London theatre for toddlers and young children

The Puppet Theatre Barge’s Christmas show is a mini musical adventure set in the coastal town of Rocky Snore, which has been left in disarray after all the fish appear to have gone missing from the sea – Captain Sandy is charged with getting to the bottom of it. The show for kids aged four to 10 is directed by Kate Middleton (not that one, presumably).

The team behind the Little Angel’s recent West End transfer hit ‘The Smartest Giant in Town’ join forces again for another major adaptation of a picturebook by colossally beloved writer-illustrator duo Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler. ‘Charlie Cook’s Favourite Book’ is from 2005, and is a celebration of the power of reading consisting of lots of mini-stories that live inside the eponymous hero’s titular tome. For ages three-to-eight.

The Moomins awaken from their winter sleep to be told that Christmas is coming – but the thing is, they have no idea what Christmas is. This circus-theatre stage adaptation of Tove Jansson’s beloved childen’s characters comes to Jacksons Lane to mark the eightieth birthday of the iconic Finnish creatures, and the fiftieth for the Lane itself. The all ages show is written and directed by Kaveh Rahnama.

This delightful show for younger children about Papa Penguin’s heartfelt but somewhat inept attempts to look after his family returns for Christmas.

Wholesome CBeebies icon Maddie Moate moves into the West End this Christmas with a new show of live science with a seasonal theme. As well as various pre-schooler-friendly experiments, Maddie Moate’s Very Curious Christmas will feature a gentle festive story, set in Santa’s workshop.

Peppa Pig has been churning out live shows for years now, essentially on stage recreations of various bits of classic episodes with added singing and a human interlocutor. It’s not particularly Christmassy, though in previous iterations Santa has popped up at the end.

This Lyric Christmas staple brings Raymond Briggs’s ‘Father Christmas’ to enchanting life. The author of ‘The Snowman’ is known for his beautiful depictions of the season – and this adaptation by theatre company Pins and Needles is equally charming.

A witch soars across the skies – and picks up a few animal pals along the way – in this adaptation of the best-selling picture book by Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffer. It's created by Tall Stories, who've created a host of loveable stagings of storybook favourites, and uses their typical combo of sing-a-longs, puppetry, and quirky humour. Ages three-to-eight.

The Little Angel’s Christmas show for smaller children is this charming tale about a little robin’s efforts to deliver the seasonal post and the complications that ensue when a snowstorm sweeps though Clover Leaf Wood. Written and created by Miranda Pitcher and Lizzie Wort, the show is aimed at ages two to five.

Samantha Lane and Barb Jungr’s delightful pupet-powered 2012 adaptation of Julia Donaldson rarity The Singing Mermaid returns as the Little Angel’s Christmas show for younger kids, ages three to eight.