Here are 6 must-see plays on stage in Metro Vancouver in Dec…

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December usually means holiday theatre and this year is no exception. Christmas-themed shows will be playing on all three of the Arts Club’s stages, and The Cultch’s East Van Panto remains a favourite December tradition.

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But like Pacific Theatre’s The Hobbit, good family friendly shows don’t all have to be holiday-specific.

Here’s a nice mix of the secular, silly and sublime to jingle your bells and help warm up your winter:

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A Christmas Carol

When: Dec. 4-15
Where: Presentation House Theatre, 333 Chesterfield Ave., North Vancouver
Tickets and info: $15 to $35 at phtheatre.org

Dickens’ Christmas classic comes in all shapes and theatrical sizes. The North Van community trumps humbuggery in this clever adaptation from Italy’s Giuditta Mingucci. Leslie Dos Remedios, the only actor onstage, plays Scrooge. All the other characters are recorded North Shore voices, and Sentinel Secondary School’s Jazz A Band provides live musical accompaniment.

It’s a Wonderful Life: On the Air

When: Until Dec. 22
Where: Jericho Arts Centre, 1675 Discovery St., Vancouver
Tickets and info: $15 to $34 at unitedplayers.com

Another twist on another Christmas classic.

Peter Church’s musical adaptation of the 1946 movie tells the story as an old-time radio show with live sound effects, commercials and all.

Featuring Nick Preston as George Bailey and Bernard Cuffling as the angelic Clarence Oddbody.

Co-directed by Sarah Rodgers and Chris Lam with spectacular costumes by Mara Gottler.

Juliet: A Revenge Comedy

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When: Dec. 4-8
Where: Kay Meek Arts Centre, 1700 Mathers Ave., West Vancouver
Tickets and info: $19 to $52 at kaymeek.com

Monster Theatre’s hilarious sort-of-feminist Shakespearean spoof by Pippa Mackie and Ryan Gladstone makes its way to West Van after touring for the past five years.

Juliet, Lady Macbeth, Ophelia and Cleopatra don’t want to follow the script for good reasons, and The Tempest’s Miranda just wants to have sex.

Gladstone directs, and plays the mansplaining Shakespeare.

The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe

When: Dec. 4-15
Where: Waterfront Theatre, 1412 Cartwright St., Granville Island
Ticket and info: $15 to $26 at carouseltheatre.ca

Can’t forget the kids this time of year.

Carousel Theatre for Young People presents this two-actor adaptation of the C.S. Lewis classic from Victoria’s Kaleidoscope Theatre for Young People.

Peter, Lucy and Aslan the Great Lion save Christmas for Narnia.

Directed by Pat Rundell. Recommended for kids age five and up, who will be crawling through your closets after seeing it.

Lionel Bart’s Oliver!

When: Dec. 12 to Jan. 4
Where: Gateway Theatre, 6500 Gilbert Rd., Richmond
Tickets and info: From $35 at gatewaytheatre.com

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Dickens at Christmas that’s not A Christmas Carol!

Lionel Bart’s book, music and lyrics for this version of Oliver Twist won multiple stage awards in the 1960s plus a Best Picture Oscar.

Great characters (Oliver, the Artful Dodger, Nancy, evil Bill Sykes and Fagin) and some memorable songs, including the lovely ballad As Long as He Needs Me.

Directed by Josh Epstein with choreography by Nicol Spinola.

Reflections on Crooked Walking

When: Until Dec. 22
Where: Firehall Arts Centre, 280 E. Cordova St., Vancouver
Tickets and info: From $30 at firehallartscentre.ca

The Firehall remounts last year’s production of Ann Mortifee’s upbeat musical allegory with significant cast changes and new material.

Meghan Gardiner returns as the antagonist and Jesse Lipscombe as the guide with superb Paige Fraser taking over as Gabby, the seeker.

The show highlights Mortifee’s striking lyrics and music, and Barbara Clayden’s costumes, which are wondrous to behold.

Donna Spencer directs.

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