Who doesn’t love a Christmas show? They’re perfect for either getting you in the Christmas spirit, or making you feel even more festive if you’re already counting down the days until Santa Claus comes down that chimney!
And Christmas shows are for absolutely everyone. So, whether you need a bit more assistance with wheelchair access, signed and relaxed performances, hearing loops, or anything else, the great theatres of Norwich & Norfolk are there to help. Then, it’s time to get merry! Here’s the brilliant shows happening that can accommodate to accessibility this Christmas.
It wouldn’t be Christmas without a pantomime! One of Norwich’s biggest Christmas shows, the Norwich Theatre panto delivers a fantastic story, tonnes of joy, and a ‘he’s behind you!’ or two, just for good measure. This year, it’s based on the fairytale of Sleeping Beauty!
We all know what to expect from this story, the princess is cursed to sleep for eternity unless she can be awoken by her ‘true loves kiss’ – who we all know as the Prince… or is it? We can’t wait to find out in this year’s show! It’s truly a must see if you’re in Norwich & Norfolk.
And this year’s show has plenty of accessible performances too. On Wednesday, December 27 (5pm), there will be captioned and signed performances (BOOK HERE), on Thursday, December 28 (2:30pm), the performance will be audio described (BOOK HERE), and there is a relaxed performance on Friday, January 5 (to book this performance, contact the box office on 01603 630 000).
Plus, the theatre itself is highly accessible, with guide/assistance dog arrangements, hearing headsets to amplify the sound, essential companion tickets, and the MyTheatre Accessibility Scheme, which provides a huge range of benefits to make your visits seamless. Find out more about the Theatre Royal’s accessibility here.
Sleeping Beauty is a must-see for everyone this Christmas!
If you’re looking to introduce the little ones to Christmas, The Garage’s My First: The Night Before Christmas is the perfect way to do it. In this show, the children can dress up, race after reindeer, and prepare to party as Lucy gets ready for her Christmas celebration.
There’ll be games of giant Jenga made with a pile of presents, and percussion instruments to join in with Lucy’s orchestra! But who’s the unexpected guest arriving in a cloud of soot? This show is designed for 0–4 year olds, with a feelgood, family-focused journey to capture the magic of Christmas.
Accessible shows for this performance are available with British Sign Language performances on Friday, December 1 (11am) and Saturday, December 2 (11am). Relaxed performances are also available on Friday, December 1 (9:30am) and Saturday, December 2 (9:30am). A show which is both interpreted and relaxed will be shown on Thursday, December 21 (4pm). For any additional needs, such as wheelchair access, The Garage ask that you let them know in the comment box when booking your tickets.
My First: The Night Before Christmas is a great way to celebrate Christmas with the little ones!
The Thursford Christmas Spectacular is an incredible show to see every holiday season. In this extravaganza of non-stop singing, dancing, music, comedy, and variety (expect some stunts!), it’s a real celebration of everything that makes Christmas so magical. It’s a sell-out every year, and this year is set to be the biggest yet. In fact, with a cast of 130, it’s the biggest Christmas show of its kind in the whole of Europe!
This year’s show is set to run from Wednesday November 8 – Thursday December 23, and has great accessibility for wheelchair or other mobility impairments, as well as essential carer discounts and guide/assistance dog arrangements. It is recommended to contact the box office for any needs before booking your ticket on 01328 878477, or by emailing [email protected].
The Thursford Christmas Spectacular is a fantastic way to get into the festive spirit!
For a unique and exciting performance to enjoy this Christmas, don’t miss The Cromer Pier Christmas Show! It’s great to get in the spirit with their heaps of festive fun. And it’s the only full season end of pier show in the whole world! The performance itself is top secret, but you can be sure there’ll be laughs, thrilling specialty acts like magic and illusions, powerhouse vocals, and dazzling dance routines.
The Cromer Pier Pavilion Theatre runs from Saturday, November 5 – Saturday December 30. The Theatre is accessible for wheelchair access, both to the bar and to the theatre (perfect for that interval refreshment!), and there is a designated area for wheelchair users in the auditorium which can be booked with the box office team.
Disabled toilets are available in both the bar and the Tides Restaurant. Guide dogs are also welcome. Hearing loops are available, but prebooking with the box office is essential! To contact the box office, call 01263 512495, or email [email protected].
Father Christmas is coming to ROARR! this November and December (Selected dates from Saturday, November 25 – Sunday, December 24) along with a feast of festive fun for the whole family! Watch as the Park is transformed into a winter wonderland with Dippy’s Christmas Celebration, full of surprises and activities that everyone can enjoy.
The fun starts as soon as you enter the park – picture festive music all round and towering Christmas trees adorned with oversized decorations and dinos! Included within each ticket, guests can enjoy a candy cane trail, the Dippy and Friends Christmas Show, Synthetic Ice-Skating Rink, the Christmas Present House, and the best bit – Festive Fun with Father Christmas!
And at ROARR!, there’s a huge range of accessible accommodations so everyone can join the fun! There are ear defenders available for a refundable £20 deposit, a large Changing Places toilet available, disabled parking spaces within close proximity to the Park, a quiet room for guests to take a break, guide/assistance dog accommodation, and much, much more! Find all of ROARR!’s accessibility measures on their website.
Dippy’s Christmas Celebration is open to everyone this festive season!
This one isn’t exactly a performance, but it’s handy to know over the busy Christmas period! The Forum has been designed with accessibility in mind for all, so it’s the perfect place to go for any needs. So, if you’re ever around the City of Stories and you need a reliable place to grab a coffee, head to the toilet, or even grab a few books from the Library, The Forum is the place to be.
There’s accessible parking, step-free access throughout including ramps and lifts, accessible toilets and Changing Places toilets, guide and assistance dogs are welcome, and much, much more. Plus, they’ve got a huge range of Christmas events on throughout the season, including The Festive Fair at The Forum, Norwich’s biggest Christmas market! For their full Christmas calendar, click here.
The Forum is accessible for everyone – and has some great Christmas events on this year!
