Where has 2025 gone too! Once again here at Scotsgay Arts we are looking forward to the festive season that will be with us before we all know it and that of course means our traditional preview of the best pantomimes and Christmas shows on offer around the country and further afield!. Our selection is of course just the tip of the ice berg as venues up and down the country provide a plethora of festive treats for your viewing pleasure! We hope you pick one of our choices! And you can be assured we will be reviewing the biggest and best of the offerings too! So let’s get to it with our exclusive preview!
EDINBURGH!
Jack and the Beanstalk, Festival Theatre Edinburgh.
The Kings Edinburgh Panto team will mark their final season at their temporary home of the Festival Theatre with the Giant Pantomime Spectacular! Featuring the legendary team of Allan Stewart (Dame May Trott), Grant Stott (Fleshcreep) and Jordan Young (Jack) returning for a sky high adventure. They will be joined by Clare Gray (Pat the Cow), Gail Watson (Spirit of the Beans) and Amber Sylvia Edwards as Princess Jill.
With spectacular special effects, the gorgeous London palladium set and stunning costume this promises to be a gigantic farewell to the Festival Theatre filled with comedy, music and the biggest beanstalk you will ever see!
Crossroads Presents Jack at the Beanstalk, Festival Theatre Edinburgh, Saturday 13th December 2025 – Sunday 11th January 2026 for more information and Tickets go to: Jack and the Beanstalk – Capital Theatres
Snow White, Summerhall, Edinburgh
Summerhall in collaboration with Edinburgh Acting School present their debut pantomime with a family friendly take on the Classic fairytale!. Packed full with comedy, music, audience participation and sparkling costumes which puts Summerhall at its heart its promises to be a very special pantomime adventure and features ensemble children drawn from the local community!
Summerhall and Edinburgh Acting School Present SNOW WHITE, Summerhall Edinburgh, Thursday 11th December – Sunday 14th December 2025 for more information and tickets go to: Snow White comes to Summerhall – Summerhall Arts
Cinderella: A Fairytale, The Royal Lyceum Theatre, Edinburgh
The Royal Lyceum theatre company continue their traditional Christmas shows with a brand new take on the classic fairytale! Cinderella. Filled with magic and adventure Sally Cookson’s celebrated adaptation of Cinderella will delight the whole family in a new production from The Lyceum. With music and puppetry, this festive story adds a magical flutter of wings to happily ever after.
Cinderella: A Fairytale, The Royal Lyceum Theatre, Edinburgh, Thursday 27th November 2025 – Saturday 3rd January 2026 for more information and tickets go to: Cinderella: A Fairytale | Lyceum
Beauty and the Beast, Portobello Town Hall, Portobello
Stage door entertainment return for their third annual outing of Panto at the Porty Town hall with a tale of Love, Laughter and enchantment that promises to be a beast of a pantomime. Producers have confirmed a brand new Writer and Director will be joined by a brand new cast!
Filled with much-loved music, and hilarious comedy, Beauty and the Beast will take centre stage at the Town Hall, and promises to be an unforgettable theatrical event. So, sit back, relax, and be our stage door’s guest this Christmas!
Beauty and the Beast, Portobello Town Hall, Portobello, Friday 5th December – Sunday 28th December 2025 for more information and tickets go to: Beauty and the Beast at Portobello Town Hall event tickets from TicketSource
GLASGOW!
The Little Mermaid, King’s Theatre Glasgow.
Glasgow Pantomime royalty Elaine C Smith and Johnny Mac head under the sea to the depths of the ocean in an exhilarating and enchanting theatrical extravaganza. The Little Mermaid is producer Crossroads pantomimes newest production making its Scottish debut at the home of pantomime in Glasgow.
Darren Brownlie is also confirmed to be returning in the role of Dishy Fishy being joined by Hannah Jarrett-Scott, Jasmine Jules Andrews and Benjamin Lockhart with spectacular new sets, sparkling costumes and lashings of comedy, music and special effects this is a panto that you will be longing to be part of their world!
Crossroads present The Little Mermaid, Kings Theatre, Glasgow, Saturday 22nd November 2025 – Sunday 4th January 2026, for more information and tickets go to: The Little Mermaid (Pantomime) Tickets | King’s Theatre, Glasgow in Glasgow | ATG Tickets
Gallus in Weegieland, Tron Theatre, Glasgow.
Glasgow’s Tron Theatre continue there magical mix of Christmas show and pantomime with the brand new Gallus in Weegieland written by acclaimed panto dame Johnny McKnight, Directed by Sally Reid , Design by Kenny Miller and composed by musical director Ross Brown this promises to be the most unique and magic filled panto adventure.
WEEGIELAND: a winter wonderland populated with strange-talking creatures, a maniacal power-hungry Queen and her son Knavey (quite possibly the hottest Harry Styles rip-off the pantosphere has ever seen).
Will Gallus ever find their beloved Dinah The Cat? Will Knavey declare his love for Gallus and live happily ever after? Or the will the evil Queen of Hearts stop true love in its tracks by demanding OFF WITH THEIR HEADS? Find out in this year’s Tron Panto.
Gallus in Weegieland, Tron Theatre Glasgow, Wednesday 19th November 2025 – Sunday 4th January 2026.
Jock and the Beanstalk, Pavilion Theatre, Glasgow
Imagine Theatre chalk up there third year in charge of the annual panto extravaganza at the Pavilion Theatre Glasgow with Jock in the Beanstalk a brand new take on the classic tale featuring all your fav Pav panto pals: Liam Dolan, Grado, Stephen Purdon, Scott Fletcher, Jack Jester, Jennifer Neil, Craig Glover and Valissa Scott.
Come and see if Jock can defeat the giant, win the heart of the girl he loves and turn the Trots’ fortunes around. Once again, the Pav panto will have all the ingredients for a perfect family panto; with a dastardly villain, a hapless comic and a hilarious panto dame, as well as fabulous musical numbers and bags of Clydeside chaos!
Jock and the Beanstalk, Pavilion Theatre, Glasgow Thursday 27th November 2025 – Sunday 11th January 2026 for more information and tickets go to: Book Jock and the Beanstalk tickets | Pavilion Theatre Glasgow
ABERDEEN
Cinderella, His Majesty’s Theatre, Aberdeen
Crossroads Pantomimes present the fairy godmother of all pantos with Cinderella heading to the Granite City this Christmas with Joe McFadden and Dawn Steele leading the company alongside returning panto favourites!
Aberdeen’s favourite Dame Alan McHugh returns to the stage alongside writing and directing the show. He is joined be acclaimed panto comic actor Paul J Corrigan and Danielle Jam alongside those ugly sisters Julie Coombe and Helen Logan.
Filled with gorgeous costume, magical effects and a sparkling set join the gang for a magical rags to riches adventure!
Crossroads presents Cinderella, His Majesty’s Theatre, Aberdeen. Saturday 29th November 2025 – Sunday 4th January 2026 for more information and tickets go to: Cinderella | His Majesty’s Theatre
Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, The Tivoli Theatre Aberdeen and The Webster Theatre, Arbroath.
The Fairest Pantomime in the land comes to both The Webster Memorial Theatre, Arbroath and the Tivoli Theatre, Aberdeen this Christmas!
Charming Entertainment are delighted to present a brand new production of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs this Christmas with sparkling costumes, beautiful scenery, a sensation all singing and
dancing cast and of course a laugh a minute script!
Will the wicked Queen Dragonella remain the fairest in the land or will Snow White with skin as white as Snow, hair as black as ebony and lips as red as rose become the fairest in the land and win the heart of the handsome Prince with a little help along the way from 7 little friends!
Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, The Webster Theatre, Arbroath. Tuesday 9th December – Wednesday 24th December 2025 for more information go to: Pantomime : Snow White • ANGUSalive The production then transfer to the Tivoli Theatre Aberdeen for more information and tickets go to: Snow White – Family Pantomime | The Tivoli Theatre
INVERNESS
Snow White, Eden Court Theatre, Inverness
The home of panto in the highlands, The Empire Theatre at Eden court once again collaborates with Imagine Pantomimes for a magical take on Snow white!
When the Wicked Queen’s magic mirror declares that Snow White is the fairest in the land, she is overcome with jealousy. Will Snow White’s friends be able to help save her from the Queen’s fury, letting them all live happily after?
Enjoy a wickedly good time at a classic family panto packed full of hilarious slapstick humour, audience interaction, hit songs, sensational dancing and plenty of festive joy.
Snow White, Eden Court Theatre, Inverness, Wednesday 3rd December 2025 – Sunday 4th January 2026 for more information and tickets go to: Snow White | Eden Court
FIFE
Oor Wee Mammy McGoose, Kings Theatre Kirkcaldy
The Best Wee Panto in Scotland returns with a Brand Spanking New Production that looks set to scale new Heights and become our Best Wee Panto Ever!
“Oor Wee Mammy McGoose” will feature all the magic and mayhem you have come to expect from our five star pantos together with marvellous music, stunning sets, lashings of laughter, maybe a wee tear or two, and a extra special story with it’s roots firmly set in the Langtoun.
And what would a King’s Wee Panto be without Fife’s favourite ever Dame – the legend that is Mr Billy Mack, starring in the title role. Joined by the rest of our brilliant cast, Mark McDonnell and Sarah Brown Cooper, and featuring this year, the totally awesome star of the West End and original Langtoun Girl, Shona White and Ross MacKenzie!
Oor Wee Mammy McGoose, Kings Theatre Kirkcaldy, Thursday 4th December – Saturday 10th January 2026 for more information and tickets go to: Pantomime | The King’s KDY
AYR
Aladdie, The Gaiety Theatre, Ayr
Written by Fraser Boyle, co-writer of The Gaiety’s 5-star panto hits Mother Goose (2024) and Cinderella (2023).
Less the Far East, more the very, very far East of Ayrshire, the Ancient McMinger Dynasty rule the land from their seat of power in Old New Cumnock Town. Aladdie’s adventures catapult him into deep trouble he can’t get out of alone – thank goodness then for family – and an Ayrshire family at that!
Will Aladdie ever win the hand of Princess Destiny? Will Abanazar rule the land as the greatest Magician the world has ever known? And will Widow Twunkey ever manage to scrub the Royal Smalls to Empress Oonagh McMinger’s most exacting standards?
Magic, mayhem, mischief and even Maybole abound in this re-telling of an old tale – this isn’t Aladdin. It’s Aladdie!
Aladdie, The Gaiety Theatre, Ayr, Saturday 29th November 2025 – Sunday 4th January 2026 for more information and tickets go to: Aladdie – The Gaiety Theatre Ayr
Now a couple of picks from south of the border!
NEWCASTLE
Aladdin, Theatre Royal, Newcastle
2025 sees Newcastle’s favourite panto duo Danny Adam’s and Clive Webb chalk up their 20th consecutive year leading the Theatre Royal accompanied by the legendary dame Chris Hayward and now firm favourite Joe McElderry .
Acclaimed producer and Director Michael Harrison is delivering a brand new production of Aladdin the which you have never seen the likes of before! Fusing together the Aladdin story with a glorious romp through pantoland!
With brand new sets and costumes designed especially for the Theatre Royal, This Aladdin Promises to be a Genie-us of panto!
Crossroads present Aladdin, Theatre Royal, Newcastle, Tuesday 25th November 2025 – Sunday 18th January 2026 for more information and tickets go to: Aladdin | Newcastle Theatre Royal
LONDON
Sleeping Beauty, The London Palladium, London
This Christmas will mark a decade since Crossroads pantomime revived the legendary London Palladium Pantomimes to critically and award winning acclaim and what better pantomime to mark the anniversary than a brand new production of Sleeping Beauty
Starring Catherine Tate, Palladium pantomime royalty Julian Clary, and making his debut Jon Culshaw. Sleeping Beauty also see the return of Paul Zerdin, Nigel Havers and Rob Madge.
With spectacular new sets, costumes and the very specialist of special effects the west end’s biggest Christmas show , now seen by over 1,000,000 people, will celebrate the 10th anniversary in magnificent style!
Crossroads presents Sleeping Beauty, The London Palladium, Saturday 6th December 2025 – Sunday 11th January 2026 for more information and tickets go to: Sleeping Beauty | Palladium Pantomime Returns in 2025 | The London Palladium
There we have it! Just we picked just 12 shows from the hundreds around the country! From the smallest town halls to the London Palladium be sure to give yourself a festive treat this Christmas and visit your local theatre!
ScotsGay Arts 