1 SPECIAL effects of the amazing kind feature in The Forum's yuletide yarn Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, running from December 18 until January 5. Pop along to the Barrow theatre and see the beautiful Snow White and her seven little friends from the enchanted forest as they attempt to defeat the evil Wicked Queen who is overcome with jealously when her magic mirror declares that Snow White is the fairest in all the land. The glittering cast of the Shone Productions' panto stars from Britain’s Got Talent 2018 Aleksandar Mileusnic as the Prince. Box office 01229-820000.

2 WICKED, the West End and Broadway musical phenomenon that tells the incredible untold story of the Witches of Oz, is heading to Manchester's Palace Theatre for a five-week Christmas run, from Tuesday, December 4 until Saturday, January 5. The cast of the spellbinding show features Amy Ross as Elphaba, Helen Woolf as Glinda, Aaron Sidwell (best known as Steven Beale in EastEnders) as Fiyero, and Steven Pinder, who plays Max Farnham in Brookside, as The Wizard.

3 A CHILLY front descends on Ulverston's Coronation Hall from December 21-27 when the family musical adventure The Snow Queen arrives in town. Joseph Purdy Productions’ version of the classic family show includes a laugh a minute script, glittering sets, sparkling costumes plus a wealth of brilliant songs and show stopping choreography. All topped off with a fabulously funny star studded cast. Box Office on 01229-587140.

4 STAR name in Cinderella at Manchester Opera House is Coronation Street’s villain of the year Connor McIntyre, who played Phelan in the soap. Alongside Connor in the panto line-up will be his first Corrie victim, Les Dennis. Connor and Les play the Ugly Sisters, with popstar Gareth Gates in the role of Prince Charming. Joining them are comedian Ben Nickless (Buttons), CBBC’s Shannon Flynn (Cinderella) and soul singer Hayley-Ria Christian (Fairy Godmother). Cinderella runs from Saturday, December 8 until Sunday, December 30. Tickets are available at atgtickets.com/Manchester.

5 DOCTOR Dolittle heads to The Lowry from Tuesday, December 11, until Saturday, January 5 as part of the 50th anniversary celebrations of the original film starring Rex Harrison. Mark Williams will play the title role during the show's run at the award-winning Salford Quays theatre with Brian Capron, Vicky Entwistle, Adèle Anderson, Mollie Melia-Redgrave and Patrick Sullivan playing Albert Blossom/Straight Arrow, Polynesia, Lady Bellowes/Poison Arrow, Emma Fairfax and Matthew Mugg respectively. Box office 0843-208-6005.