Is it too soon to spread Christmas cheer? STOS Theatre Co bring Elf to Sheffield's Lyceum theatre

The acclaimed city theatre company will be presenting the regional premiere of the Broadway and West End Christmas comedy favourite at the Lyceum from November 16 to 20.

Elf: The Musical is based on the smash hit Will Ferrell movie about Buddy, a human raised by accident amongst elves at the North Pole, who travels to New York in search of his biological father - with unexpected and hilarious consequences.

And when Santa himself is threatened by modern day cynicism as he makes his deliveries on Christmas Eve, it’s down to Buddy and his new family and friends to save the season and bring some traditional festive magic back for the holiday.

The stage musical version of the film opened on Broadway in 2010 and came to London’s West End in 2015.

The STOS production will be another regional premiere, following on the success of their last show at the Lyceum, Shrek: The Musical.

The company had been intending to present Proclaimers show Sunshine on Leith in November last year but that production was cancelled as the Lyceum remained in Covid lockdown.

“We already had Elf: The Musical booked for 2021 and it has generated an enormous amount of interest so we knew we had a big decision to make and we feel this is the right choice for the company,” said STOS chairman Phil Brownhill.

“We are optimistic that we will be able to get this show on the Lyceum stage while complying fully with all government safety guidelines.

“We have a duty to both the members of our company and to our audiences to be going back into production with a show that will be perfect for the time of year.

“Obviously things can change and we will be moving carefully as we go into rehearsals, knowing that the health and safety of every member of the cast and production team is our main priority.

“At the same time, we are really excited that Sunshine on Leith with all its fantastic Proclaimers melodies will still be going ahead in November 2022 and we look forward to seeing everybody again at what promise to be two more great shows for all the family.

“Elf: The Musical and Sunshine of Leith represent the fantastic range and variety of contemporary musical theatre and also demonstrate what a diverse and talented team we have at STOS.”

STOS Theatre Company produces the world’s top musicals at Sheffield’s Lyceum Theatre, made for and by the people of South Yorkshire.

STOS draws on the very best local talent, employs hugely experienced professional creative teams, and invests upwards of £100,000 on each show to ensure the production values are without equal, performing exclusively at the Lyceum.

The company’s shows have been seen by more than15,000 people in the last three years alone.

For more information about STOS visit stos.org.uk