The Ultimate Theatre-Inspired Christmas Gift Guide

You may be feeling the colder weather and might have started putting your Christmas decorations up already, but if you’ve been struggling with Christmas shopping, we’re here to help!

We’ve put together this mini guide to upcoming shows and gift ideas for your friends and family this festive season, to help you in your gift-shopping and help you share the joy of great theatre!

LEGEND SEASON TICKETS…

The ultimate gift for the closest of friends! Purchase 3 or 4 shows in our price band 1-3 and save 15% on all! You can also book 5+ shows for a 20% discount.

Shows included in the season ticket offer are:

• Jack and the Beanstalk
• The Gruffalo’s Child
• Disney’s The Little Mermaid 
• A Song for Ella Grey
• Bluebeard
• Cluedo 2
• King Arthur
• There’s a Monster in Your Show
• Tortoise & The Hare
• Bouncers

Simply add the show tickets to your basket and the discount will be applied automatically!

Buy a membership for a friend

For a theatre fanatic – why not treat a loved one to a yearly membership? Members enjoy lots of benefits from exclusive content, newsletters, events, priority booking and discounts. YTR memberships start from as little as £25 annually and will be a year-long treat to look forward to!

Name a seat

What better way to honour a theatre-lover than naming a seat after them? This is a fantastic opportunity to present a friend with a unique and heartfelt gift. See a name you hold dear inscribed on one of the seats – your family name, a friend, or your company.

Disney’s The Little Mermaid

This absolutely classic is the perfect gift for any children or romantics in your life!

This enchanting musical tale features unforgettable songs like “Under the Sea,” “Kiss the Girl,” and “Part of Your World.” There is also a BSL performance available on Tue 13 Feb at 7.30pm.

A Song for Ella Grey 

Got a YA-reading teenager? A Song for Ella Grey is a brilliantly heart-wrenching performance based on the novel of the same name by David Almond.

“A darkly romantic tale that sings of the madness of youth, the ache of love, and the near-impossibility of grasping death.”

Join us for first night fizz on Tue 20 Feb after the 7pm performance – all audience members will get a complimentary glass of fizz. We are also hosting a post-show discussion after the Fri 23 Feb performance, and providing an audio described performance on Sat 24 Feb at 2pm.

Blue Beard

Based on the classic folktale of the same name.

Emma Rice brings her own brand of theatrical wonder to this most beguiling and disturbing of tales. With her signature sleight of hand, Blue Beard explores curiosity and consent, violence and vengeance – all through an intoxicating lens of music, wit and tender truth.

We are hosting first night fizz on Tue 27 Feb after the 7.30pm performance – all audience members will get a complimentary glass of fizz. There will also be a post-show discussion after the Fri 01 Mar performance.

Cluedo 2

This board-game based show is a brilliant way to bring some theatre fun into your murder mystery fan’s life!

Cluedo 2 – The Next Chapter follows the hugely successful Cluedo, which toured the UK in 2022. This is a hilarious whodunit – a brand-new story set in the swinging 60s, with a new house, new suspects, and lots of new bodies. This rollicking spoof of a comedy will have you guessing until the final twist!

Each character is named after the famous playing pieces from the game; Miss Scarlett, Professor Plum, Reverend Green, Colonel Mustard, Mrs Peacock, Mrs White and Mr Black, as well as the butler Wadsworth made famous by Tim Curry in the 1980s film Clue.

Suitable for ages 8+, you could even bring along a favourite niece or nephew!

There’s a Monster in Your Show/Tortoise & The Hare

These two children’s shows are a magical treat for young ones. Bring your little ones along to the theatre for an afternoon of joy, and treat them to a tub of ice-cream.

There’s a Monster in Your Show is a wonderful introduction to live theatre for children, as a high-energy 50-minute adventure featuring lively original music. You can expect comedy and chaos as they help to create a magical show, learning about the joy of books and friendship along the way.

We have a relaxed performance available on Thu 28 Mar at 1.30pm.

Tortoise & The Hare is an introduction to live ballet and music. Your little ones will be cheering along as a playful cast of characters re-tell this classic tale.

We have a relaxed performance available on Wed 3 Apr at 11am.

Bouncers

Treat somebody to the classic Northern favourite. A feel-good show, Bouncers is sure not be a let-down as it’s more a social phenomenon than a play. Bring a friend and celebrate the good times, come on!

Join Les, Ralph, Judd and Lucky Eric as they relive a night in a Yorkshire disco in the 80s. Like a hideously funny Saturday Night Fever, the original Bouncers is back in town. Everyone will be there: the DJ, the girls, boys and the fish and chip van.

Gift voucher

Can’t decide? Why not give them the choice by purchasing a gift card for however much you like! These can be used for future shows, pre-orders of merchandise as well as memberships, so are the most flexible gift for a true theatre-lover.

Our Theatre Gift Vouchers are easy and quick to buy (even last minute!), are valid for a whole two years and let your loved ones choose what they want to see so you’ll never go wrong. They can be purchased online and redeemed online too, for any ticket purchased through York Theatre Royal.