The show is a seasonal spin-off from Terry Deary’s Horrible Histories, whose ingenious concept of mixing historical fact with fun has captivated young minds for more than 20 years.

Deary’s stories are in good hands with Birmingham Stage Company – the team behind the Horrible Histories stage productions and David Walliams’ Gangsta Granny.

Of course, no child wants a horrible Christmas. But that’s what could happen if bad Santa, Sydney Claus (Chris Gunter) gets his way.

The action starts on Christmas Eve in the Watson household, where young Wendy (Rebecca Livermore) has decided she’ll have an early peek at one of two of her presents – never a good idea.

After being caught-out by her parents, she’s told that all her presents had better be back under the tree by morning. But between now and then Sydney Claus sneaks in with other plans.

He may be dressed in a red suit and have a red-nosed reindeer side-kick (Ashley Bowden), but this Bad Santa has a black beard and it’s clear from the start that he is an imposter. Now, the challenge for our young heroine is not just to rescue her own presents but to stop this bad Santa spoiling Christmas for everyone.

Helped by Horrible Histories’ answer to the good fairy, Shirley Holmes (Salford actor Lauryn Redding), the pair go on a time-travelling adventure through the history of Christmas.

It’s an action-packed journey that takes them right back to the nativity; playing ghosts with Charles Dickens, and sing-songs with King Henry VIII and a rapping Charles II (a versatile Neal Foster).

Jacqueline Trousdale’s set design is effective in its simplicity, which adds an almost cartoon feel at times and allows the action to zip along at pace. The lively cast are full of energy and get the audience on-board from the off, never allowing a lull where attention could wane.

As an alternative festive show, it incorporates many of the best bits of pantomime, with plenty of crowd interaction and loud boos for the villain. Toilet humour gets the youngsters giggling, Wendy’s favourite exclamation being ‘Polar penguin poo!’ There are horrible cracker jokes like  ‘Why is my meerkat missing its centre claws? …because, centre claws comes at Christmas!’

At the same time it is littered with plenty of interesting historical facts that will be news to many of the adults watching – who knew, Santa Claus was green until the 1930’s?

Horrible Histories is that rare gem of a family show that genuinely appeals to all ages from 4 upwards. If you think you know about Christmas, this show will make you think again.

Horrible Christmas is at The Lowry from 7 December to 8 January 2017.

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This year marks 100 years since the birth of the much-loved children’s author and as part of the centenary celebrations, Birmingham Stage Company, which has produced more Roald Dahl stories than any other company in the world, is touring David Wood’s interactive stage adaptation of George’s Marvellous Medicine.

The story is a simple if fantastical one, which Wood has updated with modern-day references such as Nintendo Wii and Breakfast TV. George (Ed Thorpe) is on half-term from school. All he wants to do is rest and read his book about a wizard boy, but unfortunately for George his parents have other plans. Living on a farm there are cows to be milked, chickens to be fed, as well as bedrooms to be cleaned.

As if his fun wasn’t being spoiled enough, grandma arrives. George fantasises about having a wonderful grandma who gives him compliments, presents and plays computer games. Sadly, he has a grouchy grandma, who downs her gin in one and has him running after her every whim at the ring of a bell.

To cure his grandma of her terrifying temper, George decides to swap her medicine with one of his own making, with the audience egging him on to add more and more outrageous ingredients. This is one part where as an adult I did find myself thinking it’s maybe not such a good idea to have children playing with a mix of anti-freeze, diesel oil, bleach and hairspray – but there is a warning disclaimer at the end reminding youngsters not to try this at home.

Hopefully none of the youngsters will have a granny like this one of George’s. If she bears more than a passing resemblance to his mother this is because in real life the actresses playing the parts, Tessa and Deborah Vale, are twins. It shows how good the make-up is that they pass realistically as mum and daughter, but pity the casting director who had to make the choice which was which.

Jacqueline Trousdale’s design of a house with the front taken off works brilliantly, particularly for the scenes where granny grows and grows until she bursts through the roof.

From the start George talks to the children in the audience, making them his friends. Things liven up considerably when he starts to involve them in remembering his medicine mix and warming their hands to heat the pot.

And while George and his dad (Richard Mullins) may struggle to recreate the original concoction, their adventure has all the right ingredients for a fun-filled, family show.

George’s Marvellous Medicine is at The Opera House, Manchester from 15-19 November 2016.

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