The Best British Pantomimes to Visit This Christmas 2022

We love a pantomime! 

For many of us a visit to the panto is as important as decorating the tree and giving presents. Synonymous with Christmas and enjoyed by all ages, a pantomime can be a lavish and professional production or a local amateur dramatic one.

The UK’s favourite 5 pantos :

1. Cinderella
    
2. Jack & The Beanstalk
    
3. Aladdin
    
4. Snow White
    
5. Dick Whittington

And what do we like most about them?

1. The humour.
    
2. Booing the baddies.
    
3. Watching children enjoying themselves.
    
4. Singing along to songs.
    
5. Costumes.
    
6. The adult jokes within them.

Our list of Christmas pantomimes to look out for in 2022

(there are hundreds more around the UK, check out bigpantoguide.co.uk)

• Cinderella - Christmas pantomime in Lincoln, New Theatre Royal.

9/12/22 – 8/1/23

Promises a wonderful show with a great cast including celebrities Jake Quickendon, Ian Waite and Kerry Katona.
 

• Dick Whittington & His Cat – Christmas pantomime in Cambridge, Cambridge Arts Theatre.

1/12/22 – 8/1/23

A magical rags-to-riches tale with a strong cast that includes Matt Crosby as Dame and Rolan Bell.
 

• Robin Hood – Christmas pantomime in Oldham, Coliseum Theatre, Greater Manchester.

12/12/22 – 7/1/23.

An award-winning and nationally renowned annual panto.

Traditional panto following the adventures of the real-life hero.
 

• Cinderella – Christmas pantomime in Dunstable, Beds, Grove Theatre.

9/12/22 – 2/1/23.

A funny and spectacular performance starring Joanne Clifton, Phil Gallagher, Jaymi Hensley and Will Kenning.
 

• Peter Pan – Christmas pantomime in Stoke-on- Trent, Regent Theatre, Piccadilly.

9/12/22 – 31/12/22.

A magical performance with great special effects and amazing sets.
 

• Aladdin – Christmas pantomime in Durham, Empire Theatre, Front St.

1/12/22 – 31/12/22.

Hilarious Tommy Cannon joins a fab cast to present the magical tale of Aladdin with a modern twist.
 

• The Snow Queen – Christmas pantomime in Cheltenham, Gloucs.

25/11/12 – 31/12/22.

Not a traditional panto but a beautiful show particularly suited to young children.
 

• Jack & The Beanstalk - Christmas pantomime in Barnstable, Queens Theatre.

14/12/22 – 31/12/22.

Promises a big show full of magic and excitement.
 

• Peter Pan, Christmas pantomime in Inverness, Eden Court Theatre.

7/12/22 – 8/1/23.

Swashbuckling adventure panto with spectacular song and dance routines and much hilarity.
 

• Snow White & the Seven Dwarfs, Christmas pantomime in London, Wimbledon, New Wimbledon Theatre.

3/12/22 – 31/12/22.

Come and enjoy this much-loved classic in Wimbledon’s wonderful theatre, an iconic landmark since 1910. 

What to expect, if you’ve never experienced the silliness

• The main young man is played by a woman.
   
• The dame is usually a man dressed as a woman.
   
• The audience is expected to participate (“ he’s behind you” etc!).
   
• The good fairy enters the stage from stage right and the villain from stage left.
   
• Sweets are thrown out to the children.
   
• Plenty of slapstick comedy.
   
• Animals are played by actors, often by two in a single costume.

Did you know?

• The first pantomime dame performed in The Golden Goose at Covent Garden in December 1806.
   
• The famous Widow Twankey from the popular Aladdin is named after a very cheap Chinese tea.
   
• You think pantomimes are a bit long?  In 1900 Drury Lane’s production of Sleeping Beauty and the Beast lasted 5 hours!
   

• We have the ‘UK Pantomime Association’? This association presents yearly awards for the best pantomime (various sizes), best ugly sisters, best dame, best costume design and many others.

And if you’re looking to treat the family to some festive goodies, take a look at our range of family Christmas hampers, packed with plenty of snacks to munch away on during the panto.