Holiday Pantos for the Family
Christmas isn’t Christmas without the giddy glee of a panto. Rude and crude, silly and magical—here are the top shows to see across London this holiday season.
WEST END / CENTRAL LONDON
Panto: The Snowman
Stage: Peacock Theatre, Portugal Street, Holborn WC2A 2HT
Dates: 23 November 2016 – 1 January 2017
A kids’ favourite, based on the Raymond Briggs story, where pineapples dance and magical snowmen walk on air.
Panto: Potted Panto
Stage: Garrick Theatre, 2 Charing Cross Road WC2H 0HH
Dates: 10 December 2016 – 15 January 2017
Seven classic pantos in eighty crazy minutes.
Panto: Sleeping Beauty
Stage: Churchill Gardens, Pimlico SW1V 3AL
Dates: 7 – 8 December 2016
A production of the Grosvenor Light Opera Company, featuring Fairy Poppins, Fairy Liquid and Fairy Frogmother.
Panto: Cinderella
Stage: London Palladium, Argyll Street W1F 7TF
Dates: 10 December 2016 – 15 January 2017
An all-star cast in a lavish production of a favourite rags-to-riches fairy tale.
SOUTH LONDON
Panto: Dick Whittington
Stage: New Wimbledon Theatre, 93 The Broadway SW19 1QG
Dates: 9 December 2016 – 15 January 2017
A fun-filled quest for fame and fortune and guaranteed enchanting experience.
Panto: Aladdin
Stage: Waddon Leisure Centre, Purley Way, Croydon CR0 4RG
Dates: 7 – 31 December 2016
No panto in Croydon? Oh yes there is!
Panto: Scrooge and the Seven Dwarves: The Three-Man Family Pantomime
Stage: Theatre 503 at The Latchmere SW11 3BW
Dates: 22 November 2016 – 7 January 2017
Ages: 6+
The only man who can save Christmas is the one who hates Christmas most of all.
Panto: Crazy Christmas at the Haunted Hotel
Stage: St Anne’s Hall, St Ann’s Crescent, Wandsworth SW18 2RS
Dates: 20 – 29 January 2017
Amateur theatre group New Stagers promise a wild, fast-moving comedy and a crazy Christmas holiday.
EAST LONDON
Panto: Peter Pan: A New Adventure
Stage: Greenwich Theatre, Crooms Hill SE10 8ES
Dates: 18 November 2016 – 8 January 2017
A high-energy take on the boy who wouldn’t grow up.
Panto: Sinbad the Sailor
Stage: Theatre Royal Stratford East, Gerry Raffles Square E15 1BN
Dates: 28 November 2016 – 21 January 2017
Jump aboard Sinbad the Sailor’s ship and travel to mysterious places.
Panto: Mother Goose
Stage: Wilton’s Music Hall, 1 Graces Alley E1 8JB
Dates: 2 – 31 December 2016
The Mother of all Pantos!
Panto: Red Riding Hood
Stage: Hoxton Hall, 130 Hoxton Street N1 6SH
Dates: 17 – 24 December 2016
If you go into the woods today, you’re in for a big surprise…
Panto: Sleeping Beauty
Stage: Hackney Empire, 291 Mare Street E8 1EJ
Dates: 26 November 2016 – 8 January 2017
Fairies, unicorns and dragons: welcome to enchanted Hackneytonia.
NORTH LONDON
Panto: Pinocchio
Stage: King’s Head Theatre, 115 Upper Street, Islington N1 1QN
Dates: 1 December 2016 – 7 January 2017
Featuring musical numbers from pop to opera, plus plenty of puns and tomfoolery.
Panto: Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs
Stage: Shaw Theatre, 100-110, Euston Road NW1 2AJ
Dates: 10 – 30 December 2016
Come and join in the festive fun and excitement, including a Good Fairy, a Magic Mirror and the silliest Seven Dwarfs you’ve ever seen.
Panto: Beauty and the Hulk
Stage: Millfield Theatre, Silver Street, Edmonton N18 1PJ
Dates: 6 – 22 January 2017
An urban fairy-tale mashup from the folks who brought you Snow White and the Seven Superheroes and The Smurfs and the Magic Lamp.
WEST LONDON
Panto: Cinderella
Stage: Questors Theatre, 12 Mattock Lane, Ealing W5 5BQ
Dates: 15 December 2016 — 2 January 2017
Come for the colourful characters, magical moments and soaring showtunes.
Panto: Aladdin
Stage: Lyric Hammersmith, Lyric Square, King Street W6 0QL
Dates: 19 November 2016 – 7 January 2017
Ages: 6+
What would you do with three wishes?
Panto: Sleeping Beauty
Stage: Richmond Theatre, The Green TW9 1QJ
Dates: 2 December 2016 – 8 January 2017
With heaps of audience participation guaranteed to keep you awake this Christmas.
Panto: Snow Play
Stage: Watermans, 40 High Street, Brentford TW8 0DS
Dates: 8 – 29 December 2016
Ages: 3 to 8
When winter decides to move in—permanently—expect hilarity, clowning and giant snowballs.
Panto: Beauty and the Beast
Stage: Watford Palace Theatre, 20 Clarendon Road, WD17 1JZ
Dates: 2 – 31 December 2016
Dazzling dances, silly slapstick and true love conquering all.
