Tickets for Dear Santa, the stage version of Rod Campbell's Christmas picture book, start at £16.50 when it runs at Battersea Arts Centre from 28 November to 24 December, and the opening weekend is Pay What You Can.
Prices for Dear Santa at Battersea Arts Centre come in three bands. The performances on 28-29 November are Pay What You Can, with £15 as the suggested amount. From 1-17 December a ticket costs £16.50, and from 19-24 December it is £18. Every performance is relaxed.
The show is adapted from the book by Rod Campbell, who also wrote Dear Zoo, and is produced by Norwell Lapley Productions. It is pitched at children aged two to six, though all ages are welcome, and lasts about 55 minutes with no interval. In the story Santa sets out to find the perfect present for a girl called Sarah. His first ideas miss the mark, and it takes his mischievous Elf to help him settle on the right one before Christmas Eve. After the show children can meet Santa, and every child receives a gift.
Public performances are at 11am, 2pm and 4.30pm, with school and nursery performances at 10.30am and 1.30pm. Press performances are on Saturday 5 December at 11am and 2pm, and on Tuesday 8 December at 10.30am and 1.30pm.
Tarek Iskander, Artistic Director and CEO of Battersea Arts Centre, said: "One of my toddler’s favourite books is Dear Santa, and it’s one we return to all year round. So, I’m delighted that Battersea Arts Centre will be giving life to this wonderful story and sparking young imaginations everywhere. For some of our audiences, this will be their very first experience of live performance, and hopefully one that will inspire a lifetime of enthusiasm for the work on our stages. We’re looking forward to welcoming families to spend time with us this Christmas, and to discover all that the building has to offer."
The show anchors a wider Christmas programme for young families in the building. Festive Soft Play, for ages 0-5, runs from 1-24 December in 90-minute sessions starting at 9.30am, 11.30am, 1.30pm and 3.30pm, priced at £10 for an adult and child, £2.50 for each extra adult and £5 for each extra child. Families booking Dear Santa can take a package that brings £2.50 off a soft play visit. Santa's Grotto returns from 4-24 December, open 9.30am to 5.30pm, at £15 per child with adults free. Tom's Cafe will be serving hot chocolate, mince pies and Christmas cookies.
The Christmas offer was first outlined in July, when Battersea Arts Centre announced its autumn-winter season. All three are booking now through the venue, which sits on Lavender Hill, SW11 5TN, in the former Battersea Town Hall.
