Baggy trousers and high heels. Bad haircuts and hairy baddies. Genies and giant birds. Shipwrecks and magic carpets. Lots of tea and even more gin. All this and more (much, MUCH more) awaits in this year’s English Comedy Club panto, Sinbad the Sailor.
Forget everything you ever knew about the 1001 Nights and Sheherezade the story-teller! This is the definitive panto version of Sinbad’s adventures – all-singing, all-dancing and full of terrible jokes.
From the teeming market of ancient Knokke-le-Souk, home to Sinbad, his mum Baba Ganoush and his best friend Ali, to the gold-filled palace of the Sultan Pepa and Sultana Bran, their daughter Ladida and evil chief advisor Mustafa C. Hama, Sinbad the Sailor is full of exotic locations that are somehow very close to home.
The perfect post-Christmas treat to dispel those back-to-school blues, the ECC panto will take place on 20-22 January 2023 at the Auderghem Cultural Centre. Tickets cost €18 for adults and €14 for children, and are selling fast so get yours now at English Comedy Club Theatre Group (thelittleboxoffice.com).
Meanwhile, the Brussels British Community Association raised funds for the Child Focus charity at its annual Christmas reception that took place at The British Residence this week in Brussels.All proceeds went to the charity.
For those looking for ideas on what to do over the festive period, here’s some tips:
Brussels’ “Winter Wonders” seasonal offering has actually been named the world’s best Christmas market by Big 7 Travel. This year it has new attractions: a Secret Garden in the Grand Hospice that’s a green festive oasis,plus curling and “Spirit of the North.”Brussels will also honour Ukraine with two chalets dedicated to the war torn country.
The annual Brussels Carol Concert, headed by Mary Gow and Ian Forester, is at the Royal Conservatory, Rue de la Régence, Brussels with proceeds going to the Foetal Medicine Centre at CHU Brugmann.
The eco-friendly Let It Slow takes place on 17 & 18 December 11.00-19.00 at Be-Here Rue Dieudonné Lefèvre, and offers locally produced gifts and food.
Check out also some great Xmas markets outside the capital, notably at Leuven, Namur and also at the coast including Ostend.
If you are also looking for a special culinary treat this Christmas – and you may have built up an appetite after trekking round Xmas markets – check out the newly refurbished Juliana Hotel in central Brussels which, apart from a fascinating history (it stands on a particularly historic part of the city) it also boasts special menus for the festive season.
Juliana Hotel Brussels is a rather lovely place to celebrate the holiday as it is nicely decorated for the occasion.Also, as it is within easy walking distance to the Grand Place, guests can enjoy the light show and the Winter Wonders and Christmas Market.Special Packages on the website: https://www.juliana-brussels.com/en/offers-and-news-holidays-brussels#festive-season-at-juliana-hotel-brussels
Elsewhere at Tangla Hotel in Woluwe St Lambert, Brussels, there are yet more Christmas menus and New Year offerings but guests are reminded to book soon before all the seats are all gone.
