Critical list

THE LITTLE MATCH GIRL
Emma Rice creates a magical, candlelit atmosphere for the tale of the poor little matchgirl, shivering on the London streets, who finds solace in stories. JE
Sam Wanamaker Playhouse, London SE1, until Jan 22

THE ROVER
Carnival time hits Stratford as Aphra Behn’s raunchy 17th-century comedy celebrates the Swan’s 30th birthday. JE
Swan, Stratford-upon-Avon, until Feb 11

THIS HOUSE
James Graham’s riveting 2012 play, set in the parliamentary whips’ offices in the mid-1970s, feels timelier than ever after the Brexit vote. PN
Garrick, London WC2, until Feb 25

WILD HONEY
A welcome revival of Michael Frayn’s farcical version of Chekhov’s early work. JE
Hampstead Theatre, London NW3, until Jan 21

Jane Edwardes, David Jays and Patricia Nicol

Art

Maino’s Adorations: Heaven on Earth

ART PICK
MAINO’S ADORATIONS: HEAVEN ON EARTH
The festively minded should see this exotic, exuberant pair of paintings by Juan Bautista Maino (1581-1649). Caravaggio was an influence — and, aptly, the National’s Beyond Caravaggio show rolls on until Jan 15.
National Gallery, London WC2, until Jan 29; closed Dec 24-26, Jan 1

ABSTRACT EXPRESSIONISM
Final chance to see this extensive survey of one of the 20th century’s punchiest “-isms”.
Royal Academy, London W1, until Jan 2; closed Dec 25 and 26

HELEN MARTEN
Marten recently won both the Turner prize and the Hepworth prize for sculpture for her cerebral and intricate pieces.
Turner prize, Tate Britain, London SW1, until Jan 2; closed Dec 24-26. Hepworth prize, Hepworth Wakefield, until Feb 19; closed Dec 25 and 26

COLOUR
The Fitzwilliam shares its stunning collection of illuminated manuscripts. Last weeks.
Fitzwilliam, Cambridge, until Jan 2; closed Dec 24-26 and 31, Jan 1

NEVER A BORE
Last chance to see Cecil Beaton’s photographs of the last Mitford sister, Debo Devonshire, and her set. Artists, writers and innumerable socialites feature.
Chatsworth, Derbyshire, until Jan 3; closed Dec 24-26, Jan 1

Louis Wise

Comedy

The Pod of Maximum Damage with Adam Riches

SOHO THEATRE

COMEDY PICK
ADAM RICHES
The Pod of Maximum Damage is as complex as Riches shows get. It’s a weekly live recording of a fan podcast about a fictional sub-Game of Thrones cable show, The Sword of Maximum Damage... The “fans” are played by a rotating group of comedians: this week, it’s Joseph Morpurgo and Toby Hadoke.
Kings Place, London N1, Wed

JONNY AND THE BAPTISTS
The frenetic musical duo, joined by Rachel Parris, deliver 30 Christmases — a seasonal story about a couple trying to have their first decent Christmas in years, laced with songs and skits.
Old Fire Station, Oxford, Mon-Fri

MICHELLE WOLF
The sharp American’s horror at the president-elect has forced her across the pond for the festive season. See interview, in this section.
Soho Theatre, London W1, Tue-Fri, Dec 28-30

ROMESH RANGANATHAN
Ranganathan heads this extended Krater Club New Year’s Eve special — and seeing his curmudgeonly approach to the biggest party of the year is worth the ticket price alone. Simon Evans and Michael Fabbri are also on the bill; Stephen Grant is the MC.
Komedia, Brighton, Dec 31

Stephen Armstrong

Dance

The Sleeping Beauty: Oliver Messel’s landmark 1946 production at ROH

DANCE PICK
THE SLEEPING BEAUTY
Tchaikovsky and Petipa’s fairy tale is the Royal Ballet’s signature classic, with Oliver Messel’s landmark 1946 production sumptuously re-created.
ROH, London WC2, Wed, Fri, Dec 29 and 30, Jan 3

THE NUTCRACKER
The traditional Christmas ballet, with more Tchaikovsky magic, in different versions by Peter Wright (Royal Ballet; see interview, in this section) and Wayne Eagling (English National Ballet).
RB, ROH, London WC2, Mon, Sat, Dec 27, 28 and 31; in rep until Jan 12. ENB, Coliseum, London WC2, today, Tue-Sat, Dec 27-31 and Jan 3-7

HANSEL AND GRETEL
Christopher Hampson’s inventive Scottish Ballet version is set to Englebert Humperdinck’s score.
Festival Theatre, Edinburgh, until Dec 31

BEAUTY AND THE BEAST
David Nixon’s strikingly staged production for Northern Balletuses an eclectic range of classical music.
Grand Theatre, Leeds, until Jan 7

David Dougill

Pop

Hogmanay with Paolo Nutini in Edinburgh

ROSS GILMORE/REDFERNS

POP PICK
EDINBURGH’S HOGMANAY
The Scottish capital still does New Year’s Eve best, and is touting not one but two concerts by a national hero, Paolo Nutini. His support acts are Frightened Rabbit and the Vegan Leather. Is there a theme?
Princes Street Gardens, Edinburgh, Dec 30 and 31

NEW YEAR’S EVE WITH SNAKEHIPS
This dance duo’s collaborations with the likes of Zayn and Tinashe have kept them high up in the charts. Their gig sees in 2017 in a decidedly zeitgeisty way.
Jazz Cafe, London NW1, Dec 31

CHIC FEATURING NILE RODGERS
Rodgers just keeps on touring, playing all his many, many, many disco hits with Chic and beyond in a welcome visit. It’s in support of Autism Rocks, too.
Eventim Apollo, London W6, Fri

COURTNEY PINE
The British jazz saxophonist invites you to celebrate the festive season in a classier, more reflective way.
Jazz Cafe, London NW1, Dec 28 and 29

Louis Wise

Classical

William Christie’s Les Arts Florissants put on Handel’s “Christmas”

ALAMY

CLASSICAL PICK
MESSIAH
William Christie’s crack baroque ensemble, Les Arts Florissants, put on Handel’s “Christmas” oratorio in a rare performance by a non-British outfit. His team of soloists combines locals (Katherine Watson, Tim Mead, Samuel Boden) with a mezzo (Emmanuelle de Negri) and bass (Konstantin Wolff) from mainland Europe. HC
Barbican, London EC2, Mon

DER ROSENKAVALIER
Renée Fleming sings the Marschallin in Strauss’s comic masterpiece. Robert Carsen’s new production for the Royal Opera is set in 1911, the year of the opera’s composition, and also stars Matthew Rose, Alice Coote and Sophie Bevan. Andris Nelsons conducts. HC
ROH, London WC2, Tue, Thu

LONDON CONTEMPORARY MUSIC FESTIVAL
Third of three concerts exploring the work of the avant-garde composer Julius Eastman. Works including Gay Guerilla, and excerpts from Arthur Russell’s Tower of Meaning, are performed by the ensemble Apartment House and a team of pianists. PD
Second Home Holland Park, London W11, today

THE TALLIS SCHOLARS
Peter Phillips conducts Christmas-related Renaissance music, including Victoria’s Magnificat Primi Toni and John Taverner’s O splendor gloriae. PD
St John’s Smith Square, London SW1, Wed

DORIC STRING QUARTET
The players give Haydn’s String Quartet in D, Op 64, No 5 (The Lark), Bartok’s String Quartet No 2, and Mendelssohn’s E flat quartet, Op 44, No 3. PD
Wigmore Hall, London W1, Dec 28

Hugh Canning and Paul Driver

Book it now

Modern family: see Fernand Léger’s Mother and Child at the Ashmolean Museum, Oxford, from February

Matthew Bourne’s Early Adventures, Theatre Royal Bath, Feb 2-4, then touring
Britain’s best-loved choreographer celebrates the 30th anniversary of his company, New Adventures, by restaging some of his early works. The touring programme includes the cheeky Spitfire and Town and Country, a love letter to England.

Beware of Pity, Barbican, London EC2, Feb 9-12
Two of the world’s finest theatre groups, Complicite and Schaubühne Berlin, create an adaptation of Stefan Zweig’s novel, set in the dying days of the Austro-Hungarian empire. Simon McBurney directs.

Degas to Picasso: Creating Modernism in France, Ashmolean Museum, Oxford, Feb 10–May 7
Celebrating a period in French art with an unmatchable roll call: Manet, Cézanne, Braque, Léger... The story begins with the romanticism of David and ends with the radicalism of Duchamp.

Junkyard, Bristol Old Vic, Feb 24-Mar 18, then touring
Jack Thorne, the man behind Harry Potter and the Cursed Child (and Channel 4’s National Treasure), works his magic yet again. For Headlong, he turns this true, simple story – teenagers building a playground in Bristol – into a spirited musical.

Transformer, Victoria Warehouse, Manchester, May 28
Named after the classic Lou Reed album, this bank-holiday event celebrates the best in avant-garde rock. The line-up includes the Fall, This Heat, Loop and the New York racket-makers Swans.

Lovebox, Victoria Park, London E3, July 14 and 15
After a long hiatus, Frank Ocean is definitively back. He released two albums this summer and has now announced a rare visit to the UK, headlining Lovebox’s 15th anniversary edition.