Manchester
Raymond Briggs' Father Christmas
Step inside the bloomin’ brilliant world of Raymond Briggs’ Father Christmas this winter!
Children of all ages will delight in Briggs’ grumpy but loveable Father Christmas as he gets ready for his busiest day of the year: Christmas Eve. Watch as he prepares his Christmas deliveries, feeds his reindeer and finally takes flight into the snowy night.
But things don’t run smoothly and he soon encounters soot-covered chimneys to squeeze through and treacherous weather conditions, all while plenty of mischief is had by his cheeky pets, Cat and Dog.
With plenty of live music, songs and playful puppetry, this critically acclaimed adaptation of Raymond Briggs’ much loved book is a delightful festive treat for children and families to enjoy.
Raymond Briggs' Father Christmas Tickets
Our review on Raymond Briggs' Father Christmas
Raymond Briggs' Father Christmas - Waterside, Sale - Friday 5th December 2025 by Magdalena Walker
Our Rating
A cosy festive treat at Waterside
This weekend we headed to Waterside Arts Centre for its seasonal staging of Raymond Briggs’ Father Christmas — and what a lovely way to begin the Christmas period. There’s something about Waterside that always puts us at ease — it has that friendly, welcoming buzz where families feel instantly at home, like you’ve stepped into a space designed with little imaginations in mind.
From the moment the lights dimmed and the first notes rang out, we — and especially my five-year-old — were enchanted. The performance from Marcus Hendry as Father Christmas struck just the right balance of grumpy mood and soft-hearted warmth; more than once I glanced over to see wide eyes, then a full-throated laugh as soot-covered chimneys, stubborn reindeer and cheeky pets unfolded on stage.
The live music, performed by Grace Liston, and the atmospheric sound-effects added a layer of wonder — and my child was mesmerised to discover that the same person making reindeer footsteps or snow crunching was visible right on stage. It felt like a mini theatre-lesson for curious young minds as much as a Christmas story.
The brief, 55-minute runtime kept things perfectly pitched to a child’s attention span, and the mix of puppetry, music and storytelling created just enough whimsy without ever feeling overwhelming. Waterside has delivered a delightful festive experience that felt both gentle and magical — the kind of show that reminds you why Christmas theatre exists. If you’re after an inviting, warm, family-friendly introduction to the holiday season, this Father Christmas is a lovely start.
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