The festive season is the perfect time to gather everyone together for a theatre trip, and the magic of theatre is never more alive than during the run up to Christmas. So whether it’s music and comedy, atmospheric storytelling or a good old traditional pantomime, there’s plenty of live performance to enjoy this season on the Suffolk coast!
Lowestoft
Get the festive season off to a toe-tapping start with The Overtones: Jivin’ Home for Christmas at the Marina Theatre on 20 November. Expect slick harmonies, feel-good soul and Motown classics alongside festive favourites in a lively show packed with Christmas cheer.
Back for another year, That’ll Be Christmas arrives on 21 November with Christmas classics, rock ’n’ roll hits and plenty of laughs. From singalong favourites to comedy sketches, it’s a feel-good festive show for all the family.
For a touch of classical magic, Crown Ballet’s The Nutcracker takes to the stage on 23 November. Set to Tchaikovsky’s unforgettable score, this enchanting Christmas tale brings beautiful choreography and a sprinkling of festive sparkle.
On 16 December, André Rieu’s 2026 Christmas Concert: Let It Snow brings festive classics, enchanting waltzes and seasonal surprises to the big screen at the Marina Theatre, accompanied by Rieu’s Johann Strauss Orchestra.
And, of course, no festive theatre guide would be complete without a pantomime! The Marina Theatre’s Snow White runs from 11 December to 1 January, promising dazzling costumes, laugh-out-loud comedy, audience participation and traditional panto fun for the whole family.
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Enjoy a trip back to the golden age of swing with Christmas Crooners at the Seagull Theatre on 5 December. Expect timeless Christmas songs, big band sounds and plenty of nostalgic charm.
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Felixstowe
Get into the festive spirit with Jingle Bell Rock at the Spa Pavilion on 3 December. This dazzling Christmas spectacular brings together West End stars, professional performers, a local children’s choir and dancers for an evening of seasonal music, vibrant staging and festive sparkle.
Take a trip down memory lane with Neil Sands’ Christmas Memories on 11 December. Packed with more than 60 beloved Christmas songs and carols, dazzling costumes and even falling snow, this heartwarming afternoon show celebrates the magic and nostalgia of Christmases past.
Santa’s Workshop opens its doors for Santa’s Christmas Show on 12 December. This family-friendly ‘Santamime’ is packed with festive fun, following Mrs Tinsel, Jingle and Jangle as they prepare for the big Christmas party. Little ones can also meet Santa, snap a photo and take home a special gift.
The festive fun continues with the Spa Pavilion’s Christmas pantomime, Beauty and the Beast, running from 19 December to 3 January. Follow Belle as she ventures into an enchanted castle to discover whether love can break the Beast’s curse, with dazzling costumes, singalong songs, laugh-out-loud comedy and plenty of audience participation along the way.
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Bungay
The Fisher Theatre welcomes back Christmas Crooners on Thursday 10 December for another festive celebration of swing and big band classics. Returning after eight years of sell-out performances, the show features timeless Christmas favourites, beautiful new arrangements and plenty of nostalgic charm, with songs made famous by Frank Sinatra, Nat King Cole and Ella Fitzgerald. Expect a feel-good evening of festive music and singalong moments.
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Snape
Bring the little ones along to The Littlest Yak on Sunday 8 November, a heartwarming family show based on the much-loved children’s book, with beautiful puppets, catchy tunes and an uplifting message about finding confidence in being yourself.
Enjoy a festive musical celebration with A Festive Friday Night is Music Night on 11 December. The BBC Concert Orchestra and Britten Pears Chamber Choir join forces for a seasonal programme of Christmas favourites, including fresh takes on much-loved classics.
For a heartwarming pre-Christmas treat, The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse with Live Orchestra comes to Snape Maltings on 12 December. Charlie Mackesy’s beloved story of friendship is brought to life through its animated film and a live performance of the moving score by the BBC Concert Orchestra.
The Co-op Juniors return with their annual festive spectacular, Magic of Christmas 2026, running from 18 to 23 December. Expect high-energy choreography, a talented young cast and plenty of Christmas magic in a joyful musical show for the whole family.
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Southwold
The classic festive tale A Christmas Carol returns to The Swan Hotel on Saturday 19 December, with Mat Jones performing Charles Dickens’ original reading script in an acclaimed one-man show. Watch as Victorian London springs to life through the story of Scrooge and his ghostly visitors, in an atmospheric performance that brings the magic of traditional Christmas storytelling to Southwold.
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Ipswich
Bring the whole family along to Red Rose Chain’s The Elves and the Shoemaker from 5 December to 3 January for a magical Christmas adventure in Elvedon. When Lovelace’s Boots & Shoes is struggling to stay open, two very magical visitors arrive to save the day. Expect an imaginative twist on the classic fairy tale, with plenty of laughter, love and Red Rose Chain magic for all ages.
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Get ready for a magical pantomime adventure with Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs at Ipswich Regent Theatre! Featuring much-loved songs including “Heigh-Ho” and “Whistle While You Work”, this classic fairy tale sees Snow White escape her wicked stepmother with a little help from her madcap friend Muddles. Expect fantastic dance routines, plenty of laughter and a handsome Prince in this fun-filled festive treat for the whole family.
Enjoy a night of comedy and music at Happy Christmas Ipswich, returning to Ipswich Regent Theatre on Monday 30 November in aid of East Anglia’s Children’s Hospices (EACH). Hosted by Griff Rhys Jones, this festive fundraiser features a stellar line-up of comedy talent, including Sir Lenny Henry, Chris McCausland, Stephen Bailey and impressionist Lewis MacLeod. With more acts still to be announced, expect plenty of laughs and festive cheer while supporting a wonderful cause.
Get ready to rock around the Christmas tree with The Elvis Years at Christmas, a feel-good musical celebration of the King himself. Packed with classic hits including Hound Dog, Viva Las Vegas and Suspicious Minds, alongside festive favourites such as Blue Christmas and Winter Wonderland, this toe-tapping show brings a rock ’n’ roll twist to the festive season. Expect two hours of Elvis classics, Christmas cheer and plenty of hip-shaking nostalgia!
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Aldeburgh
An evening of spine-tingling storytelling; Ghost Stories for Christmas comes to Aldeburgh Jubilee Hall on Saturday 19 December 2026. Presented by Edwardian Tales, this one-man show revives the Victorian tradition of sharing eerie tales at Christmastime, made famous by Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol and later by writers such as M.R. James. Enjoy classic ghost stories told by candlelight, filled with atmosphere, suspense and a touch of old-fashioned theatricality.
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