No Yuletide would be complete without a panto. There are quite a few Jacks climbing up beanstalks this Christmas as well as classics like Cinderella and Show White. So check out what is going on in your area.
Balbriggan: Beauty & the Beast
7-30 December 2023
The Irish Institute of Music & Song (IIMS) and Sean Gilligan Performing Arts are launching their pantomime Beauty & The Beast with Jake Carter (Dancing with the Stars 2018 winner) as The Beast, Katie Weir (Ireland’s rising star of the West End) as Belle, and Pamela Uba (Miss Ireland Winner 2021) appearing as The Enchantress.
This panto will be a fully immersive experience for audiences from the moment they step inside the lobby of the new concert hall in The Lark.
•Tickets: €32 (all ages) + booking fee, thelark.ie/
Belfast: Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs
2 December 2023 to 14
January 2024
Northern Ireland’s largest pantomime is back at the Grand Opera House Belfast with Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. This year’s show will be brought to life by a talented cast and creative team celebrating comedy, song, dance and costumes. Belfast’s much-loved pantomime figure, May McFettridge will be acting as May of the Mirror as she celebrates her record-breaking 33rd Grand Opera House panto season. Joining May on stage is Phil Walker, who recently toured with comedian Jason Manford. Britain’s Got Talent finalists Flawless take on the role of the Queens Guards and Belfast’s Jolene O’ Hara will be playing the Wicked Queen.
•Tickets: £20.00 (€22.85) to £39.00 (€44.57), with group offers available. goh.co.uk/
Clare: Jack and The Beanstalk
22 December 2023 to
1 January 2024
Pantaloons Productions are back this year with another spectacular pantomime in glór, Ennis, packed with smash-hit songs, stunning sets, and plenty of seasonal sparkle.
Pantaloons will be joined on stage by the wonderful Sparks Dance school. A relaxed performance (a show that has been adapted to suit people who might require a more relaxed environment) is taking place at 2.30pm on 22 December.
•Tickets: €15/€55 family of 4 + booking fees, glor.ie
Cork: Jack and the Beanstalk
29 November 2023 to 21 January 2024
Join Jack, Nanny Nellie and a host of lovable companions in a spectacular show in one of Cork’s most iconic venues, Cork Opera House. Packed with amazing colour, spellbinding costumes, music, breathtaking dance and a tonne of belly laughs, Jack and the Beanstalk promises to be a memorable panto experience. There is also a ‘relaxed panto’ version of the show happening on 13 December.
•Tickets: from €35.50, corkoperahouse.ie/
Derry: Jack and the Beanstalk
30 November to 31 December 2023
A gigantic beanstalk, Caroline the cow, magic beans, a goose that lays golden eggs and the nastiest of giants – it’s panto time at the Millennium Forum in Derry.
Telling the story of peasant boy Jack and his attempts to please his impoverished mother and win the hand of Princess Jill, Jack and the Beanstalk is set to have you singing and dancing in your seats, packed with great song and dance routines, hilarious comedy, dazzling scenes and magical special effects.
•Tickets: from £15/€17.15 (various prices for different performance times and seating),millenniumforum.co.uk/
Tullamore: Cinderella
5-17 December 2023
Colin Hughes Promotions presents the Tullamore Credit Union Pantomime, Cinderella by Karl Harpur. Join Cinders, Buttons and all the other traditional characters this Christmas in Tullamore’s brand-new panto in the Esker Arts Centre.
With the Ugly Sisters, Wicked Step Mother and Fairy Godmother, this promises to be a feast of entertainment for all the family. The production will be made up of a cast from Tullamore and surrounding areas.
•Tickets: adults: €25, children: €15, eskerarts.ie/
Tralee: Beauty & The Beast
28-30 December 2023 & 2-3 January 2024
Presented by Oliver Hurley Productions, Beauty & The Beast is a tale as old as time and is this year’s pantomime in the Siamsa Tíre, National Folk Theatre of Ireland in Tralee, Co Kerry. Featuring the usual zany gang bringing you non-stop panto fun, it’s a great family day out in the Kingdom.
•Tickets: from €19 + booking fee, with concessions and family tickets available, siamsatire.com/
Waterford: Rapunzel
2-30 December 2023
Waterford Panto Society wants you to let your hair down this December for the tangled tale of Rapunzel – never before seen in the Theatre Royal, Waterford.
All the familiar faces are back in a fun-filled, action-packed show for all the family. You’ll hear pop songs, laugh-out-loud comedy, slick choreography, sets by Waterford Spraoi, spectacular sound and lighting and a full live band.
•Tickets: €17-21, theatreroyal.ie/
Westmeath: The Little Mermaid
7-30 December 2023
Head under the sea for the annual Christmas panto by the Mullingar Pantomime Group as they present The Little Mermaid. Join characters Bubbles The Dame, everybody’s favourite mermaid Ariel, Sebastian, Ursula the Sea Witch, and many more, for an unforgettable Christmas family night out.
• Tickets: €25 + booking fee,
mullingarartscentre.ie/
Wexford: Rapunzel and the League of Princesses
17-21 January 2024
Wexford Pantomime Society returns with a brand-new panto adventure, written and directed by Thomas O’Leary. It’s their 55th production and second year at the National Opera House, Wexford. Rapunzel and the League of Princesses is the ultimate girl power story that has never been told before.
Join heroes Rapunzel, Cinderella and Snow White as they team up to rescue their princes and defeat the evil Gothel, whose goal is to destroy all happy ever afters.
This laugh-a-minute adventure is awash with great songs, dances and jokes and features a chorus of 110 local children and an all-star Wexford cast. The perfect start to the New Year for all the family.
•Tickets: Wednesday adult €17/child €14 and Thursday to Sunday (including matinees) adult €20/child €16, wexfordpanto.com/
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No Yuletide would be complete without a panto. There are quite a few Jacks climbing up beanstalks this Christmas as well as classics like Cinderella and Show White. So check out what is going on in your area.
Balbriggan: Beauty & the Beast
7-30 December 2023
The Irish Institute of Music & Song (IIMS) and Sean Gilligan Performing Arts are launching their pantomime Beauty & The Beast with Jake Carter (Dancing with the Stars 2018 winner) as The Beast, Katie Weir (Ireland’s rising star of the West End) as Belle, and Pamela Uba (Miss Ireland Winner 2021) appearing as The Enchantress.
This panto will be a fully immersive experience for audiences from the moment they step inside the lobby of the new concert hall in The Lark.
•Tickets: €32 (all ages) + booking fee, thelark.ie/
Belfast: Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs
2 December 2023 to 14
January 2024
Northern Ireland’s largest pantomime is back at the Grand Opera House Belfast with Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. This year’s show will be brought to life by a talented cast and creative team celebrating comedy, song, dance and costumes. Belfast’s much-loved pantomime figure, May McFettridge will be acting as May of the Mirror as she celebrates her record-breaking 33rd Grand Opera House panto season. Joining May on stage is Phil Walker, who recently toured with comedian Jason Manford. Britain’s Got Talent finalists Flawless take on the role of the Queens Guards and Belfast’s Jolene O’ Hara will be playing the Wicked Queen.
•Tickets: £20.00 (€22.85) to £39.00 (€44.57), with group offers available. goh.co.uk/
Clare: Jack and The Beanstalk
22 December 2023 to
1 January 2024
Pantaloons Productions are back this year with another spectacular pantomime in glór, Ennis, packed with smash-hit songs, stunning sets, and plenty of seasonal sparkle.
Pantaloons will be joined on stage by the wonderful Sparks Dance school. A relaxed performance (a show that has been adapted to suit people who might require a more relaxed environment) is taking place at 2.30pm on 22 December.
•Tickets: €15/€55 family of 4 + booking fees, glor.ie
Cork: Jack and the Beanstalk
29 November 2023 to 21 January 2024
Join Jack, Nanny Nellie and a host of lovable companions in a spectacular show in one of Cork’s most iconic venues, Cork Opera House. Packed with amazing colour, spellbinding costumes, music, breathtaking dance and a tonne of belly laughs, Jack and the Beanstalk promises to be a memorable panto experience. There is also a ‘relaxed panto’ version of the show happening on 13 December.
•Tickets: from €35.50, corkoperahouse.ie/
Derry: Jack and the Beanstalk
30 November to 31 December 2023
A gigantic beanstalk, Caroline the cow, magic beans, a goose that lays golden eggs and the nastiest of giants – it’s panto time at the Millennium Forum in Derry.
Telling the story of peasant boy Jack and his attempts to please his impoverished mother and win the hand of Princess Jill, Jack and the Beanstalk is set to have you singing and dancing in your seats, packed with great song and dance routines, hilarious comedy, dazzling scenes and magical special effects.
•Tickets: from £15/€17.15 (various prices for different performance times and seating),millenniumforum.co.uk/
Tullamore: Cinderella
5-17 December 2023
Colin Hughes Promotions presents the Tullamore Credit Union Pantomime, Cinderella by Karl Harpur. Join Cinders, Buttons and all the other traditional characters this Christmas in Tullamore’s brand-new panto in the Esker Arts Centre.
With the Ugly Sisters, Wicked Step Mother and Fairy Godmother, this promises to be a feast of entertainment for all the family. The production will be made up of a cast from Tullamore and surrounding areas.
•Tickets: adults: €25, children: €15, eskerarts.ie/
Tralee: Beauty & The Beast
28-30 December 2023 & 2-3 January 2024
Presented by Oliver Hurley Productions, Beauty & The Beast is a tale as old as time and is this year’s pantomime in the Siamsa Tíre, National Folk Theatre of Ireland in Tralee, Co Kerry. Featuring the usual zany gang bringing you non-stop panto fun, it’s a great family day out in the Kingdom.
•Tickets: from €19 + booking fee, with concessions and family tickets available, siamsatire.com/
Waterford: Rapunzel
2-30 December 2023
Waterford Panto Society wants you to let your hair down this December for the tangled tale of Rapunzel – never before seen in the Theatre Royal, Waterford.
All the familiar faces are back in a fun-filled, action-packed show for all the family. You’ll hear pop songs, laugh-out-loud comedy, slick choreography, sets by Waterford Spraoi, spectacular sound and lighting and a full live band.
•Tickets: €17-21, theatreroyal.ie/
Westmeath: The Little Mermaid
7-30 December 2023
Head under the sea for the annual Christmas panto by the Mullingar Pantomime Group as they present The Little Mermaid. Join characters Bubbles The Dame, everybody’s favourite mermaid Ariel, Sebastian, Ursula the Sea Witch, and many more, for an unforgettable Christmas family night out.
• Tickets: €25 + booking fee,
mullingarartscentre.ie/
Wexford: Rapunzel and the League of Princesses
17-21 January 2024
Wexford Pantomime Society returns with a brand-new panto adventure, written and directed by Thomas O’Leary. It’s their 55th production and second year at the National Opera House, Wexford. Rapunzel and the League of Princesses is the ultimate girl power story that has never been told before.
Join heroes Rapunzel, Cinderella and Snow White as they team up to rescue their princes and defeat the evil Gothel, whose goal is to destroy all happy ever afters.
This laugh-a-minute adventure is awash with great songs, dances and jokes and features a chorus of 110 local children and an all-star Wexford cast. The perfect start to the New Year for all the family.
•Tickets: Wednesday adult €17/child €14 and Thursday to Sunday (including matinees) adult €20/child €16, wexfordpanto.com/
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