New Year theatre highlights in the North

Winter wonders in Leeds

Leeds goes full ice queen this season as Opera North present three classic fairytales: The Snow Maiden (21 Jan-24 Feb), Hansel & Gretel (2-25 Feb) and Cinderella (16-25 Feb) at the Grand Theatre. Skating between worlds of fantasy and reality, the stories sweep from enchanted snowscapes to dark forests and glittering palaces; John Fulljames’ production of Rimsky-Korsakov’s rarely-staged Snow Maiden should be a particular highlight.

We're also intrigued by a modern, digital take on Pygmalion by acclaimed company Headlong at the West Yorkshire Playhouse (4-25 Feb), while the National Theatre's phenomenally successful Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time at the Grand (28 Feb-4 Mar) will warm both hearts and cockles.

Pride and politics in Liverpool

What was winter made for if not period drama? This year, you can graduate from sobbing through re-runs of lovely Paul Dano in War & Peace or the seventh viewing of Poldark to actual real-life corsets and coat-tails at Liverpool Playhouse, with Simon Reade's adaptation of Pride & Prejudice (7-11 Feb). Mr Bennet is played by Matthew Kelly and Mrs Bennet by Felicity Montagu (Alan Partridge, Bridget Jones' Diary), while the whole thing is supported by Classic FM and Country Life so you can be sure it'll be very proper, darling.

For something a little less rose-tinted, try Glasgow Girls (Playhouse, 14-18 Feb), a song-based political drama telling the true story of seven young women who protest the deportation of their school friend and her family. A hit at last year's Edinburgh Fringe, Cora Bissett's play has been called "the most politically engaged and enraged British musical since Blood Brothers." 

Vital talent in Manchester

It's all about PUSH Festival in Manchester (HOME, 14-28 Jan), championing work by local practitioners. Highlights include The Island, The Sea, The Volunteer and The Refugee by Louise Wallwein, which tackles the issue of migration through Wallwein's personal perspective as a volunteer with refugee support group Kos Solidarity in Greece. At last year's PUSH we loved Mighty Heart Theatre's body image/self-esteem focused show When I Feel Like Crap I Google Kim Kardashian Fat; they're back for 2017 with work-in-progress Now Is The Moment We Learn Hope, unspooling their experiences travelling to some of the happiest and unhappiest places in the UK.

Another important event this winter is Queer Contact (10-18 Feb), the annual festival at Contact Theatre celebrating LGBT History Month. Theatre/cabaret notables include a new version of Nigerian singer Le Gateau Chocolat’s Black, a moving and confessional portrait of his life, this time accompanied by contemporary music ensemble Psappha. For Valentine's Day, look no further than Smother; an electrifying dance/hip-hop performance in which seven dancers explore the relationship between two young men.

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For more recommendations and to find out what's on, head to theskinny.co.uk/theatre