The Royal Hippodrome Christmas Variety Show

Royal Hippodrome, Seaside Road, Eastbourne, Saturday, December 19, to Sunday, December 27, 2.30pm (not Christmas Eve/Christmas Day), Christmas Eve 4pm, Boxing Day 6pm, £8, 01323 802020

GRUMPY old men Clem Jackson and Cliff Bendall link together this Christmas spectacular, featuring appearances from dancing cows and penguins, jugglers and pantomime dames.

The World Famous Ashdown Mummers

Various venues around Ashdown Forest, Saturday, December 19, from noon, and Sunday, December 20, from 11am, charity donations, www.mummers.org.uk/

ST GEORGE, The Turkish Knight, Beelzebub, Old Father Christmas and the Doctor all play a role in the 43rd performance run of the World Famous Ashdown Mummers’ traditional Sussex Mummers’ Play at pubs around the forest.

Flyaway Katie and Arthur’s Dreamboat

Otherplace At The Basement, Kensington Street, Brighton, Saturday, December 19, to Sunday, January 3, 11am and 2pm, £8/£7, 01273 987516

LONG Nose Puppets launch a two-week city centre residency with Polly Dunbar’s book Flyaway Katie, featuring music by Tom Gray of Gomez, before Arthur’s Dream Boat takes over on Monday, December 28.

Jack And The Beanstalk

Ropetackle Arts Centre, Little High Street, Shoreham, Sunday, December 20, to Sunday, January 3, various times, £12/£10, 01273 464440

SOME performances have already sold out in Shoreham’s own pantomime, starring Tom Beard and put together by the same team behind the Ropetackle’s Sleeping Beauty and Aladdin.

Pitschi: The Kitten With Dreams

Komedia, Gardner Street, Brighton, Sunday, December 20, to Sunday, January 3, 11am, £8.50/£6.50, 0845 2938480

A STAGE version of the Swiss story about an Alpine kitten who dreams of a better life, aimed at audiences aged between two and seven years old.

The Cat In The Hat

Connaught Theatre, Union Place, Worthing, Monday, December 21, to Christmas Eve, 2pm and 4pm, £12.50, 01903 206206

WHEN mother is away Dr Seuss’s Cat In The Hat pays a visit to cause mischief in this live action version of the classic picture book.

So This Is Christmas

Congress Theatre, Carlisle Road, Eastbourne, Tuesday, December 22, 7.30pm, from £24, 01323 412000

POP star Kavana and Hollyoaks’ Gemma Merna perform two hours of seasonal classics, including White Christmas, Fairytale Of New York and Let It Snow.

The Ugly Duckling

The Old Market, Upper Market Street, Hove, Sunday, December 27, various times, £8.50, 01273 201801

A HAND shadow puppet version of Hans Christian Andersen’s tale of a little bird who doesn’t really know who he is, from Drew Colby of Finger And Thumb Theatre accompanied by Penny Callow on cello.