Christmas in London: Pantomime round-up from West End to Hackney

A guide to some of the best  London pantos happening this festive period.

Transcript

00:00London's pantomime season is one of the highlights of the festive calendar, offering

00:05a wide variety of shows for all ages. From classic fairy tales to fresh takes on familiar

00:12stories, here are some of the top pantomimes to catch in London this Christmas.

00:17Currently at Germain Street Theatre, Napoleon and Petit Pantomime is the latest holiday

00:23production from Charles Court Opera, known for their quirky and irreverent pantomimes.

00:29This year, they tackle the life of Napoleon in their signature style, packed with humour,

00:34wit and plenty of surprises.

00:38The iconic Robin Hood The Julian Cleary Show returns to the London Palladium for another

00:43Christmas season. Julian Cleary stars as the outlaw, bringing his cheeky humour to the

00:48role, while Jane MacDonald joins the cast as Maid Mariam. This production promises all

00:54the traditional panto fun, with Cleary's trademark comedy and plenty of festive sparkle.

01:00This year marks the 25th panto at Hackney Empire since it reopened as a theatre, and

01:06for most of those productions, 17 to be exact, Clive Rowe has been a central figure. In 2024,

01:13Rowe returns as director and as the beloved dame in Dick Whittington and His Cat. Expect

01:19a lively music-filled show full of laughs and Hackney Empire's unique charm.

01:25In recent years, the Royal Stratford East's Panto has been one of London's most unpredictable

01:31seasonal shows, with composer Robert Holman's electro-poppy songs a constant, but the writer

01:38changing annually, often to wild effect. This year, however, marks a return for Trish Cook,

01:44who has written some of the finest TRSE pantos of the last 20 years, including the Olivier-nominated

01:52Cinderella from 2008. This year, Pinocchio promises a fresh and exciting take on the

01:58classic tale, with Cook's trademark wit and sharp storytelling.

02:03The lyric Hammersmith panto mimes are known for their edgy, satirical take on the genre,

02:08and Aladdin this year is no exception. Last year's Cinderella was notably softer than

02:13previous years, and the 2024 production may follow suit, with director Nicolai Labarie

02:20returning alongside writer Sonia Jolali. Expect a blend sharp of humour and fresh perspectives

02:27in this updated version of the classic story.

02:30And finally, at Richmond Theatre, Beauty and the Beast is this year's family panto, with

02:36dame Maureen Lippmann and comedy magician Pete Furman as the big draws. The production

02:42has a glossy, polished feel, and while the story of Beauty and the Beast isn't traditionally

02:46a pantomime plot, expect the usual panto fun with a star-studded cast and plenty of comedic

02:52moments to delight audiences. For more What's On Stories this Christmas, head to LondonWorld.com.