IT’S NEVER too early to plan for Christmas, so the Stephen Joseph Theatre has opened bookings for two great family shows over the festive period.

A distinctly Yorkshire version of the classic tale Pinocchio will be in the Round, while there’s all the usual Tiny Time Tales fun and nonsense for little people and their grown-ups, with lots of singing and joining in, in How to Catch a Fairy: A Beginner’s Guide.

In the little-known Yorkshire city of Catchfools, the local theatre company is staging a Christmas production of Pinocchio.

This group of musically gifted (but theatrically unlucky!) performers are staging their own unique version of the Italian tale of a cheeky little wooden puppet who just wants to be a real boy, complete with songs and lots of local jokes.

This updated version is perfect for all the family – a story that everyone knows… but with a Yorkshire twist!

Adapted from the original by Nick Lane, Pinocchio will be directed by the SJT’s new artistic director Paul Robinson, who joins the theatre in June.

Tilly and Peter have just moved to the country – boring! Or is it? As their mum is clearing out the loft she discovers an old book called How to Catch a Fairy: A Beginner’s Guide. And so the adventure begins.

How to Catch a Fairy: A Beginner’s Guide is written and directed by Cheryl Govan and performed by the SJT Young Company.

Pinocchio runs from Thursday 8 December until Saturday 31 December, and How to Catch a Fairy: A Beginner’s Guide can be seen from Saturday 10 December to Saturday 17 December. Please see the SJT website for a more detailed calendar: www.sjt.uk.com

Tickets for Pinocchio cost from £9.00 for under-16s and from £15.00 for adults, with special Christmas group discounts available. Tickets for How to Catch a Fairy: A Beginner’s Guide are £4.00 each.