THERE’S a festive feast on offer across the Liverpool City Region if you’re looking for entertainment over the Christmas and New Year period. From family fun to more grownup fare there’s something for all tastes.
Here’s your rundown of the panoply of panto, plus a few alternatives for those whose response to panto season is ‘Oh No it Isn’t’…
Everyman Theatre
Open now and with dates to 7th January, the Everyman Theatre have their Rock’n’Roll Panto , Jack and the Beanstalk, with returning favourites Adam Keast, Rebecca Levy, Zoe West and Liam Tobin joined by Malek Alkoni as Jack.
Suitable for all the family, tickets are priced from £16 to £46.
St Helen’s Theatre Royal
From 28th November to 11th January, St Helens Theatre Royal’s family panto is a brand new production of Dick Whittington. Emmerdale star Matthew Wolfenden leads a fantastic cast including Lewis Devine, Timothy Lucas, Chantelle Morgan, Rachel Wood, Jenna Sian O’Hara and Richard Aucott.
A traditional family panto with ticket prices starting at £20.
Shakespeare North Playhouse, Prescot
Open from 21st November until 10th January, Shakespeare North Playhouse presents Cinderella. In a real-life Cinderella story, Tia Larsen is swapping her usual front-of-house duties to play the starring role in the greatest fairytale of them all. Tia will be joined on stage by Emma Grace Arends, Emma Bispham, Thomas Cotran, Elliott Kingsley and Charlie Mae McKevitt. Another family show, there is a range of ticket prices starting from £8.
The Epstein Theatre
From 5th December to 4th January, panto returns to the Epstein Theatre with Regal Entertainment’s production of Cinderella. Coronation Street’s Katie McGlynn, Liverpool favourite Leanne Campbell and TV’s Kevin Duala lead a line-up of top talent alongside Conor Barrie, Michael Nelson, and with Shania Pain and Brenda LaBeau as Cinderella’s ugly stepsisters. Suitable for all ages and with tickets starting at £20.
Storyhouse Chester
Also from 5th December to 4th January, Storyhouse Chester presents a new production of Beauty and the Beast. A magical Christmas show bursting with pop favourites, laughter, and unforgettable moments, all wrapped up in a heartwarming story for the whole family. With enchanting characters, spectacular surprises, and plenty of chances to cheer, sing, and dance along, this Christmas show is sure to leave you spellbound.
This family show has tickets available from £15 to £46.50, with group discounts and special £10 school rates also on offer.
The Atkinson, Southport
From 5th to 31st December, The Atkinson Southport presents KD Theatre Productions’s Beauty and the Beast. With heartwarming romance, jaw-dropping sets and plenty of audience participation, Beauty and the Beast is the perfect present for the whole family. Audience favourite Terry Burns, returns for his tenth pantomime season as Dame Bon Bon, and rising star Safia Bartley, makes her debut in the leading role of Belle. Individual tickets range from £24 to £28, with family packages starting at £90.
Gladstone Theatre in Port Sunlight
From 6th to 31st December, the Gladstone Theatre in Port Sunlight sees Peter Pan take flight. Emmerdale and Hollyoaks’ Darren John Langford plays the dastardly Captain Hook. He will be joined on stage by audience favourite Lewis Pryor as Peter, Darcey Blake as Wendy, Tasha Rowson as Tink, Ellie Clayton as Tiger Lily, Michael Alan Bailey as Smee and the hilarious Michael Chapman as Dame Tootles. Yet another show for all the family, with tickets priced from £20.
The Auditorium Liverpool
From 12th to 28th December The Auditorium Liverpool next door to the M&S Bank Arena has Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, starring Coronation Street’s Helen Flanagan As The Wicked Queen, with comedy star Bippo as Muddles, the hilarious Andy Brennan as Dame Dolly, X Factor’s Sean Smith as The Prince, Ellis Lloyd as Snow White and local Favorite Rebecca Lake as The Fairy. Ticket prices range from £28 to £65.
Unity Theatre
From 12th to 23rd December Unity Theatre invite you to Sleep Can Wait! – a heart-warming, high-energy journey through myths, legends, and imagination in an enchanting, physical theatre show, packed with fun, laughter, and wonder. A collaboration with Unity Theatre and Tmesis Theatre with lots of physicality and minimal text, this show is family and neurodiverse friendly for all ages to enjoy. On a snowy winter’s night, with excitement in the air and sleep nowhere to be found, three children open a magical book, and are whisked away on an adventure far from the comfort of their bedroom! Tickets are from £10 to £15.
If you fancy an antidote to traditional family panto, there are several alternatives to choose from;
The Royal Court
At the Royal Court, The Scouse Christmas Carol is already open and runs until 17th January. Jacob Marley is dead and nobody knows who bumped him off. Mary Marley, his missus, is going to track down the killer and she’s got one man in her sights – Scrooge. But how can she make him cough to the crime? Ebeneezer is a geezer who always quite fancied Mary, but now she’s ghosting him with the help of the Scratchitt family and Mr Kettiwig. Will he learn his lesson? Will Marley be avenged by three little birds? Will Charlie Dicko spin so fast in his grave that a sinkhole opens up? Age advisory 16+ with strong language throughout. Children under the age of 12 will not be allowed into the auditorium. Tickets start from £18.
The Royal Court Studio
From 28th November to 3rd January, Stocking Fillers returns downstairs at the Royal Court Studio. Six brand new ten-minute festive plays to entertain you at the most wonderful time of the year! A merry mix of comedy and drama, the Stocking Fillers will make you laugh and cry. They might even make you sing and shout. These short plays have been written by members of the Royal Court’s writing groups.
Stocking Fillers wraps up six different shows, so there is something for everyone. Tickets from £14.
The Playhouse Theatre
From 3rd December to 3rd January the Playhouse Theatre presents the Hope Mill Theatre production of Mel Brooks’ Young Frankenstein the Musical. From the creators of the record-breaking Broadway sensation, The Producers, comes this monster musical comedy. Mel Brooks, adapts his legendarily funny film into a brilliant stage creation. With such memorable tunes as “The Transylvania Mania,” “He Vas My Boyfriend” and “Puttin’ on the Ritz,” by Irving Berlin, Young Frankenstein is scientifically proven, monstrously good entertainment. Age recommendation 13+, Tickets range from £22 to £51.
The Liverpool Empire
From 2nd December to 4th January, Matilda the Musical arrives in Liverpool to celebrate 100 years of Christmas at the Empire Theatre. The highly acclaimed musical, based on Roald Dahl’s beloved book, has announced Madison Davis, Mollie Hutton, Olivia Ironmonger and Sanna Kurihara to share the title role of Matilda. Richard Hurst will play Miss Trunchbull, Tessa Kadler will play Miss Honey, Adam Stafford will play Mr Wormwood and Rebecca Thornhill will play Mrs Wormwood.
They are joined by an impressive supporting cast. The internationally renowned musical continues to play to packed houses in the West End at the Cambridge Theatre and has been seen by 12 million people across 100 cities around the world. This anarchic production has won over 100 global awards, including 24 for Best Musical.
The show is suitable for ages 6+. Tickets available starting at £15.
Elf on the Shelf
And finally, get ready to sleigh because Liverpool is going to host a giant game of The Elf on the Shelf this December as the city prepares for Christmas. The 15ft Elf, a brand new one for 2025, will appear across famous city locations from 1st December until Christmas Eve. Organised by Liverpool Business Improvement District, The Elf on the Shelf will only move at night, and spend a few days in each spot so everyone has more time to enjoy the festive fun.
The Elf on the Shelf will be at locations across Liverpool City Centre along with free family fun including entertainment, performances and giveaways, starting at The Plaza on 1st December before moving to The Everyman Theatre on Hope Street, then at Liverpool Waters, Citadines on Church Street, Williamson Square, Royal Albert Dock and finishing at Alder Hey Children’s Hospital for Christmas Eve.
In each location, The Elf on the Shelf will embark on some classic festive mischief, from Christmas jumpers to toilet paper decorations. In certain locations, she will also be collecting Christmas gifts for children at Alder Hey.
You’ll be able to drop off any gifts with a full list of drop off points on the BID website here.
Roundup by Nigel Smith
