Panto Jack and the Beanstalk and classical concert featuring Matilda Lloyd at Saffron Hall

Celebrate Christmas with a pantomime and start the new year with a classical concert at Saffron Hall.

Jack and the Beanstalk is at the Saffron Walden venue from Sunday December 22 to Sunday December 29.

And A New Year’s Celebration, featuring the BBC Concert Orchestra and trumpet virtuoso Matilda Lloyd, is on Sunday January 5.

The whole family will want to join hero Jack Trott as he embarks on an epic journey to an enchanted land above the clouds in a panto stuffed full with toe-tapping songs, dazzling costumes and stunning sets.

With hilarious antics, loveable characters and a handful of magic beans, the show will captivate audiences of all ages.

Will Jack outwit the ferocious Giant Blunderbore and save the village from his wicked ways? His mum Dame Trott, brother Silly Billy and the family cow Daisy certainly hope so.

Meanwhile, classical music fans can mark the beginning of 2025 with a journey through six masterpieces in A New Year’s Celebration.

Delight in the haunting beauty of Mozart’s Symphony No. 25, renowned for its dramatic intensity and exquisite melodies.

Experience the sublime artistry of trumpet player Lloyd as she dazzles with Haydn’s captivating Trumpet Concerto, showcasing her unparalleled skill and virtuosity.

The programme also features other Viennese treasures by Strauss and Grace Williams’ delightful Fantasia on Welsh Nursery Tunes, as well as a selection of opera arias arranged for trumpet and orchestra.

For full details on both shows and to book tickets, go to www.saffronhall.com.