Imagine Theatre has announced its 2026 pantomime season, revealing an all-star line-up of performers set to appear across 21 productions nationwide this Christmas.
The award-winning producer will bring pantomime magic to theatres in Bromley, Cardiff, Carmarthen, Coventry, Crewe, Dartford, Fareham, Glasgow, High Wycombe, Halifax, Hertford, Inverness, Kilmarnock, Kirkcaldy, Leamington Spa, Llandudno, Leicester, Reading, Stafford, Swansea and Swindon.
Among the headline names joining the season are Vernon Kay, Gethin Jones, Owain Wyn Evans and Richie Anderson, alongside actors Steve Speirs and Jack P. Shepherd. Panto favourites Su Pollard, Joe Pasquale and La Voix also feature in the extensive line-up.
Family audiences can also look forward to appearances from Justin Fletcher, Andrew Agnew, Mark Rhodes and Rebecca Keatley, while Anne Hegerty, Jenny Ryan, AJ and Curtis Pritchard, Han & Fran, Suzanne Shaw and Keith Jack complete the celebrity cast announcements.
The season includes productions of Sleeping Beauty, Beauty and the Beast, Cinderella, Aladdin, Jack and the Beanstalk, Snow White, Peter Pan, Dick Whittington and more, with local young performers appearing alongside established stars in venues across the UK.
Imagine Theatre says the 2026 programme continues its commitment to delivering large-scale family entertainment, building on a run of almost 40 UK Pantomime Association Award nominations and nine wins in recent years.
Laura Taylor, Head of Celebrity Casting at Imagine Theatre, said: “We are absolutely thrilled with this year’s line-up of shows and stars. Pantomime season is always such a special time of year and it’s a rare opportunity for the whole family to get together, have some escapism and make memories that will last a lifetime. So, we need to make sure the cast on stage are having a good time too as that becomes infectious. The shows that we’ve put together this year are guaranteed to be a whole lot of fun!”
Steve Boden, Joint CEO of Imagine Theatre, said: “Creating panto is special. It’s a huge team effort, from the team behind the scenes and our cast and crew, everyone brings a bit of themselves to it. We’re incredibly proud this year once again to work with such a brilliant mix of established names and local talent, and to create shows that value tradition and storytelling, putting families at the front and centre. We put a lot of heart into our pantomimes, and I hope that comes across the moment the curtain goes up.”
Audiences can expect spectacular sets, big dance numbers, comedy, audience participation and family-friendly festive entertainment, with productions running throughout the Christmas and New Year period.
Listings and ticket information can be found here.
