Hello to mistletoe kisses, fruity pud, tinsel, crackers and dance-floor jingles. Over the next few weeks, we'll be braving the cold as we journey out to those inappropriate office parties, seasonal feasts, family gatherings - and all those wild cultural adventures we love to relish at this time of year. Now, for a moment, let's fast forward to January when it may seem very tempting to just hibernate on the sofa in your festive PJs and watch that new box-set till your eyes hurt. Or - come the new year, loaded with your fresh resolutions, maybe you'll be itching to get up, out and about? Hmm - fancy an alternative to the saggy sofa?

After you've read the recommendations from this weeks guest editor, dreamthinkspeaks' artistic director Tristan Sharps - you'll be wanting to check-out some of the most exciting performance 2013 has to offer. His latest production, 'In The Beginning Was the End' comes to Somerset House in January - expect a brilliant promenade production, taking you to places you'll never have been before. Yes, they'll be walking you into previously unopened chambers to reveal a vision of the world either on the verge of collapse - or the brink of rebirth. Read his Run Riot Interview (here) where talks about creativity, collaboration, and his take on consumerism - inspiring stuff.

Tristan's other top tips include Robert LePage's Playing Cards 1: Spades at the Roundhouse - a 360 degree experience from the man who makes 'theatre for people who don't like theatre'. Also in February, Robert Wilson performs John Cage's Lecture on Nothing - one of the central texts of twentieth-century experimental literature, as a homage to the revolutionary composer. After something slightly less cerebral? The Mouse and his Child at the Royal Shakespeare theatre is an adaptation of the darkly strange and wonderful 1960s fairytale that draws attention to the sad plight of toys discarded on Christmas day. Toys are for life, not just for Christmas!

Meanwhile, our cup runneth over with competitions - we caught up with professional purveyors of pop, Frisky and Mannish ahead of their new show; you can read our interview with them here and win tickets to the show here. We have more unconventional interpretations of killer pop tunes with the Lips Choir live at the Coronet, win tickets here. Other gems that'll bring some jolly rouge to your cheeks include Meow Meow's Little Match Girl at the Southbank Centre or join the Chorus of Disapproval starring Rob Brydon at The Harold Pinter Theatre. Or for a right royal fancy lark, don your best costume for the Midwinter Ball at Kensington Palace - we have tickets for you and a friend. Explore the history of Limehouse Town Hall with Memento, or discover the photography of William Klein and Daido Moriyama at the Tate Modern.

The Best of the Rest features some real festive joys; from live Christmas Card printing, to FEAST (does what it says on the tin) and a seasonal episode of Upstairs Downton, our favourite improv act inspired by the nation's beloved period dramas. Or even catch Princefest at the ICA - and much, much more. Not signed up? Well - here you go: sign up to the newsletter for our weekly dose of wisdom, wit and things to be won. Wishing you a spankingly sparky week! Bottoms up! RRxx