The Rattonians: A Christmas Spectacular

The Rattonians are back at the Royal Hippodrome Theatre from Wednesday 18 to Saturday 21 November, with their Christmas spectacular. It's a variety show built around musical theatre favourites and seasonal classics, with dance routines, costumes and a visit from Father Christmas. It's billed as a feel-good evening for the whole family.

The set draws from some of the biggest names in musical theatre. You'll hear numbers from Les Misérables, Wicked, Anything Goes, Matilda, Chicago and Grease, so there's a fair bit of ground covered across the decades. The Christmas songs sit alongside them, and the dance routines are a big part of the evening. It's the kind of show that works as well for kids as it does for adults, with the seasonal side of things taking centre stage as December approaches.

For those who haven't come across them, The Rattonians are a popular local theatre company with a long history of performing for Eastbourne audiences. Their Christmas production has become a regular part of the Royal Hippodrome's festive calendar, and earlier this year they put on Come From Away, the musical about the town in Newfoundland that took in stranded passengers during 9/11. This one is a different beast entirely—a variety show rather than a single story, and one that leans into the festive season.

It runs for four nights, Wednesday 18 to Saturday 21 November, with each performance starting at 7:30 pm. Tickets are £17 to £22, and since it's a family show, it's one of those that works just as well as a night out with the kids as it does as a proper theatre trip with friends. If you're looking for something to get you into the Christmas spirit a bit early, this is it.