Are you ready to embrace your ‘Inner Elf’ in the run up to Christmas 2026?

Well Starlight are here to help you do exactly that by bringing the most Christmassy of Musicals, Elf, to the stage of the beautiful Tyne Theatre and Opera House. 2025 may have been like a string of Christmas lights with broken bulbs but, fear not, Elf will leave you sparkling like the brightest fairy lights imaginable in 2026.

Elf the Musical is based on the 2003 feature film of the same name. It features songs by Tony Award nominees Matthew Sklar (The Wedding Singer) and Chad Beguelin (Disney’s Aladdin on Broadway). The book is by Tony Award Winners Thomas Meehan (Annie, The Producers, Hairspray) and Bob Martin (The Drowsy Chaperone).

The Elf in the title is Buddy, who doesn’t quite seem to fit in to Santa’s workshop, in more ways than one. Not only is he really bad at making toys, he is also considerably taller than the rest of his workmates – about three feet taller! Santa eventually admits to Buddy that he is really a human, brought to the North Pole by accident when he crawled into Santa’s sack as a baby. Santa sends him to New York to find his real family.

Even though Buddy is not really an Elf, he has grown up at Santa’s workshop at the North Pole – the happiest place on Earth. As a result he has waaaaaaay too much Christmas spirit for the ordinary folk of NYC to cope with. Needless to say, when he does meet his real family he is disappointed at their complete lack of Christmas spirit – his father is on the ‘Naughty’ list for goodness sake!- and he resolves to help them, and everyone else, remember the true meaning of Christmas and really embrace the Festive Season.

Buddy’s infectious Christmas Spirit eventually communicates itself to those around him.

They sing a song with the most Christmassy title EVER! – Sparkejollytwinklejingley – makes you want to do a happy dance doesn’t it?

Meeting various people along the way, Buddy’s innocence and  rambunctious curiosity causes mayhem and laughs aplenty.

Can Buddy save Christmas? Will Santa’s sleigh ever fly again? Will Buddy find love? Can New York rediscover its Christmas Spirit?

All of these questions will be answered, as you settle back in your seat  and let Starlight Stage Productions usher you into the Festive Season 2026 with this feel good musical. Dim the lights, turn off the mobile and unwrap your sweets! There is something for everyone  humour, pathos, anger, disbelief and – of course -LOVE!