What is a pantomime & why does the UK love them at Christmas?

As a non-native Brit, I had no idea what a pantomime (“panto”) was when I first moved here. If you're in the same boat, you’re not alone — pantos are a huge part of British festive culture, but they’re very different from traditional theatre.

🎭 So… what exactly is a pantomime?

A pantomime is a family-friendly stage show filled with:

• Big comedy

• Silly jokes for all ages

• Audience participation

• Music and dancing

• Larger-than-life characters (including the classic “panto dame,” traditionally played by a man)

• Lots of chaos and fun

They often retell classic fairy tales, like Cinderella, Aladdin, Jack and the Beanstalk, or Snow White, but with modern twists, local jokes, and plenty of moments where the audience gets to yell “He’s behind you!”

🎄 Why are pantos so popular at Christmas?

Pantomimes are a long-standing British festive tradition. Families go together every year, schools take children on trips, and theatres across the country create brand-new productions for the season.

They’re joyful, silly, and designed so that everyone - toddlers, grandparents, and everyone in between - can enjoy the same show together. It’s part live theatre, part comedy, part musical, and completely unique to the UK.

👑 Our visit to the Rose Theatre: Cinderella (Gifted)

We went to the Rose Theatre to see their Christmas production of Cinderella, and although it’s not a traditional panto with audience participation, it still had all the things people love about festive theatre — warmth, fairy-tale magic, humour, and a brilliant cast.

It was beautifully staged, easy for young children to follow, and full of that cosy Christmas sparkle.

My husband even said “It was one of the best shows I’ve seen off of the West End.” High praise!

It was a gifted experience, and genuinely such a memorable start to our Christmas season.

🌟 Final thought

If you’re not originally from the UK and have never seen a panto before, go! It’s one of the most charming British holiday traditions, and the Rose Theatre’s Cinderella is a wonderful place to start.