.jpg)
Primary Times - the definitive what’s on and where to go family guide of activities and events for children of primary school age. Things to do with your kids during the school holidays including arts and craft activities, music and theatre for children, parties, competitions, days out, and family attractions along with term time drama schools, dance classes, after school clubs and sports activities. Things to do at a place near you!
It's Showtime! Panto, Christmas and Winter Theatre for Families in Dorset
Christmas and Winter Theatre and Panto for Families in Dorset 2023
We have pulled together a selection of the finest family theatre, including pantos, that families can expect to see across Dorset for November 2023 through to January 2024.
Updated 2/11/2023
Other Christmas and Winter Family Theatre Shows |
Weymouth Pavilion
15th to 18th November
WOW’s award-winning group is thrilled to present the 2009 West End version of Oliver! This musical adaptation of the classic Dickens novel features some of the most memorable characters and songs ever to hit the stage.
The streets of Victorian England come to life as Oliver, a hungry orphan in a workhouse, becomes the neglected apprentice of an undertaker. Oliver escapes to London and finds acceptance amongst a group of pickpockets led by the elderly Fagin. When Oliver is captured for a theft that he did not commit, the benevolent victim, Mr. Brownlow takes him in. Fearing the safety of his hideout, Fagin employs the sinister Bill Sikes and the sympathetic Nancy to kidnap him back, threatening Oliver’s chances of discovering the true love of a family.
16th to 31st December
Snow White and The Seven Dwarfs
Welcome to the most magical pantomime ever told, where poor Snow White is doomed to live UN-happily ever after...with her horrid stepmother the Wicked Queen.
Starring Britain's Got Talent winner GEORGE SAMPSON as the Prince and JAMIE RIDING as the Dame!
From the same team behind previous hilarious Weymouth pantos Sleeping Beauty, The Wizard of Oz and Rapunzel, Weymouth Pavilion has once again teamed up with Enchanted Entertainment to bring you the region's biggest Christmas show!
In a true rags to riches story Snow White manages, with the help of her madcap friend Muddles the Jester, to meet a handsome Prince and make all her dreams come true. A pantomime full of excitement, including a Good Fairy, a Magic Mirror and the craziest Seven Dwarfs you've ever seen!
So come and join in the festive fun as Weymouth Pavilion and Enchanted Entertainment bring the world's best-known and most loved pantomime to life. A show bursting with great songs, fantastic dance routines and plenty of laughter, this is a tremendous treat for all the family you won't want to miss.
Marine Theatre
www.marinetheatre.com
4th December
What would Santa love for Christmas? Join the adventure to grant his secret wish, then meet Santa after and receive a special present!
Christmas is a season of joy, love and sharing, a time when Santa delivers presents all over the world… but what would Santa himself like for Christmas?Dasher the Reindeer has an idea… Pompom the Penguin thinks he knows… Or maybe Snowy the Snowman has the answer?
Dotty the Elf needs all their help – and yours – to find out!
Join a fun, festive, musical adventure to give Santa the very best Christmas, then meet him at his home in the North Pole! There every child will receive a special present from Father Christmas in our popular meet, greet and treat, after the most Christmassy Christmas show ever – HO-HO-HO!Songs include festive favourites – Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, Jingle Bells, When Santa Got Stuck Up The Chimney, The Twelve Days Of Christmas, We Wish You A Merry Christmas and many more!”
Santa’s Christmas Wish is a festive, song-filled, interactive family show particularly suitable for 2-8 year olds. It lasts 45 minutes and is followed by a special meet, greet and treat with Father Christmas himself!
The Mowlem
www.themowlem.com
19th December
Santa’s Christmas Wish
What would Santa love for Christmas? Join the adventure to grant his secret wish, then meet Santa after and receive a special present!
Christmas is a season of joy, love and sharing, a time when Santa delivers presents all over the world… but what would Santa himself like for Christmas?Dasher the Reindeer has an idea… Pompom the Penguin thinks he knows… Or maybe Snowy the Snowman has the answer?
Dotty the Elf needs all their help – and yours – to find out!
Join a fun, festive, musical adventure to give Santa the very best Christmas, then meet him at his home in the North Pole! There every child will receive a special present from Father Christmas in our popular meet, greet and treat, after the most Christmassy Christmas show ever – HO-HO-HO!Songs include festive favourites – Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, Jingle Bells, When Santa Got Stuck Up The Chimney, The Twelve Days Of Christmas, We Wish You A Merry Christmas and many more!”
Santa’s Christmas Wish is a festive, song-filled, interactive family show particularly suitable for 2-8 year olds. It lasts 45 minutes and is followed by a special meet, greet and treat with Father Christmas himself!
Dates from 12th January 2024
Join in for Swanage Drama Company's annual family pantomime 'Cinderella' - this year co-directed by Victoria Jones and Brian Travers. Will Cinderella get to the Ball or do her Wicked Stepmother and her two stepsisters ruin her chances? Will Buttons and Baron Hardup be able to help? Can Prince Charming meet the girl of his dreams - with, or without, Dandini's assiatance? And just who is the mysterious Fairy Godmother?
Go along and find out all the answers - and cheer, boo and see a host of local talent bring this story to life, with a script by Brian Travers, in Swanage Drama Company's own unique style and fashion!!!
The Regent Centre
www.regentcentre.co.uk
Dates from 16th December 2023
How does Santa deliver presents to every child across the whole world in one night? Time travel of course!
But when something goes wrong with Santa’s Time Machine, Christmas could be no more...
Join Squash the Christmas Elf and Santa’s only daughter Joy as they travel through time to save Santa!
Will they save Christmas in the nick of time? Will Squash find a new way to make the whole audience jingle their bells? There’s only one way to find out!
With dazzling costumes, sensational dance routines and enough Christmas magic to make your whole family feel warm and fuzzy inside, this years Christmas Spectacular is not to be missed.
26th to 28th January 2024
Highcliffe Charity Players proudly presents Robin Hood, a spellbinding pantomime that will transport you into a world of enchantment and laughter!
Embark on a thrilling journey filled with adventure and mischief as Robin Hood takes on the notorious Sheriff of Nottingham. Will our fearless hero and his mischievous companions triumph over the Sheriff's wicked schemes?
With dazzling costumes, toe-tapping music and rib-tickling humour, this one-act pantomime by Tom Whalley Pantomimes promises entertainment for the whole family.
Support a great cause while enjoying top-notch entertainment. HCP are dedicated to giving back to the community, with profits being donated to help those in need.
Bournemouth International Centre
15th and 16th December
Elf, the hit Hollywood blockbuster movie has been supersized into a live arena spectacular for this Christmas with a massive stage featuring amazing film backdrops on a huge LED screen plus a mobile stage that travels the auditorium, so everyone gets a close-up view of the action.
The presentation features Santa’s flying sleigh, audience snowball fight, indoor snowstorm, a giant candy cane journey from the North Pole, aerial cirque stars and giant tv screens so you don’t miss any of the spectacle.
The story is hilariously recreated by a large cast of performers into the biggest live Christmas show in the UK. The festive spectacular will feature West End star Steven Serlin stepping into the big floppy shoes of Will Ferrell to play Buddy the Elf.
The cast also features ‘Birds Of A Feather’ comedy actor Charlie Quirke as Buddy’s New York pal, Charlotte Hall as Jovie, Buddy’s love interest and Barry Bloxham as Buddy’s long suffering dad.
This Christmas Spectacular production features a book written by Bob Martin and Thomas Meehan (Annie, The Producers and Hairspray) and an original score of great songs by Matt Sklar and Chad Beguelin that has delighted audiences on Broadway and the West End.
Bridport Arts Centre
17th December
Bridport Arts Centre. www.bridport-arts.com
The snow is falling and the solstice is approaching. Ratty is getting ready. She wants everything to be really rat-tastic! But will her friends make it through the snow to the winter woodland revels?
Can you help them on their journey? There’ll be excitement, adventure, play-acting, games, music, a splattering of silliness and lots of snow!
Led by Sidney & Tristan from The Last Baguette, A Winter’s Tail is a fun, relaxed play-along theatre adventure. Expect to play, move, watch and laugh.
The show lasts 1 hour including a stay and play session, and is created for ages 2+ and their grown-ups. Younger and older siblings welcome!
19th December
The Christmassy Christmas Show of Christmassy Christmasness
This festive show from Squashbox Theatre is a celebration of everything Christmassy, from fir trees, fairy lights, sleigh bells and snowflakes to crackers, carols, presents and puddings!
Try and spot some naughty elves, meet a wise-cracking snowman, say hello to an over-excited Christmas puppy, endure the world’s worst Christmas jumper, join the hunt for the magical Twelve Sprouts of Christmas and gaze in awe at the “beautiful” Christmas tree fairy…
‘The Christmassy Christmas Show of Christmassy Christmasness!’ is an over-stuffed stocking of seasonal surprises crammed with puppets, songs and comedy, and over-flowing with crazy characters, silly slapstick, tall tales and fantastic facts – all presented in that unique Squashbox style!
Dorchester Arts/Dorchester Corn Exchange
9th December
“What would you do if one year Winter moved into your house? Well, that’s what happens in this snowy spectacular show, where you are guaranteed a white Christmas, no matter what the weather!
Snow Play is a showdown between Winter and Spring over who gets to stay and who must go away. So please come and help Mr Green against Mr White in this highly interactive smash-hit production. You get to make a giant snowman, cover a whole house in snow and have a super snowball fight!
‘A fantastic, utterly enchanting show…children (and adults) will be captivated. (Evening Standard)
Artsreach
www.artsreach.co.uk
8th December – West Stafford Village Hall, Dorchester
9th December – Burton Bradstock Village Hall, Bridport
The Merry Adventures of Robin Hood
Can Robin and his barmy band of brigands save the poor people of the Forest from the scheming Sheriff? Can they thwart his greedy plans? Can they find a way to level up? And can Robin right the wrongs, with mischief and merriment, without getting into a terrible mess? Who will he meet in the woods? Come see for yourself!
With quirky storytelling, merriment and mischief, the Travelling Players present a stout-hearted tale of epic proportions. Expect a great deal of swashbuckling, a number of ridiculous fights and some improbable archery. With live music, puppets and far too many trees, this co-production with Bumblefly, Forest Forge and Mischievous Theatre will hit the target this festive season.
Suitable 5+
Poole High School Theatre
www.tinyrul.com/80dayspanto
24th and 25th November
Around The World In 80 Days – The Panto
Pack your imagination and dive into a whirlwind adventure! Join Philias Fogg and a colourful cast in a panto race against time.
Hold onto your hats, adventure enthusiasts and panto lovers! The Zenith Theatre Company presents an exhilarating reimagining of the classic tale featuring the daring Phileas Fogg! Join him as he endeavours to traverse the globe in precisely 80 days.
Lurking in the shadows is the scheming bank manager, Grimsworthy! With a mind full of plots and a heart set on Fogg’s fortune, he’s out to make Fogg’s journey anything but smooth. Will Fogg prevail, or will Grimsworthy manage to foil his plans and seize his fortune?
This tale of adventure and scheming, courage and cunning, is a must-see spectacle for the whole family. Don't miss out!