Ayr Gaiety Theatre has announced its 2025 festive pantomime, Aladdie, running from Saturday 29 November 2025 to Sunday 4 January 2026.
Written by Fraser Boyle and directed by Tom Cooper, Aladdie offers a distinctly Scottish twist on the classic Aladdin tale, rooted firmly in Ayrshire.
Following the success of Mother Goose in 2024, which won the inaugural Critics’ Awards for Theatre in Scotland (CATS) Award for Outstanding Pantomime, The Gaiety welcomes back Fraser Boyle for his sixth consecutive year as writer.
Boyle also returns to the stage as Widow Twankey, reprising his role as the Gaiety panto dame for the fourth year running.
Joining him is a stellar cast of Scottish talent, including Gavin Jon Wright as Abanazar, Hannah Howie as Empress Oonagh, Lewis Kerr as Aladdie, and Ciara Flynn as Alassie.
Newcomers to the Gaiety stage include Mia Musakambeva as Princess Destiny, Ava Anderson as Vicky-Victoria, Christopher McFadden as Jimmy-James, Carley Duncan as Betty-Liz, and Martin Murphy as Danny-Daniel.
Murphy last appeared at the Gaiety in 2013, playing the titular role in Aladdin.
Fraser Boyle commented: “It’s a big adventure, Aladdie – I’m excited about the pace and speed that we inject into it. There’s something in the finale that’s going to take a lot of rehearsal, so I’m most looking forward to this musical number. It doesn’t have singing in it, there’s probably a thousand ways it could go wrong, so I’m looking forward to that. I won’t say anything else other than…nuns!”
Director Tom Cooper added: “Aladdie is a fresh Scottish take on the traditional Aladdin story. We’ve assembled a really exciting cast to work with, and Fraser’s script is beautiful – and genuinely hilarious. It’s a real celebration of silliness and there’s a warmth and generosity to it which I really love as well.”
Set in the mythical land of Old New Cumnock Town, ruled by the Ancient McMinger Dynasty, Aladdie promises magic, mayhem, and mischief in a uniquely Ayrshire reimagining of the beloved tale.
The production will feature relaxed, audio described, and captioned performances, with three fully BSL integrated shows including interpreters Yvonne Strain and Carole Hunter.
Listings and ticket information can be found here.
