Circa's Duck Pond and Ceilidh the Musical lead Brighton Dome's Christmas line-up

Brighton Dome has announced its December programme, and three stage shows sit at the heart of it. A circus retelling of two old favourites fills the Concert Hall over the holidays. A new immersive musical takes over the Corn Exchange the week before Christmas. A puppet fable for the youngest audiences follows it into the same room. All three are booking now through the venue.

Duck Pond

Circa play eight performances of Duck Pond in the Concert Hall, on 23-24 and 26-28 December. The show is aimed at ages 5 and up. The Australian company, regular visitors to Brighton Festival, fold Swan Lake and The Ugly Duckling into a single family piece built on aerial work and acrobatics. Look out for a black swan with a burlesque streak and a whole battalion of ducks in flippers. Beneath the jokes is a story about identity and working out who you really are.

Ceilidh the Musical

Ceilidh the Musical is a new show and runs in the Corn Exchange from 15-20 December. It borrows the shape of a Scottish ceilidh. A caller runs the room, the audience is drawn into the dancing, and a story of family, inheritance and queer love comes through in the songs as the night goes on. There is a dram or two along the way. Expect something closer to a gathering than a conventional play, with the audience part of the action rather than watching from the seats.

The Adventures of the Little Red Hen

Stuff and Nonsense Theatre brings its take on the familiar fable to the Corn Exchange on 22-24 December, for ages 3 and up. The Adventures of the Little Red Hen is told with puppets, live music and plenty of comedy.

The rest of the venue's December is given over to concerts, singalongs, comedy and craft sessions. Tickets for all three shows are on sale from Brighton Dome.

Production photos from Duck Pond, Ceilidh the Musical and The Adventures of the Little Red Hen

For more information, visit the official website.