Pantomimes in London 2012

This is an archived page.

Complete guide to panto shows in London this Christmas

Welcome to Time Out's guide to the best Christmas pantomimes. We have compiled a list of the biggest and best pantos out there so get into the spirit of the season and take the children, friends and family along to one of the following shows this Christmas. Listings are divided geographically into central, east, north, south and west London.

Central | East | North | South | West

Pantomimes in central London

  • Beauty and the Beast

    Dec 6-29, Shaw Theatre

    This year's festive panto at Shaw Theatre tackles the classic fairytale of a girl who moves in with an ugly beast to save her farther. Breakfast TV personality Alison Hammond is shoe-horned in as guest star.

  • Dick!

    Nov 29-Jan 20 2013, Leicester Square Theatre

    Nightclub diva Miss Dusty O brings the stardust to this adult panto, written and directed by Stuart Saint, about the London adventures of Dick! ADULTS ONLY

  • Snow White and the Seven Poofs The Climax!!!

    Dec 4-Jan 6 2013, Green Carnation

    This ribald Soho institution has been smutting up the Leicester Square Theatre for a couple of Christmases now. For 2012 the 'pop-powered drag panto' moves to the Green Carnation. ADULTS ONLY.

Central | East | North | South | West

Pantomimes in east London

  • Cinderella

    Dec 1-Jan 2 2013, Broadway Barking

    Broadway Barking tackles this old rags to riches chestnut as its 2012 panto of choice.

  • Dick Whittington and His Cat

    Dec 1-Jan 6 2013, Hackney Empire

    Susie McKenna's annual show retains its reputation as London's foremost panto: last year's 'Cinderella' was a hoot, blessedly immune from the problems that have beset the Empire's theatre programme.

  • Jack & The Beanstalk (TRSE)

    Dec 1-Jan 19 2013, Theatre Royal Stratford East

    With better songs, madder plots and funnier jokes than other pantos, the annual TRSE panto doesn't get quite the attention of its East End rival the Hackney Empire, but it's usually a teensy bit better.

  • Jack and the Beanstalk (Queen's Theatre Hornchurch)

    Dec 1-Jan 12 2013, The Queen's Theatre

    Jack makes a rash decision, exchanging his family's possessions for a bag of beans in this seasonal panto, written by Nicholas Pegg.

Central | East | North | South | West

Pantomimes in north London

  • Mother Goose

    Nov 29-Jan 5 2013, Millfield Theatre

    Golden eggs, demon kings, magical pools and general nonsense in the Millfield Theatre's Christmas panto.

  • The Three Musketeers

    Dec 7-Jan 9 2013, Rosemary Branch Theatre

    A seasonal treat on the fringe calendar, the Rosemary Branch's annual musical panto comes courtesy of the cheeky chaps at Charles Court Opera.

Central | East | North | South | West

Pantomimes in south London

  • Lily Savage (Widow Twankey) Jon Lee (Aladdin)

    Aladdin: A Wish Come True

    Dec 7-Jan 5 2013, The O2

    Arena panto, anyone? This Lily Savage-starring spin on the Aladdin story is taking place in a specially-erected theatre in The O2's yawning forecourt which will seat 1,900, making it London's biggest panto.

  • Cinderella

    Dec 15-Jan 6 2013, Broadway Theatre

    Catford Broadway celebrates its eightieth year with this moderately starry seasonal panto, which stars the mighty Floella Benjamin as fairy godmother to the eponymous heroine, alongside Andrew Hayden-Smith (Buttons) and...

  • Dick Whittington Goes Bollywood

    Dec 5-Jan 5 2013, Tara Theatre

    After the success of last year's 'Bollywood Cinderella', former TV personality Hardeep Sigh Kohli teams up with Tara again for another Indian-flavoured panto.

  • Get Aladdin

    Dec 7-Jan 6 2013, Landor Theatre

    Gay theatre Above the Stag may have shut down, but its saucy annual panto lives on this Christmas at the Landor.

  • Peter Pan

    Nov 30-Jan 6 2013, Churchill Theatre

    A decent looking cast for this year's Bromley panto includes Jennifer Ellison as Peter Pan, CBBC presenter Gemma Hunt as Tinkerbell, and Ace Bhatti from 'EastEnders' as Captain Hook.

  • Robin Hood - A Pantomime Adventure

    Nov 22-Jan 6 2013, Greenwich Theatre

    Greenwich Theatre tends to offer a good, old fashioned, no fuss panto with good songs, good atmosphere and no silly celebrity casting.

  • Snow White & The Seven Dwarfs

    Dec 7-Jan 13 2013, New Wimbledon Theatre

    The Wimbledon panto is a creature of wildly varying quality with a noble have a history of hilariously insane stunt casting: this year Lisa Marie Presley and Warwick Davies will tread its boards.

Central | East | North | South | West

Pantomimes in west London

  • Aladdin

    Dec 7-Jan 13 2013, Richmond Theatre

    Dust down the magic lamp and unroll the magic carpet: standup Tim Vine follows up appearances in Richmond's 2009 and 2010 pantos to star as the genie Wishee Washee in this seasonal family favourite.

  • Cinderella

    Nov 24-Jan 5 2013, Lyric Hammersmith

    The Lyric's panto has never quite scaled the heights of those of Hackney and Stratford. But that may change this year, as for the first time Lyric boss Sean Holmes – a brilliant director by anyone's standards – takes the helm.


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