It's panto season again so we've put together a selection of the best places in west London to get your fill of cross-dressing, sing-along slapstick fun.
It's not just pantomimes that are on offer though, with festive shows for those of all ages and persuasions brightening up the winter gloom.
HOUNSLOW
The classic panto Aladdin will be staged by young people from the Hounslow Youth Theatre this December.
Audiences will be taken on a musical adventure with Aladdin, his mother Widow Twanky, Princess Jasmine and the genie, at the Paul Robeson Theatre on Friday, December 12 and Saturday December 13.
Book tickets at www.bouncetheatre.com
EALING
This Christmas Questors presents the magical journey of a boy, some magic beans, a cow, and a nasty giant.
Packed with all the delights of panto - Oh yes it is - Jack and the Beanstalk will be filled with music, comedy and mayhem as the little boy makes his journey to the Village of Merrydale and the giant’s castle.
Will Jack get a good price for Daisy the Cow? Will the Princess be forced to marry the nasty Giant? And find out if the nasty giant will enjoy his nap without being disturbed between December 13 and January 3.
Book tickets at www.questors.org.uk/
RICHMOND
Mirror mirror on the wall, what is the most fabulous panto of them all?
Join Jerry Hall as the Wicked Queen on a festive adventure into an enchanted fairytale forest along with Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, at Richmond Theatre .
To find out if good triumphs over evil take the family out for some side-splitting comedy, glittering costumes and stunning sets, between December 5 to January 11.
Book tickets at www.atgtickets.com/venues/richmond-theatre/
HAMMERSMITH
The streets of west London will be paved with gold this Christmas as Dick Whittington and his Cat return to the Lyric Hammersmith .
Join the cast including the wonderful dame for a tale from rags to riches of a young man on his cat on an exciting quest for fame and fortune.
The show is on from November 22 to January 3.
Book tickets at www.lyric.co.uk/
GREENFORD
Cheer the goodies, boo the baddies, and help Prince Rupert find his beauty.
In traditional panto style the cast will take you along with them on the enchanting story of Sleeping Beauty a princess cursed at her christening by the wicked fairy, only to be woken by true love's kiss.
For two days only Sleeping Beauty and her Prince will be staged at Greenford Hall on December 29 and 30
Book tickets at www.heos.org.uk/
RUISLIP
Join Jack and his friends as well as a bagful of magic beans and a giant for some fee-fi-fo-fum at the Winston Churchill Hall Theatre in Ruislip in January.
There will be some singing and dancing and laugh-a-minute fun as the story of Jack and the Beanstalk unfolds on stage from January 15 to January 18.
Book tickets at www.argosyplayers.org.uk/
BRENTFORD
A mouse called Eddie braves the family cat in search of the meaning of Christmas in The Night Before Christmas, the Watermans ' festive show for children aged three to seven.
As Eddie sets off on his epic search for Santa, a little girl and her teddy wait to see if their wish will be answered in the arts centre's co-production with Brighton Dome.
For tickets, visit http://watermans.ticketsolve.com/shows/873520886/events?show_id=873520886
ICKENHAM
The Compass Theatre guarantees audiences laugh out loud jokes, great songs, larger than life characters and enchanting animated scenery at its production of Sleeping Beauty, running from December 11 to January 4.
For tickets see http://www.compasstheatre.co.uk/index.php/events/sleeping-beauty-2014/
HAYES
Birds of a Feather star Linda Robson stars as the Wicked Queen in Snow White and Seven Dwarfs at the Beck Theatre , in Hayes.
The production, running from December 13 to January 9, promises dazzling sets, amazing costumes and stunning special effects, and some dates have already sold out.
For tickets see https://becktheatre.org.uk/
SOHO
Dirty Protest have whipped up the perfect antidote to the family frivolity of panto season in Last Christmas, showing at the Soho Theatre .
This ultimately uplifting tale of one man facing up to grief and fatherhood as he exorcises his ghosts of Christmas past promises to put you through the emotional wringer.
Tickets for the 60-minute show, which won best production at last year's Theatre Critics of Wales awards, are available at http://www.sohotheatre.com/whats-on/last-christmas/
WATFORD
There will be no excuses for nodding off during Sleeping Beauty at Watford Palace Theatre this Christmas.
This year's panto, running from December 5-27, promises live music, stunning sets and costumes, and plenty of audience participation.
For tickets, see http://www.watfordpalacetheatre.co.uk/page/sleepingbeauty#-About
WINDSOR
Three Degrees soul icon Sheila Ferguson, who will play Maleficent, is among a star-studded cast for Beauty and the Beast at Theatre Royal Windsor .
Chart-topping pop star Rhydian plays the Beast, Harry Potter actress Georgina Leonidas is Belle, and Carry On star Sally Geeson is Fairy Beneficent.
They will be joined by children's characters Basil Brush and Postman Pat, plus comic Kevin Cruise and Steven Blakeley, as the dame, in the production, running from December 3 to January 11.
For tickets, visit http://www.theatreroyalwindsor.co.uk/details.php?id=253
CHISWICK
A homeless bookworm in Chiswick is the inspiration behind a festive play running from November 18 to December 6 at the Tabard Theatre .
Rory, the main character in Sheltered, is based on Matthew, who was forced to live on the streets near Turnham Green, where he is always seen reading novels, after being made redundant and evicted from his flat.
Playwright Greg Smith said: “This image formed the seed from which the character of Rory grew, the literate homeless man who defies the expectations of the seemingly benevolent but patronising family who take him in for Christmas.”
Book tickets at http://www.againstthegraintheatre.co.uk/
HARROW
Don't waste your hard earned cash on magic beans. Save it for Jack and the Beanstalk at Harrow Arts Centre .
Watch Jack's questionable bargaining skills thwart the evil Giant Blunderbore in this community production, brought to life by a local cast.
Featuring live music and plenty of participation, this production, running from December 18-22, promises something for theatregoers of all ages.
Book tickets at http://www.harrowarts.com/family/482?event=community-pantomime--jack---the-beanstalk
