It’s that season again! Time to have some fun with the family at your local panto.
Christmas just wouldn’t be the same without a hefty dose of magic, fairytales, disney and comedy. In saying that, it seems this year’s favourite is definitely Sleeping Beauty with shows on all around Northern Ireland.
Here are 14 fantastic pantos worth checking out across the country:
1. The Spectacular Aladdin
December 14-27, SSE Arena, Belfast
Take a journey to Old Peking and meet old Widow Twanky and her poor son Aladdin. Times are tough but Aladdin’s life is dramatically changed when he falls in love with the most beautiful woman in the Kingdom, the Princess Jasmine. Enter the most evil baddie in the Kingdom, Abanazer. Will the evil Abanazer destroy Aladdin’s dreams to get rich and marry the Princess? Will the Genie ever get his freedom? Will you and your family have the best time of Christmas 2017? There’s only one way to find out… Book your tickets and join us on this magical carpet ride to a whole new world.
Starring Rhydian, Jake Carter, and Nuala McKeever.
£25 (£20 family ticket sold in 4), www.ssearenabelfast.com/the-spectacular-aladdin
2. Jack and the Beanstalk
November 30, McNeill Theatre, Larne
Mr Hullabaloo presents a fun filled family pantomime full of magic, wonder and enchantment. Combining spectacular sets, lavish costumes and a fantastic all singing all dancing cast. This spectacular show is guaranteed to have you singing, dancing and laughing along, especially with everyone’s favourite dancing pantomime cow Daisy! It’s sure to be a Giant of a tale!
£7, www.midandeastantrim.gov.uk/events
3. Sleeping Beauty
December 2-24, Palace Theatre, Armagh
This full-scale traditional pantomime will combine wonderful music, song and dance, colourful costumes, memorable characters, and loads of audience participation, in a lively and sparkling Christmas adventure. Once upon a time, in a land far, far away, a beautiful princess is born. The entire kingdom is delighted, apart from the evil fairy, who places a curse on the Princess, so that she will prick her finger on a poisoned spinning wheel on her 16th birthday! Who could possibly break such a terrible spell? And who will be brave enough to challenge the evil fairy? And what mad shenanigans will occur in the meantime? Come to The Market Place Theatre this Christmas to find out…
£15, www.marketplacearmagh.com/whats-on
4. Sleeping Beauty
December 2, The Queen’s Hall, Newtownards
Winner of Cork’s ‘Miss Badness’ competition for 10 years running, fairy Beastlyboots puts a curse on Sleeping Beauty, sending her to sleep for 100 years. Only a kiss from a handsome prince can save the day; but the prince thinks kissing is soppy, and his noble horse is more interested in eating bags of crisps then rescuing people! Luckily the faeries at the bottom of the garden step in with their time-travelling motorbike, but will it be enough to prevent Beastlyboots from ruining pantomimes for everyone? Join Dowtcha Puppets, Cork’s puppet specialists, for an amazing performance. They are best known for producing and touring high quality puppet shows and creating imaginative, large scale street theatre and spectacle work.
£5, www.visitardsandnorthdown.com/events
5. Sleeping Beauty
December 6 to January 7, Waterfront Hall, Belfast
A dream of a pantomime! You’ll love our traditional Christmas adventure, brought to you by a fabulous cast of larger than life characters. Our beautiful princess has been doomed to sleep for a hundred years. Can anyone break the spell and wake her? You won’t know unless you go!
Adult £17.50, Child £15.50, www.waterfront.co.uk/what-s-on/all-events
6. Peter Pan
December 2 to January 14, The Grand Opera House, Belfast
Packed full of magical panto ingredients that audiences have come to expect: comedy, outrageous costumes, stunning scenery, and special effects… along with a few surprises thrown in! Grab your fairy dust and fly to Neverland with a sensational cast for this year’s unmissable, pantomime spectacular. J M Barrie’s original story and characters including Tinker Bell and Tiger Lily, will be brought to life by a cast of over 25 performers on the Grand Opera House’s iconic stage. Defying gravity, Wendy, Michael and John Darling take the second star to the right and straight on ‘til morning as they fly from the rooftops to join Peter, the Lost Boys and Tinker Bell in Neverland where the Jolly Roger is anchored and Captain Hook is on a mission to outwit and out-manoeuvre our hero.
Starring May McFettridge, Claire King, and Paddy Jenkins.
£19.75 – £35.75, www.goh.co.uk/peter-pan
7. Jack and the Beanstalk
December 1-31, Millennium Forum, Londonderry
A gigantic beanstalk, Daisy the cow, magic beans, a goose that lays golden eggs and the nastiest of giants – it’s panto time again at the Forum! Telling the story of peasant boy Jack and his attempts to please his impoverished mother and win the hand of Princess Jill. Packed with great song and dance routines, hilarious comedy, dazzling scenes and magical special effects, Jack and the Beanstalk is fun for all the family from 4-94!
£12 – £16, www.millenniumforum.co.uk/shows
8. Beauty and the Beast
November 23-25, The Braid Arts Centre, Ballymena
The Alternative Medicine Theatre presents Beauty and the Beast. When Fairy Bon-Bon and the Demon Diablo clash, selfish Pierre is transformed from a dashing Prince into a terrible Beast. Not only that, but Diablo and Bon-Bon lose their powers and are destined to become the Prince’s servants. To break the curse Pierre must fall in love before the last petal on a magical rose falls. But who could ever learn to love a Beast?
£8, www.thebraid.com
9. Beauty and the Beast
November 30 – January 6, Lyric Theatre, Belfast
A modern twist on the timeless tale… With a fresh score of original songs and enchanting visuals, this exciting new family musical will have audiences of all ages enthralled. A sweet-natured singer-songwriter makes a deal with an all-powerful music producer, and now he’s got everything he ever wanted: fame, fortune, stardom… Except he’s turned into a monster. A Beast, actually. When intrepid Belle is forced to become his assistant by her well-meaning but fame-hungry Dad, she finds she’s the only person willing to stand up to the Beast and his ludicrous demands. As our two misfits tustle, Belle soon discovers the curse behind his Beastly behaviour… What will it take to break the spell? Can Belle save the Beast from his wicked ways?
Adult £17.50, Child £12.50, www.lyrictheatre.co.uk/event
10. Cinderella
December 20 to January 6, Belvoir Players, Belfast
Belvoir Players annual season of fun and madness is soon upon us with the tale of Cinderella the girl longing to attend the prince’s ball and escape the torment of her wicked step mother and sisters.
£11, www.belvoirplayers.org/whats-on
11. Hansel and Gretel
November 28 to January 7, The MAC, Belfast
This year, find the true meaning of Christmas at the MAC at our heart-warming family show Hansel & Gretel. Come and join the brother and sister duo on their magical Christmas adventure. Who knows what friends they will make along the way… Discover why friendship, laughter and a big bag of sweets are essential to making Christmas the happiest, twinkliest and funniest time of the year. The MAC’s version of Hansel & Gretel is a modern version of the classic tale so expect big songs, an evil witch and an all-important candy trail.
Adult £12.50 – £25, Child £10, www.themaclive.com
12. Cinderella
November 25 to December 23, Courtyard Theatre, Newtownabbey
Polish off your glass slippers and get ready to have a ball! Join Mr Hullabaloo for a fun filled family adventure that will have you singing, dancing and clapping along! Featuring an outstanding cast, puppetry, dazzling sets and lavish costumes, all ages can join in the excitement as this timeless fairytale unfolds. Special guest Santa will be handing out presents at the end of the show.
£10.50, www.thecourtyardtheatre.com
13. Ali Baba and the Naughty Thieves
December 4-9, Riverside Theatre, Coleraine
The perfect festive outing for you and your family. Ali Baba’s in a fix! He wants to marry his neighbour and girlfriend, the quick-witted Morgianna. However, as a brainless woodcutter with no money, a wedding seems altogether out of the question until he stumbles upon a magic cave containing riches beyond his wildest dreams. Unfortunately, all the treasure belongs to some rather “naughty thieves” who plan to reclaim it!
Adult £10, Child £8, www.ulster.ac.uk/riverside
14. Aladdin
December 2-9, Lagan Valley Island, Lisburn
Hop onto your magic carpet and fly on down to the Island Hall this Christmas for the most magical pantomime in Lisburn. Lisnagarvey Operatic & Dramatic Society are back with another spectacular panto brimming with comedy, slapstick, great songs and dances. So get ready to join Aladdin, Wishey Washey and the gang on their crazy festive adventures. A great show for the whole family and one not to be missed in the run up to Christmas.
From £12, www.laganvalleyisland.co.uk