FANS of music and the arts who are looking for something fun to do in December have a lot of shows to choose from at the Beacon Arts Centre. 

The team at the venue have assembled an amazing array of festive performances and engaging classes, which will keep everyone in the family entertained. 

Here's a rundown of what's planned for next month...

Jack and the Beanstalk pantomime 

Still Game’s Jane McCarry and Mark Cox will be joined once again by River City star Jimmy Chisholm in Jack and the Beanstalk.

Lee Samuel, Shannon Swan and Sam Willison also feature in the panto, which is being produced in-house for a third consecutive year.

The show will put an Inverclyde spin on the classic fairytale as the characters transport the audience to ‘Inverstrone’ – where the giant Greedyguts plans to destroy the kingdom if Dame Trot does not part with her precious cow.

Staff at the Beacon hope to emulate the success of last year’s record-breaking panto, which drew in more than 17,500 people.

Jack and the Beanstalk will run at the Beacon from December 7-31.

A Christmas Carol: A Radio Play on Stage

A Dickens masterpiece will be brought to the stage as a 1950s radio broadcast in front of a studio audience.

The production will feature live sound effects and an original score.

Four actors play 1950s radio actors who in turn portray all the characters of ‘A Christmas Carol’.

Following twelve years of radio plays on stage including ‘It’s a Wonderful Life', ‘Para Handy’, ‘Dracula’ and ‘Frankenstein’, No Nonsense Productions return with ‘A Christmas Carol: A Radio Play on Stage’.

The production will be on at the Beacon from December 16-19.

Christmas Crooners

Now in its tenth record-breaking year, Christmas Crooners is jam packed with festive favourites including the Christmas hits of Bing Crosby, Nat King Cole and Ol’ Blue Eyes himself- Frank Sinatra.

The cast of West End Singers are backed by a superb swing band and they will perform over 30 well known Christmas hits including, Baby it’s cold outside, Chestnuts Roasting, Little Drummer Boy, White Christmas.

There will also be swing arrangements of Christmas hymns and songs such as God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen, Deck The Halls and Silent Night.

The production will be at the Beacon on December 20 and December 21.

Mindful Movement and Platinum Dance classes

Two of the Beacon’s regular Monday classes will be running at the arts centre throughout December.

The Mindful Movement class, which draws inspiration from Pilates, yoga and dance, will run on every Monday of the month.

The class will focus on moving the body with intention, breathwork and gentle stretching. It is suitable for all abilities and can be performed seated or standing.

Those who attend are asked to bring water and wear comfortable clothing.

Platinum dance classes will run on the first two Mondays of the month.

The group is aimed at those who are aged 55 and up and offers physical and mental health benefits to those taking part.  

More information about both classes and all of the other productions can be found on the Beacon’s website.