, Cinderella is forced to live as a slave in Hardup Hall, looking after her evil step sisters 'Britney and Witney' who have recently been to Ibiza. On the day that invitations arrive to the royal ball at the castle, held by Prince Charming, Cinderella dreams of attending the ball and dancing with the Prince. But the horrid sisters have other ideas and wickedly tear up her invitation. But all is not lost. With the help of her 'bestest' friend in the whole wide world Buttons and her magical Fairy Godmother along with a fabulous team of helpers, Cinderella does go to the ball.

Tread box office www.treadproductions.net/boxoffice/.

THE award-winning Dukes theatre at Lancaster presents a new adaptation of Pinocchio from November 25-January 7. Renowned children’s writer, Christopher William Hill, has adapted this captivating and enduring tale to transform it into a treat for all the family with a cast of wonderful characters and crammed full of joy, music, puppets and songs.

The Dukes box office on 01524-598500.

ELSEWHERE in Lancaster's fair city, the Grand Theatre hosts Footlights' glittering, gift-wrapped bauble bash, Cinderella, a family pantomime with all the traditional ingredients of comedy, laughter and audience participation, magical sets, glorious costumes and surprises. Running from December 2-29, live music accompanies the dancing and singing as the Prince attempts to find his real Princess.

Box office 01524-64695.

ONWARDS and definitely upwards, and 2008 Britain’s Got Talent winner, phenomenal dance talent, George Sampson, takes the lead role in Jack and the Beanstalk, at The Sands, Carlisle, from December 12-31.

Join Jack on the ascent in an amazing adventure and climb into the magical world of castles and giants in the sky. With a handful of magic beans and the help of the good fairy, Jack will be transported to a magical new kingdom where he will finally be able to help his poor mother, Dame Trott, and win the heart of his beloved Jill. But will he be able to make it back before the giant and his henchman, Fleshcreep, catch him? With a live band, fantastic choreography and clever special effects, the all-star cast also includes X Factor runner-up and platinum-selling recording artist, Andy Abraham, as Fleshcreep the Henchman, and actor Gabrielle Green, as the Good Fairy, best known from CBBC’s hit TV show Wolfblood.

Box office 01228-633766.

A TRULY magical carpet ride is in store at Blackpool Grand Theatre, from December 9 until January 8, in the seaside theatre's Christmas cracker. Television soap regular Mark Moraghan (Holby City, Coronation Street) will don the cloak as evil villain Abanazer in this year’s princely production of Aladdin; and starring alongside him will be Blackpool lad and BAFTA-winning CITV presenter Barney Harwood as Aladdin, the cheeky hero who sets off on a quest to win the heart of the beautiful Princess and retrieve a mysterious lamp.

Box office 01253-290190.

ALADDIN runs at Manchester Opera House, from December 9 until January 8, with John Thomson of Cold Feet fame in the five star cast, alongside other well known faces of stage and screen Sherrie Hewson, Ben Adams and Eric Potts. Benidorm, Loose Women and Coronation Street favourite - and star of the all-new Are You Being Served - Sherrie will appear as the Genie of the Ring. Fresh from reprising his role as Pete Gifford in the new series of Cold Feet, one of Manchester’s best-loved actors, John stars as the evil Abanazer. Pop star Ben Adams plays Aladdin with Opera House regular and one of the best dames in the business Eric Potts playing the long-suffering Widow Twankey.

Box office 0844-871-3018.

ACROSS at Manchester's Palace Theatre is multi award-winning smash hit Billy Elliot the Musical, staged from November 29 until January 28. Set in a northern mining town, against the background of the 1984/85 miners’ strike, Billy’s journey takes him out of the boxing ring and into a ballet class where he discovers a passion for dance that inspires his family and whole community and changes his life forever.

Box office 0844-871-3019.

OVER at Salford Quays, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang is The Lowry's festive offering courtesy of Music and Lyrics and West Yorkshire Playhouse.

One of the world's most fantasmagorical musicals, it stars well-known performer Jason Manford as Caractacus Potts, Claire Sweeney (Tell Me on A Sunday, Hairspray) as Baroness Bomburst, and Phill Jupitus (The Producers, Hairspray) as Lord Scrumptious/Baron Bomburst.

Adapted for the stage by Jeremy Sams, Chitty runs from December 6 until January 15, and features sensational sets and stunning special effects and, of course, the memorable score by the Academy and Grammy winning Sherman Brothers, which includes such terrific tunes as Truly Scrumptious, Toot Sweets, Hushabye Mountain and the Oscar-nominated title song Chitty Chitty Bang Bang.

Box office 0843-208-6000.