FOR the first time in 39 years there will be no pantomime at Bath’s Theatre Royal this Christmas.

Cinderella, starring local actor Jon Monie, from Holt, has been postponed and will now run over the Christmas 2021/22 season.

A Theatre Royal spokeswoman said: "Pantomime hasn’t been postponed at the Theatre Royal Bath before.

"In 1981, there was no pantomime programmed as the Theatre Royal was closed for a major refurbishment from June 1981 to November 1982."

Instead, the Theatre Royal has booked Mischief Theatre’s popular comedy The Play That Goes Wrong in the Main House from December 17 to January 16. Extra performances have recently been added on Sundays.

Christmas shows for children and families in the egg theatre include Box Clever’s A Christmas Carol from December 17-20, a new adaptation of Charles Dickens’s atmospheric ghost story for ages 10-plus; and Hibernation on December 24 and from December 27-30, the award-winning Little Bulb’s magical look at what it would be like to take a very long nap, for ages three-seven.

Young audiences and families can countdown to Christmas with the egg’s Online Advent Calendar beamed to your home and featuring daily adventures with egg favourites Snow Mouse and Squirrel, starting on December 1.

As part of TRB’s updated schedule and new programme for winter and spring 2020-21, audiences should note that dates have changed for some productions.

As the country reopens from lockdown, David Mamet’s powerful and provocative drama, Oleanna, will be staged in the Ustinov Studio from December 3-22 and from January 4-16, with Jonathan Slinger and Rosie Sheehy in the main roles.

Tony award-winning Copenhagen is coming to the Main House from January 20 to February 6 and stars Haydn Gwynne, Malcolm Sinclair and Philip Arditti.

As part of its 20th anniversary celebrations, London Classic Theatre returns to Bath with Alan Ayckbourn’s Absurd Person Singular from February 9-20.

Harold Pinter’s menacing masterpiece, The Birthday Party plays Bath from February 22-27, starring Eastenders actor Michelle Collins and Tristan Gemmill.

Hugh Dennis and Claire Skinner will unite on stage in Michael Frayn’s Benefactors from March 1-6, directed by Charlotte Gwinner.

Alan Bennett’s Office Suite from March 10- 27 is a double-bill of one-act comedies, A Visit From Miss Protheroe and Green Forms.

Produced by Theatre Royal Bath Productions, Office Suite will be directed by Stephen Unwin, the founder of English Touring Theatre and a former Artistic Director of the Rose Theatre, Kingston.

Sunday shows in the Main House include the return of three hugely popular comedians: David Baddiel with Trolls: Not The Dolls on May 2, and Frank Skinner presents his acclaimed stand-up show Showbiz on June 6, and Al Murray returns to his persona of the Pub Landlord in Landlord of Hope and Glory on June 20.

Call the box office on 01225 448844 or book online.