The festive season is well underway, but if you’re not a fan of traditional pantos why not check out an altogether different form of Christmas entertainment. Strathclyde Theatre Group are once again donning the mantle of the Celebrated Gaslight Gaieties to perform a riotous mix of comedy, send ups of opera and 19th century melodrama and classic music hall standards.

The show harks back to the golden age of cockney music hall, when Marie Lloyd gained notoriety for songs such as ‘The Boy I Love is Up in the Gallery’. ‘One of the great pleasures as a performer is creating a character to suit a song or routine,’ says director/performer Susan Triesman. ‘You have such an incredible rapport with the audience. It’s so unusual in theatre to be able to talk to the audience and have them talk back to you.’

The Music Hall tradition is part of Triesman’s family history: her mother, the actress Rita Triesman, started her career in music hall with Unity Theatre before World War II, and Susan recalls helping her mother revive the tradition in Hoxton Hall in London’s East End some 30 years ago. The show marks a poignant end to Triesman’s tenure as director of the Ramshorn and STG, as she is retiring at the end of December after 26 years. The List wishes her the best of luck for the future and we look forward to seeing the Ramshorn carrying on with her good work in the new year.

Ramshorn Theatre, Glasgow, Thu 9–Sat 11 Dec