Sit tight for a feast of top family shows

Now is the very best time for family entertainment at the theatre. There is plenty to choose from in Bath this month with something to suit just about every taste and pocket.

There are several pantomimes on offer plus an already hugely acclaimed family production of Around the World in 80 Days at the egg theatre which is there until Saturday.

Later in the month students at City of Bath College are performing Return to the Forbidden Planet, a show suit able for anyone over the age of seven, at the egg.

The big show is, of course, Sleeping Beauty at the Theatre Royal Bath which this year stars Liza Goddard and Gemma Bissix from EastEnders as the Good and Bad Fairies along with Jon Monie, Tom Owen and Chris Harris.

Sleeping Beauty runs until Saturday, January 24.

Tickets and times on 01225 448844.

There is another popular panto at the Rondo Theatre Larkhall which opened yesterday and runs until Sunday.

This year Chris Lane has written a new version of the Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs story.

Tickets cost £9 and £6 (concessions) which are available from the Bath Festivals Trust box office, Abbey Green, telephone 01225 463362, and may also be available on the door.

The show will be performed at 7.30pm until Saturday, and at 2.30pm on Saturday and the Sunday.

If you have been following Graham Avent's occasional columns on the Guide's theatre pages you will know all about the forthcoming production of Puss in Boots which is being performed by Encore Northenders in the village from January 28.

For more information and tickets visit www.encorenorthenders.com or call 01225 812202.

Up at Odd Down the St Philips and St James Drama Group is performing Dick Whittington. From Wednesday, January 20 until Saturday, January 23 with performances at 7.30pm and a matinee on Saturday at 2.30pm.

Tickets from the church office on 01225 835228.

Around the World in 80 Days is playing at the egg theatre in Bath until Saturday so there is still time for the whole family to catch a show.

The story is adapted from the Jules Verne novel and is suitable for ages six to adult.

Tickets cost £15.50 for adults and £9.50 for children and students on 01225 448844.

You should fasten your seat belts tightly for City of Bath College students' production of Return to the Forbidden Planet which opens at the egg on Thursday, January 21 and runs until January 23.

Join Captain Tempest and the crew and prepare to tap your feet along to Good Vibrations, Teenager in Love and Robot Man.

For this production Hotbath has the support of Phillip Schofield, (This Morning and The Cube) who has recorded the part of the Newscaster for its production in return for helping the college to raise awareness for their chosen charity TLC, which supports babies and children in Africa.

Tickets cost £5/3 making it a good bargain if you have lots of people to pay for. Book on 01225 448844.

Hotbath Productions return to rock the egg with live musicians and a cast of 25 in this award-winning musical based on Shakespeare's The Tempest and the 1950s science fiction film Forbidden Planet.

WIN THEATRE ROYAL TICKETS

This week we are offering readers the chance to win one family ticket (for two adults and two children or one adult and three children) to see Sleeping Beauty on Wednesday, January 20 at 7pm. Just answer the question, put your answer on a postcard with your name and daytime telephone number and send it to Theatre Royal Panto Competition, The Guide, The Bath Chronicle, Westpoint, James Street West, Bath BA1 2DA. The first correct answer out of the hat first thing on Monday will get the tickets.

The question is: Who plays the Good Fairy in Sleeping Beauty?