Best films and TV shows for theatre lovers this Christmas

Satisfy your theatre cravings this Christmas with the best theatrical programmes and films during the period. From documentaries to musical theatre classics, there's a stage production for all ages to get their teeth into. Dim the lights, tuck into a Christmas feast and enjoy the best of what theatre has to offer on the television.

The 2017 West End production of An American in Paris will be aired for the first time on Christmas Day (3:10pm, 25^th December, BBC1). Set in postwar Paris, the musical features Gershwin songs including "S'Wonderful" and "I Got Rhythm" and was choreographed by Artistic Associate of the Royal Ballet, Christopher Wheeldon. The production was screened in cinemas around the world earlier this year, with LondonTheatre.co.uk saying that watching An American in Paris on screen is a "no-brainer for any musical theatre lover".

Other musical films on television over the seasonal period include Mary Poppins, (5pm, 24^th December, BBC1), returning to the West End next year with Zizzi Strallen playing the title role and The King and I (2:35pm, 24^th December, Channel 5). If you're looking to fill Christmas Day with musical theatre, tune into back-to-back musical films with Seven Brides for Seven Brothers (1:05pm, 25^th December, Channel 5) followed by Chitty Chitty Bang Bang (3:10pm, 25^th December, Channel 5).

Big musicals aren't just on the television this Christmas. If you're wanting to see the latest Broadway offering, you can now watch Springsteen on Broadway on Netflix, where Bruce Springsteen shares stories from his life and performs some of his best-known songs in a one-man show.  

Excite your little ones this Christmas with some of the best childrens stories on television. In a double bill of Christmas Eve tradition, watch We're Going on a Bear Hunt (4:10pm, 24^th December, Channel 4), followed by Raymond Brigg's The Snowman (4:40pm, 24^th December, Channel 4) which has been aired annually since 1982, with the stage adaptation celebrating its 21^st year at the Peacock Theatre. Playing at the Lyric Theatre over Christmas, tune into the television adaptation of Room on the Broom (3pm, 23^rd December, BBC1), be inspired by David Walliams' The Midnight Gang (7:30pm, 26^th December, BBC1) and take a trip to the Bloomsbury Theatre to see his play Awful Auntie.

For those of you who want to watch theatre related documentaries during the festive period, sit back and listen to Hugh Jackman talk about his favourite movie musicals in Movie Musical Greats with Hugh Jackman, (2pm, 23^rd December, Sky One) before embarking on a world tour where he will sing hit songs from The Greatest Showman and Les Misérables. Take That And Us (7pm, 28^th December, BBC1) will also air during the festive season. Listen to Take That talk candidly in this documentary charting the boyband's success as well as the recent success of Take That musical The Band as they celebrate their 30^th anniversary.

Inspired by literary figures and theatre, you'll want to set a reminder for The ABC Murders (9pm, 26^th December, BBC1). Starring John Malkovich as Hercule Poirot, see the famous Belgian detective investigating three murders in three towns seemingly linked by their location. Les Misérables (9pm, 30^th December, BBC1) has also been adapted for the television, with later episodes being aired in the New Year. With a cast including Olivia Coleman, Derek Jacobi and Dominic West, audiences will be able to watch the story of Jean Valjean in a television series for the first time.