30+ pantomimes & theatre shows in the North East for Christmas 2023 and the New Year, with options to suit all ages and budgets – from shows perfect for little people, tickets for under a tenner (starting from just £2.75!) and star studded shows with celebrity guests!
Details are subject to change and tickets are subject to availability. Please check details directly with organisers using the purple links below – Facebook links are provided to check the latest updates, followed by booking links where available for more details, full dates and booking requirements.
Perfect for Little People
Dear Santa
📌 Rainton Arena, Houghton Le Spring
📆 1st – 4th Dec 2023
🎭 A family show perfect for those aged two+, from the author of the children’s book Dear Zoo. After the show meet Santa in his grotto and receive a gift.
🎫 £16.50 pp (under 18 months free on adult’s knee)
👉 Book here
The Enchanted Snow Globe
📌 Tree Stump Theatre @The Customs House, South Shields
📆 2nd – 31st Dec 2023
🎭 A festive musical adventure for under 7’s and their grown ups, into a magical winter realm full of surprise and wonder.
🎫 From £10
👉 Book here
Hey Diddle Diddle, A Christmas Spectacular!
📌 Kitchen Zoo @Queen’s Hall Arts, Hexham
📆 2nd – 24th Dec 2023
🎭 Join your favourite nursery rhyme characters for a Christmas treat, with original music, puppets and lots of festive jokes and fun.
For under 6’s and their grown-ups.
🎫 From £9.50 pp (babes in arms under 12 months: £1)
👉 Book here
Santa’s Knockout Christmas
📌 Progressive Players @Little Theatre, Gateshead
📆 Sat 2nd – Sun 3rd Dec 2023
🎭 A feel-good seasonal show for children aged 3-8. Every child will meet Santa and receive a memento of the show.
🎫 £7 pp
👉 Book here
The Three Bears
📌 Kitchen Zoo @Northern Stage, Newcastle
📆 25th Nov – 6th Jan 2024
🎭 A 45 minute relaxed performance ideal for under 5s, with original music, puppets and a tale you thought you knew.
🎫 £10-£12 pp
👉 Book here
Tinsel
📌 Bishop Auckland Town Hall, Co Durham
📆 30th Nov – 3rd Dec 2023
📌 Gala Durham
📆 5th – 24th Dec 2023
🎭 A brand-new festive production perfect for ages 3+ packed full of original live music, puppetry and raucous storytelling, from Gala Durham and Wrongsemble.
🎫 £8 | Family: £30
👉 Book here (Bishop Auckland) or here (Gala Durham)
A Town Called Christmas
📌 Wrongsemble @Arts Centre Washington
📆 5th – 10th Dec 2023
🎭 A show for adventurers aged 3+ full of magic, music, and mayhem, brought to you by Gala Durham and Wrongsemble. Running time approx. 55 min.
🎫 £10pp | Family: £37
👉Book here
Tickets for Under £10
Aladdin
📌 Royalty Theatre, Sunderland
📆 7th – 23rd Dec 2023
🎭 A traditional family panto from one of the North East’s oldest Community Theatre groups.
🎫 £8.50-£10 pp
👉 Book here
Cinderella
📌 Gala Durham
📆 23rd Nov – 6th Jan 2024
🎭 Dance routines, sing along music and unforgettable moments bringing the timeless fairy tale to life.
🎫 From £8pp
👉 Book here
The Pied Piper of Hamelin – Winter Tour
📌 Theatre Space NE CIC*
📆 13th – 23rd Dec 2023
🎭 Touring the North East offering community focused and cost-conscious performances for all ages, full of laughter, song and puppetry.
🎫 £5-£7 pp (10% discount for groups of 4+)
👉 Book here
*13th Dec: Grindon, Sunderland | 15th Dec: Newcastle | 16th Dec: Killingworth, North Tyneside | 16th Dec: Seghill, Northumberland | 17th Dec: Clara Vale, Gateshead | 19th Dec: Roker, Sunderland | 20th Dec: Jarrow, South Tyneside | 22nd Dec: Sunderland | 23rd Dec: Ryhope, Sunderland
Robin Hood
📌 Rainton Arena, Houghton Le Spring
📆 18th – 24th Dec 2023
🎭 The tale of the infamous Robin Hood, with a mix of fun, mayhem, live music, laughter, and surprises.
🎫 From £8.50 pp
👉 Book here
Sing-Along Arbuthnot **Cinema Screening**
📌 The Customs House, South Shields
📆 23rd-24th Dec 2023
🎭 Arbuthnot & Dame Bella’s Christmas Adventure is a pre-recorded panto-style screening following the adventures of Santa Claus and Jack Frost on an original musical adventure, for families in the mood for a Christmas Sing-Along!
🎫 From £5.50
👉 Book here
Sleeping Beauty
📌 TIME Theatre, Whickham School & Sports College, Gateshead
📆 Fri 8th Dec – Sat 9th Dec 2023
🎭 A tale as old as time, with a fabulous cast of local performers and children.
🎫 £6-£9 pp | Family: £25
👉 Book here
Sleeping Beauty
📌 Harriet Louise Productions @The Jubilee Club NE6, Walker, Newcastle
📆 Thurs 21st – Sun 24th Dec 2023
🎭 The pantomime you’ve been dreaming of at The Jubilee social club, for a family-friendly atmosphere that’s a little more relaxed then traditional theatres.
🎫 £9-£11 pp (under 2s free)
👉 Book here
Sleeping Beauty
📌 Ashington Panto Group, YMCA Ashington
📆 21st – 25th Nov 2023
🎭 Creating and performing local family-friendly pantomimes since 1988.
🎫 £2.75-£4 pp
👉 Book here
More Family Favourites
Aladdin
📌 The Customs House, South Shields
📆 23rd Nov – 6th Jan 2024
🎭 A journey of chaos and mayhem in a world of magic carpets and a spell-binding Genie of the Lamp.
🎫 From £12
👉 Book here
Beauty and the Beast
📌 Bluebell Theatre Productions @Little Theatre, Gateshead
📆 12th – 24th Dec 2023
🎭 A classic tale as old as time, starring Bella Bluebell in a fun loving panto full of comedy and laughter for all the family.
🎫 £13-£16 pp | Family: £50
👉 Book here
Beauty & The Beast Family Bingo
📌 The Clarion Hotel, Boldon
📆 26th Nov & 26th Dec 2023
🎭 Not your ordinary panto! Enjoy a 2 course lunch followed by panto style entertainment, music, prizes and family bingo.
🎫 £17 – £23 pp
👉 Info here.
Beauty & The Beast
📌 Sunderland Empire
📆 8th Dec – 31st Dec 2023
🎭 Starring Charlie Hardwick (Emmerdale and Ackley Bridge), Olivia Birchenough (Channel 5 Milkshake! presenter), Samuel Wyn-Morris (West End’s Les Misérables), and local talent Tom Whalley and Miss Rory (Boulevard).
🎫 From £13pp
👉 Book here
A Christmas Carol / Peter Pan
📌 People’s Theatre, Newcastle
📆 21st – 25th Nov 2023: A Christmas Carol
📆 9th – 17th Dec 2023: Peter Pan
🎭 A Christmas Carol: stage adaptation of the original Dickens tale, including traditional carols making it an ideal pre-Christmas family treat. Recommend for age 7+.
🎭 Peter Pan: A Christmas adventure full of singing, dancing, laughs and fun for the whole family.
🎫 £13.50-£16 pp
👉 Book here
Cinderella: A Fairytale
📌 Northern Stage, Newcastle
📆 2nd Dec – 6th Jan 2024
🎭 A modern Northern Stage spin on a classic tale, with music, dance and comedy. Age guidance: 5+ but all are welcome.
🎫 From £10
👉 Book here
Cinderella
📌 Ramside Hall Hotel, Co Durham
📆 Sun 3rd Dec 2023
🎭 The classic story of Cinderella with modern day twists perfect for the whole family. Includes show and 2-course meal.
🎫 £17.95 – £23.95 pp
👉 Info here.
Cinderella
📌 Chaplins Pantos @Westholme Farm Social Club, Wallsend, North Tyneside
📆 Sat 9th Dec 2023
🎭 Packed with comedy, excitement and adventure, with Cinderella, Prince Charming, the horrible sisters and Buttons.
🎫 £10pp (under 2s free)
👉 Tickets available during opening hours, info here.
Dick Whittington
📌 The Phoenix Theatre, Blyth
📆 1st – 17th Dec 2023
🎭 A magical rags to riches tale with dazzling sets, spectacular costumes and belly laughs, maybe even water pistols!
🎫 £16.50 – £18.50 pp
👉 Book here
Jack and the Beanstalk
📌 Empire Consett, Co Durham
📆 1st – 31st Dec 2023
🎭 Packed full of adventure, fun, dazzling costumes, hit songs, audience participation and favourite characters
🎫 £10-£18 pp | Family: from £56
👉 Book here
Jack and the Beanstalk
📌 Westovian Theatre, South Shields
📆 19th – 27th Jan 2024
🎭 A traditional family pantomime.
🎫 £10-£12 pp
👉 Book here
Nativity / Peter Pan
📌 Tyne Theatre and Opera House, Newcastle
📆 14th – 18th Nov 2023: NATIVITY The Musical
📆 8th Dec – 7th Jan 2024: Peter Pan
🎭 NATIVITY The Musical from Starlight Theatre Productions, featuring favourite sing-a-long hits from the film and a whole host of new songs.
🎭 Peter Pan, with a star cast including Matt Lapinskas (EastEnders), Cleo Demetriou (CBBC’s So Awkward), Sam Lavery (The X Factor) and local talent Charlie Richmond and Lewis Denny.
🎫 From £16.50/£19 pp
👉 Book here
Pinocchio
📌 Newcastle Theatre Royal
📆 28th Nov – 14th Jan 2024
🎭 Panto superstars Danny Adams, Clive Webb and Chris Hayward will be joined by X Factor’s Joe McElderry, comedian Mick Potts and more returning favourites.
🎫 From £12.50pp (babes in arms under 3 years: £2.50)
👉 Book here
Rapunzel
📌 Dryburn Theatrical Workshop, Park View Theatre, Chester-le-St
📆 11th – 14th Jan 2024
🎭 A ‘hair-larious’ fairy tale pantomime, will Rapunzel escape her tower with the help of local hairdresser Dame Fanny Follicle?
🎫 £10-£12 pp
👉 Book here
Robinson Crusoe
📌 Jarrow Musical Theatre Company, Jarrow Focus
📆 30th Nov – 3rd Dec 2023
🎭 An award winning amateur theatre company who produce high quality theatre for the local community.
🎫 £10-£12 pp
👉 Book here
Snow White
📌 Queen’s Hall Arts, Hexham
📆 9th – 31st Dec 2023
🎭 A magical retelling of the classic fairy tale, with magic, ridiculous rhymes and silly songs.
🎫 £12 – £17.50 pp
👉 Book here
There’s plenty on Gateshead Mumbler to help keep little ones (and big ones!) busy, check here for more ideas and info for playgroups, classes and fun days out from tots to teens!
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