A programme of Christmas shows, comedy and winter craft workshops opens next month to kick off the 20th anniversary year of Barnet’s Artsdepot cultural hub.
This mix of culture and traditional classics goes from the iconic children’s story The Gruffalo’s Child — sharing its own 20th anniversary with Artsdepot — to West End hits, Christmas No 1 hits and even a new take on Hanukah, all played out in the arts centre at North Finchley’s Tally Ho! Corner.
“We’ve got winter wrapped up with our biggest ever festival season,” Artsdepot’s chief executive Monique Deletant reveals. “We’re celebrating two decades as Barnet’s go-to place for culture, the time for the community to get together in a warm space to retreat from the cold.”
The season opens with the Comedy Club 4 Kids on December 1, kid-friendly comics with shenanigans from Twig The Pixie, Abigoliah Schamaun and Ben van der Velde, ideal for ages six and over, but all are welcome.
The Gruffalo’s Child takes the main stage from December 3 to January 5, starring Laura Dowsett, Billy McCleary and Hannah Mullen.
Hans Christian Andersen’s The Fir Tree with live music and song, puppetry and sound effects takes the young audience “to a magical forest” from December 12 to New Year’s Eve.
There’s also festive fun for grown-ups, like the Scummy Mummies Christmas Show with yuletide sketches, festive stand-up and scummy Santa stories on December 6.
West End singers perform festive favourites in Baby Broadway Christmas on December 7.
Families with children aged 10 and older can see a traditional twist with a one-person performance of A Christmas Carol, a spooky solo take on Dickens’ seasonal ghost story by Andrew Margerison on December 9.
Magical memories can be made at the art centre’s Department of Winter with “more festive buzz than Santa’s workshop”, running children’s 40-minute craft sessions, for ages 4-plus, from December 10 to January 4, “to keep the little elves out of mischief”.
There are also adults-only evening sessions to design whimsical wrapping paper or make a last-minute gift for the ‘hard-to-buy-for’ friend — all while sipping mulled wine.
Sabra Swing’s Oy Hanukkah! brings Hanukkah hits and festive favourites on December 9 by Jewish writers from Irving Berlin to East Finchley's own George Michael.
A musical sleighride sets off on December 12 through the best and worst of festive chart-toppers in Now That’s What I Call Bingo where drag host Alfie Ordinary flips through a yuletide mixtape of Christmas Number 1 hits, 1980s ballads, 1990s dance, girlbands and boybands.
Cabaret star Tricity Vogue and her All Girl Swing Band play vintage classics and pop on December 13 including Roaring 1920s jazz, nostalgic Swing, carols and Noughties hits.
The Artsdepot centre is in Nether Street by North Finchley's Tally Ho Corner, box office 020-8369 5454. Tickets can also be booked on the “artsdepot.co.uk” website’s “whats-on” page.
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