Mother Goose at the Gaiety Theatre, Dublin: starring June Rodgers, illusionist Richard De Vere, The Carter Twins and the Billie Barry Children. Show opens December 18th and runs until February 7th at 3 p.m., 6.30 p.m. and 8 p.m., with 1.30 p.m. shows on December 23rd and 28th. Tickets: £7.50 £14.50. Tel: 016771717.
Rockinson Crusoe at the Olympia Theatre, Dublin: starring Twink, Dustin the Turkey, popsters Dove and singer Richard Rock. Shows runs December 26th February 1st at 3 p.m., 6.30 p.m. and 8 p.m. Tickets: £6.50£15. Tel: 016777744.
Jack And The Beanstalk at the Grand Opera House, Belfast: billed as Northern Ireland's biggest and brightest pantomime, the show stars Su Pollard as Jack, May McFettridge as Dame Trot, Scorpio from Gladiators and UTV Live's Ivan Little. Continues until January 17th at 1.30 p.m. or 2.30 p.m., and 7.30 p.m. Extra matinee at 10.30 a.m. on January 17th. Tickets: £8 £14. Tel: Belfast 241919.
Scrooge's Christmas at the BT Studio in the Belfast Waterfront Hall: a new version of this classic Dickens tale from the Ulster Theatre Company continues until January 3rd. Tickets: £4.50-£12. Tel: Belfast 334455.
Aladdin at the Belfast Civic Arts Theatre: written and directed by Peter Quigley, this take on the tale of the magical lamp brings Aladdin on some wild and wonderful adventures. Shows run at 10.15 a.m., 11.30 a.m., 1.45 p.m., 3 p.m. and 7.30 p.m. until January 24th. Tickets: adults, £8.25, concessions £5.95. Tel: Belfast 316900.
Aladdin at the Everyman Palace, Cork: the exotic magic of the East lights up the gloomy Irish winter in this show which stars Kenneth O'Regan, Elizabeth Kenny and local pop band Azis. Shows run December 26th-January 18th at 8 p.m. with 2 p.m. matinees December 27th-30th, January 3rd, 4th, 10th, 11th, 17th and 18th. Tickets: £5-£7. Tel: 021-503077.
Jack And The Beanstalk at the Cork Opera House: starring Billa O'Connell and Barrett and Sullivan, this perennial favourite opens on December 19th and runs until January 18th. Tickets: adults £8-£11, children £6-£9. Tel: 021-270022.
Aladdin in the Townhall Theatre, Galway: magic, mirth and musical splendour in this production by the Renmore Pantomime Society. Shows run nightly at 8 p.m. January 2nd-11th. Matinees at 3 p.m. on January 3rd, 4th, 10th and 11th. Tickets: adults £7, children £5. Tel: 091569777.
Luaithrin (Cinderella) at An Taibhdhearc na Gaillimhe: the only Irish language pantomime around, this one promises music, comedy, dancing and fun for old and young. Runs January 3rd10th at 8 p.m. Tickets: £6 and £4. Tel: 091-562024.
Down To The Woods at the Belltable Art Centre, Limerick: computer whizz-kid Jason thinks old yarns are a yawn until his Christmas-present-storybook characters spring to life to lead him on a magical journey. Shows run January 3rd11th at 8 p.m., with 3 p.m. matinees on January 3rd, 4th, 6th, 10th and 11th. Tickets: adults £5, children £4.50. Tel: 061319866
The Adventures Of Robin Hood at the University Concert Hall, Limerick: this Limerick Pantomime Society production runs January 3rd-6th. Shows daily at 3 p.m. and 8 p.m. Tickets: adults £6.50, children £5.50. Tel: 061331549.
Peter Pan at the Hawkswell Theatre, Sligo: Coolera Dramatic Society with young starlets Niall Caden (10), Graham Carter (12) and Emer Ruane (13) presents this popular children's fairytale. Continues until December 21st at 8 p.m. Matinee on December 21st at 3 p.m. Tickets: adults £5, children £3.50. Tel: 071-61526.
Puppet Shows
An Unusual Christmas at the City Arts Centre, Dublin: a wacky visually and musically striking look by Puca Puppets at the changing seasons. uca Puppets. Continues at the City Arts Centre, 23/25 Moss Street, Dublin. Shows run 10 a.m. and noon daily until December 19th. Tickets: adults £3.50, children £2.50. Tel: 01-6770643. Suitable for 4-11-year-olds.
Aladdin at the Lambert Puppet Theatre, Dublin: this classic tale runs on December 20th and 21st and December 26th-January 4th at 3.30 p.m. Tickets: £4.50. Tel: 01-2800974.
The Pirate And The Parrot Puppet Show at the Triskel Arts Centre, Cork: large-scale, full-action adventure with schoolboy hero pitted against pirates, robots, sharks and wizards by the Meridian Theatre Company. Shows run 10 a.m. and noon daily until December 19th. Tickets: £2. Tel: 021272022. Suitable for four-year-olds and over.
The Secret of Ghost Castle at the Old Museum Arts Centre, Belfast: billed as a bigger, brighter and brand new show, this All-Electric Puppet Theatre performance of a fairytale of the 1990s sees the princess rescue the prince. Continues daily until December 20th. TuesdayFriday 10 a.m. and 7 p.m., Saturday 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. Tickets £4. Tel: Belfast 233332. Suitable for four-year-olds and over.
Films
The Borrowers: this is one of those rare treats - a children's movie that adults will cajole their offspring to go to. Based on characters in a series of 1950s children's books by Mary Norton, the Borrowers are little people who alternately thrive and survive under the floorboards. Starring John Goodman, Jim Broadbent and Hugh Laurie. Continues in cinemas nationwide over Christmas.
Tomorrow Never Dies: the latest Bond on the Boulevard, Meath-born Pierce Brosnan, keeps fans keen in this new 007 offering. Continues in cinemas nationwide over Christmas.
George of the Jungle:
Derived from a mildly cultist 1960s animation series, this is in essence a Tarzan spoof. Good humoured, slapstick entertainment for all the family starring Brendan Fraser. Opens Friday. Home Alone 3: Alex D. Linz takes over from Macaulay Culkin in this slapstick flick for those not exhausted by Home Alone and Home Alone 2. Opens Friday.
Free Willy 3: the whale is back. What more can we say? Spice World: The Movie: the inexhaustible Posh Baby, Scary, Sporty and Ginger Spice in their feature film debut. Opens on December 26th.
