WEBF’s Pantomime Preview 2025/26
Photo credit: Ian Olsson
Besties, as November progresses, scripts are being finalised all around the UK, casts assemble and rehearsals begin for another glorious pantomime season. We love this time of year and look forward to covering many of the productions during their runs, as well as giving you some more background into the most British genre of drama.
Have you booked to take your family to one or two this year yet? How do you choose what to see? Two easy criteria are:
1) The production that is nearest to where you live and;
2) One that has won a UK Pantomime Award in a previous year.
The Best Pantomime winners (by seat capacity ) in April 2025 were Greenwich Theatre (under 500 seats), Loughborough Town Hall (500-900 seats) and Lyceum Sheffield (900 plus seats). All three regularly win for their quality across a whole range of categories.
Another way to pick is by title. We all have our favourite pantomime story, and we know that even though the narrative is familiar, a return visit is still entertaining and even enhanced by that prior knowledge and anticipation of what is to come. Here are some shows to consider by title:
Sleeping Beauty
Sleeping Beauty was an ancient folklore famously adapted by Charles Perrault and the Brothers Grimm where the cursed thorn became the spinning wheel spindle and the more macabre elements of the story were dropped. Joseph Grimaldi appeared in Harlequin and the ogress or the Sleeping Beauty in the Woods in 1822.
This year, you can see this title at the daddy of all pantomimes at the London Palladium production with Catherine Tate, Paul Zerdin and the outrageous Julian Clary. These shows have set new standards for pantomime production values with spectacular settings and wonderful costumes, especially for each Julian Clary entrance. It runs from 6 December to 11 January but seats cost up to £264 in the Stalls, even in its final week, with the cheapest being £37.50 on the edges of the Grand Circle. In addition, it is not a show for a first visit for a young child as it more an adult variety show than a family pantomime.
Perhaps better value and more suitable for young audiences is along the M4 at the Wyvern Swindon, which has the charming Ben Goffe who was such a hit last year, joined by Chaser Jenny Ryan.
At Cambridge Arts Theatre is Matt Crosby, in his twentieth year starring in The Arts Theatre pantomimes, joined by Steven Roberts who won a Pantomime Award for Best Sisters for last year’s show there. Since then, the venue has been completely renovated and reopened in time for this year’s show. You will not see a better slosh scene this season than at this venue!
Another venue with a strong pantomime tradition is the York Theatre Royal which also stages Sleeping Beauty this year, with CBeebies star Jennie Dale. These grand historical venues are the perfect location to enjoy pantomime.
Cinderella
Cinderella has a longer history stretching back into ancient Greek stories but was also brought into the modern world by Charles Perrault with the godmother, glass slipper and pumpkin introduced in that version. In the Brothers Grimm Fairy Tales, the two sisters mutilate their feet to fit the slipper. The story appeared in the1820 in Rossini opera La Cenerentola, becoming a pantomime at Covent Garden as Harlequin and Cinderella that year, although the Ugly Sisters did not appear as men dressed as women until 1860 at the Strand Theatre and Buttons was added in a Covent Garden production.
At the Hackney Empire, their Cinderella will be one of the most inclusive and diverse shows, directed by the wonderful Clive Rowe, and running until 31 December. It’s a glorious venue. The Boxing Day matinee show, top adult prices are £47.20.
To the West, Richmond Theatre, another Frank Matcham designed building, is presenting Cinderella too until 4 January with Helen George, Charlie Stemp and Basil Brush. Their Boxing Day matinee, best seats at £59.
Further West, Theatre Royal Windsor’s Cinderella will feature Michael Praed (together with the returning Kevin Cruise and Steven Blakely) and their Boxing Day evening show still has some Royal Stalls seats left at £41. Last year, Mia Walsh won Best Principal Girl for her role in Dick Whittington at Windsor. They claim to be one of the longest consecutive years run of pantomimes of any venue in the country.
In North Wales at the newly reopened Theatr Clwyd in Mold, their Cinderella stars local favourite, Philip Harries. Last year, Mold won Best Contribution to Music.
Snow White
Snow White and Seven Dwarfs was a Brothers Grimm fairytale published in eighteenth century including the magic mirror, poisoned apple and glass coffin but was popularised by the Disney film of 1937 and only appeared as a pantomime title after that.
One of the best versions of this tale this year is certain to be with the wonderful Dame Ben Roddy who returns to the Marlowe Theatre Canterbury, joined by Sarah Hadland (Miranda) and Mister Maker, Phil Gallagher, for what is always an outstanding production with great scripts and wonderful ensemble integration.
Another star with a strong local following is Billy Pearce who returns to the Bradford Alhambra with Sinitta and Myra Dubois. It will be Pearce’s twenty fifth season at Bradford earning him the claim to be the King of Yorkshire comedy.
Aladdin
The story of Aladdin was, of course, one of the best-known stories from One Thousand and One Nights, the middle eastern folk tales included in Galland’s book in 1710.
Aladdin’s first appearance was in 1788 in Covent Garden, though the name Abanazar was added in 1813 in Aladdin and his Wonderful Lamp in Covent Garden and Widow Twankey (after an inferior brand of tea) was created in 1861.
Another TV favourite, Linda Robson (Birds of a Feather) will be at the Orchard West in their temporary venue in Dartford. This may be a tent but despite the limitations, they seek to put on a good show.
At the Sheffield Lyceum, the wonderful resident Dame Damian Williams returns in Aladdin and is joined by Kevin Clifton from Strictly. This venue regularly wins at the Pantomime Awards, including last year’s Best Pantomime (900 seats plus).
In South Wales, Kev Johns continues to star at the Swansea Grand and is joined this year by the madcap Joe Pasquale in this title.
Beauty and the Beast
Beauty and the Beast was another ancient story that was written down in 1740 by Gabrielle-Suzanne de Villeneuve and was presented as a pantomime at Drury Lane in 1869, with a script by E L Blanchard. Dan Leno appeared in a version in 1890 with Vesta Tilley.
The Hexagon Reading continues with Justin Fletcher, another childrens’ TV favourite as Mr Tumble, alongside Paul Morse as Dame in their version until 4 January. This show is always perfectly pitched for a young audience while entertaining the adults and for the second year, is showing off a digital set that adds to the magic.
The Victoria Theatre Halifax venue also presents Beauty and the Beast this year, with the excellent Andrew Pollard as Dame (a past Pantomime Award winner) and last year won Best Ensemble Award.
Over in Lancashire is the Frank Matcham designed Blackpool Grand where last year, Steve Royle won Best Comic who returns for Beauty and the Beast. It is another location with great tradition.
Mother Goose
Mother Goose was the English translation title of the Perrault book, as the purported author of the Fairy Tales and first appeared in pantomime in 1806 in Harlequin and Mother Goose or the Golden Egg in Covent Garden as a vehicle for Joseph Grimaldi. But the modern pantomime version started with Dan Leno at Theatre Royal Drury Lane in 1902 written by J Hickory Wood.
South Hill Park, Bracknell’s pantomime Mother Goose and the Golden Egg, priced at just £27.50 offers great value, with a script by Joyce Branagh and set design by Victoria Spearing (both past winners of Pantomime Awards).
Jack and the Beanstalk
Jack and Beanstalk derived from an English fairytale that first appeared in 1734 and became the History of Jack and the Beanstalk in 1807. It was first performed in 1773 at Theatre Royal Drury Lane as Jack the Giant Killer, and in 1819 under the title Jack and the Beanstalk or the Harlequin and the Ogre with Eliza Povey as Jack, perhaps one of the first principal boys.
You can see this title at Salisbury Playhouse, written by the brilliant Plested, Brown & Wilsher and directed by venue Artistic Director Gareth Machin. This is another venue that “punches above its weight” winning Best Costume Design in 2025 and earned itself a nomination for Best Set Design both for Katie Lias, as well as being a past winner of Best Pantomime. It runs from 29 November to 11 January. Boxing Day seats here are priced at £46.
Up in Scotland at the Festival Theatre in Edinburgh, Allan Stewart and Grant Stott return in Jack and the Beanstalk. Their partnership has been a mainstay of Edinburgh shows and next year will return to the refurbished Edinburgh Kings Theatre.
Dick Whittington
The pantomime of Dick Whittington is based on the real Richard Whittington, a successful 14th-century merchant and Lord Mayor, but the story adds a fictionalised, rags-to-riches journey involving his cat. It was first staged as a pantomime in 1814 starring Joseph Grimaldi.
Down on the South coast at Poole Lighthouse, their Dick Whittington is led by Chris Jarvis of CBeebies fame, writing directing and starring as the Dame and showing a real appreciation of the genre and a good balance of gentle innuendo and slapstick.
At Derby Arena with Wendy Peters and Morgan Brind, Brind acts as producer, writer, director and Dame and is equally important to the Derby Arena show where he won Best Dame in 2022, demonstrating a real understanding of the pantomime genre.
Robin Hood
The character has been depicted in stories since the 13th century and first appeared in the pantomime Babes in the Wood in 1867. Dan Leno appeared at Drury Lane in 1888 in Babes in the Wood and Robin Hood and his Merry Men and Harlequin who Killed Cock Robin.
This year at Birmingham Hippodrome, you can see the title with Matt Slack, one of the best of the modern Dames Andrew Ryan, and Gok Wan. It will be Matt Slack’s 12th consecutive season at the Hippodrome which has established a wonderful rapport with local audiences which drives the show each year.
Little Mermaid
The original story of The Little Mermaid was written by Hans Christian Andersen and published in 1837. While the tale became a Disney animated film in 1989, it feels like a recent addition to the pantomime titles.
The UK Pantomime Association recognised the unique contribution to the genre of Elaine C Smith with the Outstanding Contribution Award in 2025 presented by the great director Michael Harrison and she is back at Glasgow Kings with Johnny Mac in The Little Mermaid. She radiates joy and love for performance in pantomime.
It is always interesting to see new pantomime titles appear or be resurrected from the 20th century and it is sad to see titles like Puss in Boots, Robinson Crusoe and Babes in the Wood disappearing from the lists of most popular titles. This reflects changing attitudes in society and another secret of pantomime success is how it has evolved with the times while sustaining some traditions.
We urge you to book, support your local theatre and enjoy a traditional family outing at Christmas.
Nick Wayne