With Halloween over, it’s not just the retail industry that is filling its shelves with festival goods. Local theatres generate significant proportions of their annual income over December and the New Year, and are now heavily marketing their Christmas shows.

While Alan in Belfast will no doubt review a panto or two over the coming months, here’s an advance run down of some of the larger festive shows you’ll find on stages in and around Belfast.

The list is ordered by the start of the run and doesn’t include single-performance shows. If you think your show should have been included, drop me an email!

Bah, Humbug!, Lyric Theatre, Saturday 17 November–Saturday 5 January

Elf, The Musical (Belfast Operatic Company), Waterfront Hall, Friday 23–Saturday 24 November

The Elves and the Shoemaker, The MAC, Tuesday 27 November–Sunday 6 January

Alice: The Musical, Lyric Theatre, Thursday 29 November–Saturday 5 January

Beauty and the Beast, Waterfront Studio, Friday 30 November–Sunday 6 January

Jack and the Beanstalk, Grand Opera House, Saturday 1 December–Sunday 13 January

Winter Circus (Tumble Circus), Writers Square, Tuesday 4 December–Tuesday 1 January

It’s a Wonderful Wee Christmas, Theatre at the Mill, Tuesday 4–Monday 31 December

Michelle & Arlene: Ulster Says Snow, Accidental Theatre, Thursday 6–Friday 7 and Thursday 13 December

Handel’s Messiah (Ulster Orchestra with Belfast Philharmonic Choir), Waterfront Hall, Friday 7–Saturday 8 December

On the Shelf, Grand Opera House Baby Grand, Monday 10–Saturday 22 December

Murder She Got Wrote Off – Christmas Special (Cabot Cove Players), Crescent Arts Centre, Monday 10–Saturday 15 December

Fairytale of New Lodge (Balloon Factory Productions), Tuesday 11–Saturday 22 December, The MAC

The Music Box – 10th Anniversary Production (Peter Corry), Waterfront Hall, Thursday 13-Saturday 15 December

SSE Arena are hosting a Winter Skate rather than a pantomime this year.