What the kids say...

Harry Utley, eight: "It should have been a bit shorter. I thought Jack's mum was trying to be like Mrs Doubtfire but it didn't really work."

Length:2hrs 15mins including 15-minute interval. Refreshments available.

Suitable for: all ages. Admission: outside Christmas week, £11-£17. Christmas week £13-19. £10 for 16s and under, all performances. Concessions: available outside Christmas week, £10.

Richmond Theatre, The Green, TW9: Cinderella Faithful to the original story, with lots of singing and dancing. Expect plenty of the risquÈ humour - Julian Clary stars as Dandini. Postman Pat makes an appearance.

Reviewed by: Emily Mercer, 10: "My favourite parts were when Buttons and Postman Pat threw chocolate into the audience and when the real ponies came on stage with Cinderella's carriage. I liked Dandini's costumes but didn't get all his jokes. Sometimes the grown-ups laughed and I didn't understand why."

Emily's mother, Heather: "A traditional production with lavish costumes, pop songs, and audience participation, with more adult humour from Julian Clary." Length: 2hrs, with a 15-minute interval. Refreshments available.

Suitable for: all ages. Admission: £10-£17. Concessions: £2 discount, selected performances. Family ticket £50 for four, selected performances.

Bloomsbury Theatre, Gordon Street, WC1H: A Christmas Carol Musical adaptation of Dickens's classic tale, by Ron Pember of The Sweeney and Minder fame. Featuring The Bill's Eric Prichard as Scrooge, and directed by Roy Marsden, Inspector Dalgleish in TV versions of PD James's novels.

Reviewed by: Chris Samson: "Lacked the Christmas magic people seem to crave. Scrooge lacked personality and many scenes seemed over-long. Some younger children appeared scared at times."

His niece Gail, 10: "The ghosts were scary and really good. I was bored at first but the ending made me very happy." Length: 2hrs 10mins, with a 20-minute interval. Refreshments available.

Suitable for: age eight and over. Admission: £17.50 adults. Concessions, 16s and under, £12.50. Concessions for UCL staff and students £6. Family ticket for four £52.50.

Sadler's Wells, Rosebery Avenue, EC1: The Lion, The Witch And The Wardrobe Adrian Mitchell's adaptation of CS Lewis's famous fantasy for the Royal Shakespeare Company returns after runs at Sadler's Wells last Christmas and at Stratford and the Barbican the year before. It stars former Doctor Who Sylvester McCoy.

Reviewed by: Emily, seven: "I liked the children, the beavers and Aslan the lion. The beavers were very funny. Aslan's mane looked soft and I would have liked to ride on his back like Susan and Lucy."

Jennifer, five: "At the beginning I was scared of the White Witch. She had a loud voice. I loved the battle at the end. I liked seeing all the animals on stage and the flags waving." Length: 2hrs 30mins with a 20-minute interval.

Refreshments available.

Suitable for: anyone over seven. Admission: No performances Mondays. £9 off-peak (weekdays, matinÈes and evenings), up to £38 peak. 21 December to 6 January inclusive - all performances are peak. Family ticket - for every adult and three children, a fourth child goes free. Only available offpeak and only on top two prices. Concessions: subject to availability, one hour before the show.

Players' Theatre, Villiers Street, WC2: Aladdin The Wonderful Scamp An original Victorian script, so none of the usual "He's behind you!" antics. Including music from the works of Handel and Verdi and a Punch and Judy show.

Reviewed by: Joe Shalam, seven: "I didn't exactly like it because there were more songs than story."

Isaac Shalam, four: "I liked the Punch and Judy show." Length: 2hrs 20mins with two intervals of 15-minutes.

Refreshments available. Suitable for: age 11 and over. Admission: adults £17.50 evening shows, £15 matinÈe. Children 16 and under, all tickets £6. Concessions available on group bookings.

Churchill Theatre, High Street, Bromley BR1: Peter Pan Traditional family pantomime about the boy who didn't want to grow up. In this production, Peter is played by ex-Hollyoaks actress Julie Buckfield. Also starring Paul Nicholas as the evil Captain Hook.

Reviewed by: Hannah Griffiths, 12: "The scenes on the ship were the best with all of the pirates and Hook and Peter Pan fighting. There were also acrobats on the boat swinging from the sails. I would recommend other children to go and see it. The whole cast were good but Peter Pan was the best."

Jenny Ryan, 12: "The ship and all the costumes look excellent. My favourite bit was when they fired ammunition from the ship, with loads of smoke. I've got tickets to see it two more times - it was wicked!" Length: 2hrs 20mins, with a 20-minute interval.

Refreshments available.

Suitable for: age three and above. Admission: £12, £14 and £16. Concessions, and children aged three to 16, £2 reduction apart from 20-31 December and 5 and 6 January.

Beck Theatre, Grange Road, Hayes UB3: Dick Whittington Family panto faithful to the story but with modern music. With Brian Maloney and Elisha Gazdowicz, of Neighbours fame.

Reviewed by: Rida Rasheed, 12: "The scenery was wicked, especially the shipwreck scene and I loved the tune Under The Sea from The Little Mermaid. The dancing was good and lively."

Noreena Hassan, 13: "I liked the captain and the mate - their clowning around brought in a circus element. I could not stop laughing at the wallpaper scene. There were lots of jokes with gooey wallpaper paste pies. A must-see." Length: 2hrs 30mins, with a 20-minute interval

Refreshments available.

Suitable for: over-threes. Admission: adults £14.50/£13.50. £2 off for OAPs and under-18s. Special offer £45 for a family of four.

Children's London