Panto season is back, oh yes it is, and families across Greater Manchester are spoilt for choice this year.
With a host of family favourites including three productions of Jack and the Beanstalk, three Cinderellas and the return of the smash hit production of We’re Going on a Bear Hunt at The Lowry, there's something for everyone to enjoy.
And with the festive season almost upon us, tickets have already been selling fast for many of these shows, so don't hang around if you want to be sure of getting some good seats.
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Here are the pantomimes Greater Manchester has to offer
Manchester Opera House
The family favourite Manchester Opera House pantomime returns with a Jack and the Beanstalk production this Christmas.
Returning by popular demand is Jason Manford, who will take to the stage as Jack and he'll be joined by Manchester panto favourite Ben Nickless as Silly Simon, star of stage and screen Myra DuBois, and West End performers Samara Casteallo and Emma Williams.
The show promises ‘laughs, music, special effects, magic beans and bundles of audience participation in this giant of a pantomime’.
It will run from Saturday, December 2 to Sunday, December 31. Tickets, from £13, can be bought online.
The Lowry
There's something for everyone at The Lowry this Christmas, including the award-winning Life of Pi and the return of the smash-hit production of We’re Going on a Bear Hunt.
Based on the much-loved picture book from Michael Rosen and Helen Oxenbury, music, laughter, rhymes, rhythms and repetitions together with puppetry, paint, water and mud - not to mention a bear - promise to make the latter production 'the perfect theatrical outing for all young families'.
Expect plenty of interaction and a few surprises along the way as you join the intrepid family of adventurers and their musical dog as they 'wade through the swishy swashy grass, the splishy splashy river, the thick oozy squelchy mud and the swirling, whirling snowstorm, in search of a bear'.
We’re Going on a Bear Hunt is at The Lowry from Thursday, December 7 to Sunday, January 7. Tickets, from £19, available on the website here.
For a slightly older audience, from the age of 8 plus, comes Life of Pi, based on the best-selling book by Yann Martel.
The five-star hit show, a winner of five Olivier Awards including Best New Play, comes to The Lowry from December 5 to January 7. Tickets, from £17, available here.
The Plaza, Stockport
Former Coronation Street bad man Brian Capron will be appearing in Stockport to play evil Captain Hook in The Plaza's production of Peter Pan.
Visitors are promised 'a stellar performance' with tickets being dubbed as ‘affordable’ for families to enjoy.
The performances will start on Friday, December 8 and will end Sunday, January 7 with tickets as low as £17.60. You can find tickets here.
The Albert Halls, Bolton
Another former Corrie star will be taking to the stage in The Albert Halls production of Cinderella.
Vicky Entwistle, known for portraying the role of Janice Battersby in the ITV soap, is playing the part of Fairy Superior in the Polka Dot Pantomime production.
Running from December 1 to 31 opening weekend performances include the opportunity to meet the panto cast afterwards. On December 1, 2 and 3, you can meet your favourite characters in the foyer and have photos taken with them.
For tickets, costing £22, see the website here.
Victoria Hall, Bolton
There's another Cinderella pantomime taking place at the nearby Victoria Hall too.
Charming Entertainment is promising 'the most magical panto of them all', with favourite Stephen Sullivan, who played villainous Carabosse in the theatre's production of Sleeping Beauty back in 2021, returning as one of the Ugly Sisters alongside Gethan White.
Tickets cost from just £7 and some dates are already sold out for the show, which runs from Saturday, November 18 to Saturday, January 6. Tickets on the website here.
The Queen Elizabeth Hall, Oldham
There's another production of Jack and the Beanstalk taking place at The Queen Elizabeth Hall.
The Chase's Mark Labbett is sure to pull in the crowds playing the part of Fleshcreep in the show, which runs from December 13 to January 1.
The Anton Benson production will also feature Oldham favourites Jeffrey Longmore as Dame Trott and Kate Salmon, who also directs, as Fairy Feebee. Phil Mealey, who starred in the BBC sitcom Early Doors, will play the part of King Bling.
For tickets, from £15, see the website here.
HOME, Manchester
There are two Christmas productions showing at HOME in Manchester this year.
The first is Theatre Porto's critically acclaimed production of Little Red, 'a playful twist' on the familiar tale of Little Red Riding Hood.
Promising 'superb visual storytelling and songs that you’ll be humming all winter', it's billed as the 'perfect festive treat'.
Running from November 29 to December 6, tickets cost from £8 and can be booked online.
Also at HOME this Christmas is Anne-Marie Casey’s adaptation of the classic story Little Women.
Promising 'an exciting theatrical experience guaranteed to be a night (or afternoon!) filled with laughter, tears, and a lifting of the spirits', it's on from December 8 to 23. Tickets cost from £12.50 on the website here.
Octagon, Bolton
A brand-new musical adaptation of Around the World in 80 Days is coming to the Octagon in Bolton this Christmas.
Adapted for the stage by Kate Ferguson and Susannah Pearse, the writers who penned the Octagon’s 2022 festive production A Christmas Carol and 2019’s Treasure Island, comes this 'sensational new musical stage production', directed by Kash Arshad (An Adventure, Octagon Theatre).
Casting includes a company of seven talented actors including Polly Lister (One Man, Two Guvnors and Hound of the Baskervilles, Octagon Theatre Bolton) as the eccentric entrepreneur, Lady Phileas Fogg.
The production runs from now until January 6 and tickets, from £15, are available online.
Salford Arts Theatre
Tickets have already been flying out for Salford Arts Theatre's production of Aladdin this year.
The traditional show, by Harry Luty, follows the tale of Aladdin on his quest to marry Princess Jasmine with the help of a magical lamp that gives wishes.
A dozen dates are already sold out, with limited availability for the remaining 20. It runs from Saturday, December 2 to Sunday, December 31.
Tickets, starting from £9 for children and £12 for adults, are available on the website here.
Z-Arts
Snow White, ‘the fairest panto in all the land’ is coming to Z-arts in Manchester this November.
The production, from South Manchester AOS, promises 'all the magic and spectacle our audiences have come to love and expect from their pantomimes' with ‘stunning scenery, dazzling costumes and knock-out performances’.
The show will run from Wednesday, November 22 to Saturday, November 25 with tickets costing from £14.70. Book online.
Waterside Arts Centre, Sale
A 'vibrant musical re-imagining of The Snow Queen' is coming to Waterside this Christmas.
Celebrating the idea 'that small changes can make a big difference', the musical follows the story of The Snow Queen being able to change the weather, however, the weather is only getting warmer and not cold.
It will feature an original soundtrack of music performed live by the cast of three actor-musicians and promises to entertain audience members of every age from four plus.
It's on from Wednesday, November 29 to Saturday, December 30. Tickets, from £7, available online.
Middleton Arena
There's yet another production of Jack and the Beanstalk, this time at Middleton Arena and featuring the children's favourite Sooty and Sweep.
Hollyoaks' David Tag will star as Fleshcreep (in shows from December 16 onwards), BBC Pitch Battle’s Joe McEvoy as Jack and comedy star David Drewitt as Silly Billy in the show, which promises ‘3D effects, beautiful scenery, colourful costumes, amazing 3D effects and lots and lots of laughs’.
It runs from Monday, November 27 to Friday, December 29. Tickets, from £15.50, available on the website here.
The Met, Bury
There's another production of Aladdin, this time at The Met in Bury.
Produced in house with panto professionals The Big Tiny Production Company, the team who last year brought you Dick Whittington, it promises to be 'the perfect Christmas treat for all the family'.
The cast includes Neil Jennings, who has worked with the anarchic theatre company The Pantaloons for over 10 years and is looking forward to playing the part of Widow Twankey.
It runs from December 8 to 26 (with a special Pyjama Performance on December 14) and tickets, from £15, can be bought online.
Contact, Manchester
Contact is back with a unique production of Cinderella by Eight-Freestyle.
After last year's refreshing tale of ‘Robin Hood: The 80s Panto’, the same production team is back with Cinderella in a musical described as ‘the time of your life’.
Lady Bushra and Misty Chance, two of the brightest stars in Manchester’s LGBTQ+ drag scene, take centre stage in what promises to be an 'enchanting production'.
Expect a fresh twist on the traditional storyline as Cinderella fights for her freedom from her cruel Stepsisters and their questionable fashion choices.
The musical will run from Saturday, December 9 to Sunday, December 31. Tickets, from £15, on the website here.
The Lowry
The fun isn't over as we head into the new year either as Barton Theatre Company returns to The Lowry with a brand new production, Gingerbread Man: The Panto.
The performance will include witches, whoopee cushions, a variety of music and ‘festivity and frogs’.
The production, which runs from Friday, January 12 to Sunday, January 14, promises to also be a ‘tasty treat’ for families. Tickets, from £11, on the website here.
