Only six months 'til Christmas

I've been trying to put off doing anything Christmas related on the site for quite some time, despite the fact the offer of seasonal shows is going to be quite different in the city this year. The Empire has ditched panto for traditional schmaltz-fest White Christmas; the classic Everyman panto will be performed on the Playhouse stage, which won't be offering its usually alternative, non-festive production; and the Royal Court will be having a go at staging two shows simultaneously - a family panto and Little Scouse on the Prairie (GROAN), the latest from their Chrimbo writer-in-residence, Fred Lawless.