It’s behind you! The best pantomimes to see in Kent for Christmas 2025
Theatres all over the county are ready to deliver a dose of festive fun, glittering costumes and good, old-fashioned silliness. That’s right – panto season is back (oh yes, it is!).
From classic fairy tales and outrageous dames to stars of the stage and screen, here’s where you can catch all of the laughter, songs, boos and cheers this Christmas…
ASSEMBLY HALL THEATRE, Tunbridge Wells
Musical theatre star Lee Mead, who won BBC talent show Any Dream Will Do and has appeared in shows such as Wicked, Chicago and Sister Act, will play Prince Vince in this year’s panto, Sleeping Beauty. He’ll be joined by the Thin Blue Line’s Mina Anwar and returning favourites Dan Burton, Stewart McCheyne and James Peake.
Details: Saturday, December 13 to New Year’s Eve. Tickets start from £19. Book online here.
ASTOR THEATRE, Deal
Set off on an adventure through the woods with Robin Hood and his band of Merry Men. The Astor’s third festive production will transport the audience into Sherwood Forest with colourful set designs, lots of laughter, sing-along music and, of course, panto baddie the Sheriff of Nottingham.
Details: Friday, December 19 to Tuesday, December 30. Tickets start from £17.50. Book online here.
CENTRAL THEATRE, Chatham
Theatre company Jordan Productions is back for its 10th show at Chatham’s Central Theatre and, this Christmas, it’s putting a modern twist on Sleeping Beauty. It’s taken more than a year to put together the show, which boasts a cast of Steps band member Lee Latchford-Evans and soap actor Carli Norris.
Details: Thursday, December 11 to Sunday, January 4. Tickets start from £21.50. Book online here.
CHURCHILL THEATRE, Bromley
Former EastEnders actress Samantha Womack, who recently appeared in the National Theatre’s Dear England on tour, will be joined by Hi-de-Hi’s Su Pollard for a hilarious festive show. The panto, Beauty and the Beast, is a tale as old as time, but ‘90s Eurovision singer Samantha can “guarantee there’ll be plenty of festive cheer” in the Churchill’s adaptation, which also stars Britain’s Got Talent finalist Jamie Leahey.
Details: Saturday, December 6 to Sunday, January 4 at the Churchill Theatre. Tickets start from £20. Book online here.
EM FORSTER THEATRE, Tonbridge
This year, Tonbridge is celebrating a decade of panto in the town. In honour of this special occasion, actor Michael Fenton-Stevens, who has just spent a year playing The Wizard in the West End production of Wicked, will return as Dame Trott. He will be starring in Jack and the Beanstalk alongside Tom Swift as Silly Billy, Amanda Swift as Pat the Cow, Rhys Whiteside as Jack and John Martin returns as the villain, Crook Back.
Details: Friday, December 12 to Saturday, January 3. Tickets start from £22. Book online here.
GRANVILLE THEATRE, Ramsgate
After last year’s successful production of Peter Pan, the panto returns to the Granville Theatre with Aladdin. The show is bursting with colourful characters, including the charming Princess Jasmine, the devious Abanazar and our cheeky hero, Aladdin.
Details: Saturday, December 13 to Christmas Eve. Tickets start from £26.95. Book online here.
HAZLITT THEATRE, Maidstone
Get ready to giggle as Maidstone’s resident pantomime dame, Joe Meloy, is back for another year. He’ll star in Dick Whittington and His Cat alongside Stuart Ash, who is currently touring with the National Theatre’s production of Dear England, and Jared Leathwood, who recently opened the Asia leg of the Choir of Man tour. Funds raised from the show will go to support local animal rescue charity Wisteria Cat Rescue, based in Rochester.
Details: Saturday, November 29 to New Year’s Eve. Tickets start from £20. Book online here.
LEAS CLIFF HALL, Folkestone
Hollyoaks actor James Fletcher will take on the leading role of Peter Pan alongside local performing arts students in the ensemble and lovable panto dame David Rumelle. The show brings together family-friendly humour, catchy music and spectacular flying sequences to help transport audiences to Neverland.
Details: Friday, December 12 to New Year’s Eve. Tickets start from £15. Book online here.
MALTHOUSE THEATRE, Canterbury
The cast of Sleeping Beauty includes 'Allo 'Allo and Whitstable Pearl actress Vicki Michelle and theatre stars Tim Edwards, Freya Karlettis and Jordan Calloway, who have appeared in shows such as Wicked and Hairspray. There will also be more than 50 Kent-based children making up the ensemble of this magical family show, which celebrates the theatre’s fifth anniversary.
Details: Wednesday, December 10 to Saturday, January 4. Tickets start from £10. Book online here.
MARLOWE THEATRE, Canterbury
It’s the biggest panto in the county and, with previous years picking up national awards, expectations are high for this year’s Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. Sarah Hadland, best known for her role in Miranda and reaching the Strictly final last year, will hit the stage alongside CBeebies’ Mister Maker Phil Gallagher and regular panto dame Ben Roddy. It’s written and directed by Paul Hendy, who won Best Script at the Pantomime Awards 2024.
Details: Friday, November 28 to Sunday, January 11. Tickets start from £18. Book online here.
ORCHARD WEST THEATRE, Dartford
Birds of a Feather actress and Loose Women panellist Linda Robson is gearing up for another magical panto season, this time at Dartford’s Orchard West Theatre. Linda, who plays Jasmine’s mother, will be joined by BGT finalist Mandy Muden, film actor Richard Foster, Olivier Award nominee Cleve September and X Factor finalist Anton Stephans. The panto will be filled with slapstick routines, upbeat music and sparkling costumes.
Details: Saturday, December 13 to Sunday, January 4. Tickets start from £15. Book online here.
RYLANCE THEATRE, Ashford
It’s one of the world’s best-loved fairytales and, this Christmas, families can immerse themselves once again in the story of Sleeping Beauty. When the evil Carabosse puts a curse on Princess Aurora, she falls into a deep sleep for 100 years and it’s up to her best friends, Jingles and Nurse Nora, to save her. Princess Live singer Holly Harvey and returning favourite Paul Ketley appear in the show, which includes plenty of humour, lively musical numbers and audience participation.
Details: Friday, December 19 to Saturday, January 3. Tickets start from £16.50. Book online here.
SARAH THORNE THEATRE, Broadstairs
The timeless tale of Dick Whittington is coming to Thanet this Christmas. The Sarah Thorne Theatre will host the family-friendly show, which includes a larger-than-life dame and the panto baddie, King Rat. There’s also live music performed at each show and the cast boasts members of the Masque Theatre School.
Details: Saturday, December 13 to New Year’s Eve. Tickets start from £23. Book online here.
SINDEN THEATRE, Tenterden
Jack and his beloved cow are heading up the giant beanstalk, and they’re inviting children in Tenterden to join them for the adventure. The show is full of laughter and audience participation, as well as fun pop music and exciting dance routines.
Details: Saturday, December 13 to New Year’s Eve. Tickets start from £9.50. Book online here.
THE WOODVILLE, Gravesend
Britain’s Got Talent winner Ashleigh, who topped the competition with her dog Pudsey, is joined by her new four-legged friend, Sully, as Cinderella’s magical companions in this fairytale show. The panto also stars Gravesend performer Rob Cummings and Georgia Rowland Elliott, who will be back for her fifth Woodville production as the rags-to-riches princess.
Details: Friday, December 5 to Sunday, January 4. Tickets start from £21. Book online here.
Don’t forget to check out our guides to Santa’s grottos and Christmas markets for more festive days out.
