THE Glad Rag Production Company returns to the Regent at Christchurch for a fifth year with a family Christmas Spectacular from Saturday, December 17 to Saturday, December 24.

There will be evening shows at 7pm on Saturday 17, Monday 19, Wednesday 21, Thursday 22, Friday 23 and Saturday 24, as well as 2pm matinees on Saturday 17, Sunday 18, Tuesday 20, Thursday 22, Friday 23 and Saturday 24.

The show sees the company returning to the North Pole, where Santa is hosting a special Elf convention.

With visiting Elves from Gemrany, America and Spain, the show is a trip around the world in 90 minutes, with “sparkling singers, stunning dancers and adorable babes” performing West end showstoppers, Christmas classics and the hilarious If I Were Not on Santa’s Team.

The lavish costumes are designed and produced by Sue Simmerling of Carry on Costumes in New Milton, whose theatrical credits include numerous West End hits including White Christmas and Elf the Musical. The cast this year will also feature performers from West End shows such as Christmas with the Rat Pack.

n Vienna Festival Ballet is on tour with its original production of the timeless fairy tale Snow White, based on the traditional Brothers’ Grimm story.

Snow White’s journey through a magical world of hip-hopping dwarves, an enchanted mirror, and a poisoned apple, in pursuit of her Prince Charming will dazzle the whole family.

The ballet is at the Tivolil Theatre, Wimborne, on Thursday November 24, 7.30pm, and at the Mowlem Theatre, Swanage, on Friday, December 9, 7.30pm.

Vienna Festival Ballet was founded by the celebrated Austrian dancer Peter Mallek after his illustrious career as a dancer in 1980. The company continues to experience remarkable success and perform great classical ballets all over the world.

It has top dancers including graduates from the Royal Ballet School, British, Australian and Italian soloists, and guest stars from around the globe.

Choreographed by Barry McGrath, and set to an array of orchestrated pieces by composers including Faris and Gounod, Snow White is a new but classically rendered ballet which has been well received since its UK debut in 2013.