YOU are safe for the 2018 festive period but the The Grinch is planning to steal Christmas next year.

The record-breaking New York Christmas sensation, Dr Seuss' How The Grinch Stole Christmas! The Musical, is bringing its mischief to The Lowry from December 10, 2019, to January 5, 2020.

Featuring the hit songs You’re A Mean One Mr Grinch and Welcome Christmas, Max the Dog narrates the show, as the mean and scheming Grinch, whose heart is ‘two sizes too small’, decides to steal Christmas away from the yuletide-loving Whos.

A spokesman for the show said: "Magnificent sets and costumes inspired by Dr. Seuss’ original illustrations help transport audiences to the whimsical world of Whoville, breathing life into this timeless story and conjuring the true meaning of Christmas."

The 2018 production is based on the show originally created by three time Tony Award winning director, Jack O’Brien.

The show broke box office records for two consecutive years on Broadway.

Since then, more than two million people across America have been thrilled by this heart-warming musical.

The announcement of the tour of the musical comes as a new movie of The Grinch – starring the voices of Benedict Cumberbatch and Angela Lansbury is enchanting a new generation at cinemas across the country.

Tickets go on sale next Friday, December 7, at 10am.