Christmas Theatre: Pantomimes in London 2009

Pantomime: London's Traditional Christmas Entertainment

The tradition of Christmas pantomimes seems to have developed in the 1800s as a form of low opera.

Today, traditional family pantos contain song, dance, comedy, slapstick, magic, innuendo-riddled word-play, cross-dressing and, of course, audience participation.

Traditional Stories on London's Christmas Stages

Pantomimes are typically based on traditional children's fairy stories. In London this Christmas, you can take your pick from the following shows:

A Christmas Carol in London

If Disney's A Christmas Carol has whetted your appetite for more Scrooge and Tiny Tim, London's hosting three more productions of Dickens' Christmas classic. 

The Arts Theatre pantomime stars Gareth Hale as Scrooge. At St Stephen's in Hampstead, Antic Disposition's magical new musical contains original songs based on traditional Christmas music. Alternatively, at the Kings Head Theatre, children, puppets and actor/musicians are helping Dickens himself sell his new Christmas story to a sceptical publisher...

Aladdin in London

A perennial Christmas favourite, you can see genies, lamps and princesses at several London theatres this Christmas! 

The Epsom Playhouse, the Hackney Empire, Millfield Arts Centre, the New Wimbledon Theatre and the Theatre Royal Stratford East are all hosting versions of Aladdin.

Cinderella in London

Similarly, you can catch a prince via a magic slipper in Cinderella at the Broadway Theatre, Beck Theatre, Harrow Arts Centre, Jacksons Lane Theatre (where an updated Cinders features in a reality TV show), Orchard Theatre (starring Lesley Joseph), Unicorn Theatre and Watford Palace Theatre this festive season.

Other Classic Pantomimes in London this Christmas

London's favourite pantomime hero, Dick Whittington, will be taking on the capital with his cat at the Colour House Theatre and The Broadway Barking.

If you're looking for brave little boys, you can choose from Peter Pan at the Bromley Little Theatre, Jack and the Beanstalk at the Lyric Hammersmith, Treasure Island at the Rose in Kingston, and Pinocchio at the Chickenshed Theatre or the Tricycle Theatre. 

Troubled princesses guaranteed happy endings appear in Sleeping Beauty at the Churchill Theatre and Snow White at the Kenneth More Theatre, the Radlett Centre, and Richmond Theatre (with Jane Asher and comedian Tim Vine).

Finally, Greenwich Theatre is presenting another Christmas classic, Mother Goose. Oh yes, it is!

View a full list of pantomimes in London