London pantomimes 2022 – from Mother Goose to Cinderella

The festive season isn’t yet behind you, don’t worry; the shows are only just getting started.

With some incredible entertainment around the capital, it would be a sin not to indulge in some Christmas theatre.

So here’s a round up of the best panto out there. What are you waiting for?

Jack And The Beanstalk

The annual London Palladium panto always attracts some of the biggest names in showbiz, and it’s done so again this year, with Julian Clary, Dawn French and Alexandra Burke leading a glittering cast that also includes Louis Gaunt (recently seen in the Mary Poppins musical) as Jack.

December 10 to January 15, 2023, London Palladium.

Mother Goose

Few actors have quite the range of the great Sir Ian McKellen, who is dragging up to entertain audiences as Mother Goose. The script for this production is by the very funny Jonathan Harvey (Corrie, Gimme Gimme Gimme) while John Bishop and Anna-Jane Casey, also star.

December 3 to December 11, Theatre Royal Brighton; December 15 to January 29, 2023, Duke Of York’s Theatre, then touring.

Jack And The Beanstalk

Wit and topicality of its panto scripts, so their take on the classic ale of Jack and his magic beans is sure to be interesting – ‘extreme skateboarding, milk explosions, singing cows, some absolutely outrageous outfits and, of course, Beyoncé!’ are among the promised treats on offer.

Until January 7, 2023, Lyric Hammersmith.

Snow White And The Seven Dwarfs

From musicals star Ruthie Henshall to former gameshow host/acclaimed actor Matthew Kelly, singer/Loose Woman Brenda Edwards and children’s TV legends Dick And Dom, this year’s show at south London’s New Wimbledon Theatre is stacked with experienced talent.

December 3 to December 31, New Wimbledon Theatre.

Potted Panto

If you’re struggling to decide which panto to go to, then this unique show may be the answer you’re looking for: it mashes up seven pantos, including Aladdin, Dick Whittington and Cinderella, into just 70 very entertaining minutes.

December 17 to January 8, 2023, Apollo Theatre.

Jack And The Beanstalk

Surprisingly, perhaps, Strictly’s consummate charmer Anton Du Beke only made his panto debut last year, and a very creditable job he did, too. So it’s good to see him back treading the boards, this time in Bromley, playing the titular hero.

December 4 to December 31, Churchill Theatre, Bromley.

Cinderella

It’s Cinderella but not as you know it in Theatre Royal Stratford East’s take on the fairytale, written by acclaimed playwright Leo Butler, which relocates the story of put-upon Cinders to Ancient Egypt and features Cleopatra and Julius Caesar.

Until January 7, 2023, Theatre Royal Stratford East.

Little Red Robin Hood

No, we haven’t written that wrong: this is indeed a panto combining the stories of Little Red Riding Hood and Robin Hood, with the plucky heroine entering the fray to save everybody’s favourite outlaw from the clutches of the Sheriff Of Nottingham.

December 6 to January 8, 2023, Battersea Arts Centre.

Rumpelstiltskin

The Charles Court Opera company’s uproarious ‘boutique pantos’ are a north London favourite, and now they’re performing at the Park Theatre for the first time. Having tackled Beowulf in 2021, they’re taking on another less-obvious tale this year with their version of the Grimm brothers’ fairytale about the malevolent imp.

December 13 to January 14, 2023, Finsbury Park.