It’s that glorious part of the year again — and no, it’s not the Festival Fringe. It’s Panto season. Pull on the heels, coat yourself in glitter and prepare the boos and cheers: familiar dames and mischievous baddies are back to lead the nation’s favourite festive bargain of slapstick, songs and crowd‑pleasing mayhem. Below is a taste of standout shows playing across Scotland in 2025; we’ll follow up soon with an Edinburgh‑specific guide and a fuller round‑up.
Last winter we visited 25 pantomimes and family Christmas shows across the country, and this year we’re aiming higher — from Dumfries and the Borders to the Islands and the Highlands, the tradition is alive and loud. Many productions offer tickets from just a few pounds and a wide range of access options, including relaxed performances, BSL‑interpreted shows, touch tours and captioned performances — check directly with venues for full details. Our team is travelling from Glasgow to Stirling, from nearby to Inverness and everywhere in between to bring you comprehensive coverage; if you’d like to support travel, site upkeep or simply keep us fuelled with coffee, please consider a small contribution to help us keep the festive lights on.
Brave Elsbeth sets off from the snowy village of Glenfrost to rescue her brother from the wicked Snow Queen chillblain and her slippery sidekick Jack Frost, joined by cheeky Sammy the Slush, snow‑stopping mammy Dame Agnes Avalunch and a forgetful talking snowman, Nolaff — and Cumbernauld Theatre at Lanternhouse invites families to join the frosty fun as this heartwarming, laugh‑out‑loud festive adventure brings trolls, a seven‑foot Yeti and wild snowstorms to the stage in a sparkling, family‑friendly panto full of catchy tunes, audience fun and a sprinkle of magic.
The production features a line‑up of local and familiar faces, with Alex Robertson as Dame Agnes Avalunch and Lauren O’Hare as Elspeth, joined by Kathleen McClenaghan as Nolaff, Milly Sweeney as Jack Frost, writer‑performer Jerry Taylor as Sammy the Slush and Abbie Watson doubling as Chilblain and musical director — a cast assembled to deliver snowballing laughs and plenty of chances to shout back at the stage in Cumbernauld’s festive treat.
November 22nd – December 24th
Signed Performance – 13th December, 14.00pm
Relaxed Performance – 6th December, 14.00pm
Audio-described Performance – 14th December, 14.00pm
From Fraser Boyle, co-writer of The Gaiety’s CATS Outstanding Pantomime and five‑star show hits Mother Goose, comes Aladdie — a very Ayrshire take on the classic tale set in Old New Cumnock Town under the Ancient McMinger Dynasty. Aladdie’s misadventures land him in deep trouble, rescued only by his fiercely loyal family as he vies for Princess Destiny, contends with would‑be sorcerer Abanazar, and watches Widow Twunkey tackle Empress Oonagh McMinger’s impossible standards. Expect magic, mayhem, mischief and Maybole in a rollicking re‑telling that proudly declares: this isn’t Aladdin. It’s Aladdie.
29th November – 4th January
Signed Performance – 29th November, 18:30pm, 6th December 13:30pm, 9th December 14:45pm, 14th December 12:00pm, 4th January 17:0pm
Captioned Performance – 12th December 18:30pm, 22nd December 18:30pm, 29th December 13:30pm, 4th January 12:00pm
Relaxed Performance – 2nd December, 14.45pm, 6th December 13:30pm,9th December 14:45pm, 28th December 12:00pm, 3rd January 18:30pm
Audio-described Performance – 4th December, 18.30pm, 12th December 18:30pm, 3rd January 13:30pm,
The Wizard of Oz – The Brunton & Haddington Corn Exchange
Follow Dorothy down the yellow brick road in The Brunton’s festive panto, produced by The Brunton and written by Jack Nurse and Robbie Gordon (Wonder Fools), playing Corn Exchange Haddington and Loretto Theatre Musselburgh from 4th–27th December; expect chart‑topping pop hits, original songs, flying monkeys, and a professional company joined by local young performers, with BSL interpreted, audio‑described and relaxed performances available to ensure accessibility for all audiences
4th December – 27th December
Signed Performance – 29th November, 18:30pm, 6th December 13:30pm, 9th December 14:45pm, 14th December 12:00pm, 4th January 17:0pm
Captioned Performance – 12th December 18:30pm, 22nd December 18:30pm, 29th December 13:30pm, 4th January 12:00pm
Relaxed Performance – 2nd December, 14.45pm, 6th December 13:30pm,9th December 14:45pm, 28th December 12:00pm, 3rd January 18:30pm
Audio-described Performance – 4th December, 18.30pm, 12th December 18:30pm, 3rd January 13:30pm,
Come and join Eden Court for the “fairest panto of them all” — a sparkling, family-friendly romp through Snow White where the Wicked Queen’s magic mirror names Snow White the fairest in the land and jealousy sparks a plot only friendship and a very loud audience can foil. Will Snow White’s friends outwit the Queen and save her from fury so everyone can live happily ever after?
Enjoy a wickedly good time at Eden Court’s classic family panto, packed with hilarious slapstick, lively audience interaction, hit songs, sensational dancing and plenty of festive joy — bring your boos, cheers and singalong voices for an evening of pure seasonal mischief.
December 3rd – January 4th
Signed Performance – 14th December, 13.00pm, 29th December 19:00pm
Captioned Performance – 13th December, 13:00pm
Relaxed Performance – 10th December, 13.30pm, 2nd January, 14:30pm
Audio-described Performance – 13th December, 13.00pm
Weans In The Wood – Macroberts, Stirling
Hansel-No-Solo is flunking out of Magic Merlina’s School for Magical Minors and, just when there’s more chance of him turning up in the Love Island Class of ’26 than passing those Nat 5s, feral forest fooligan Little Red Riding Hood nicks the school’s power and hands the keys to the wicked Sheriff of Stirling‑Stella‑ham and their band of minions. Can hopeless Hansel‑No‑Solo and loyal best pal Gretel stop the pantosphere collapsing into a deep well of despair (worse than a Saturday Primark queue), can Red Riding Hood begrudgingly put things right, and will Headmistress Merlina catch the eye of any eligible uncles in the audience to secure her own happily ever after?
Bring your magic wands, dancing shoes and full‑on singalong voices to the Macroberts in Stirling for this year’s riotous, heart‑warmingly daft panto extravaganza — Weans In The Wood — where chaos, comedy and a crowd‑saving chorus are all part of the lesson.
November 26th – January 3rd
Relaxed Performance – 19th December, 13.30pm
Signed Performance – 11th December, 19.00pm
Captioned Performance – 17th December, 19:00pm
Audio-described Performance – 10th December, 19.00pm
Aladdin – The Byre Theatre, St. Andrews
In the misty highlands of Fantasia, not far north of St Andrews, something magical is afoot — and the Byre Theatre invites you to witness it. Times are tough in the kingdom of Fantasia, but one laddie still believes in wishes, wonder and a wee bit of magic, and when Aladdin meets his wonderfully daft family, the McSwankeys, the pair set off on a bonkers Highland adventure full of peril, pals and panto pranks. This Scottish take on the classic tale serves up songs, silliness and sparkle for all ages, with a local flavour that will have the whole audience cheering.
Perfect for families, schools and anyone who needs a good festive giggle, the Byre’s panto is a spellbinding trip to Fantasia, created with the brilliant folks at Bard in the Botanics. Get your tickets, bring your singalong voices and be ready to make a few very merry wishes come true.
November 28th – January 4th
Captioned Performance – 13th December, 14:00pm
Relaxed Performance – 9th December, 13.00pm
Audio-described Performance – 6th December, 14.00pm
The Snow Queen – Perth Theatre
Brave Gerda and her best pal McKay spend their days climbing trees, splashing in the burn and having summer‑holiday adventures in the snug village of Upper Doonigan, until an icy blast heralds the return of the vindictive Snow Queen and McKay disappears—so Gerda sets off north, meeting comical crows, gormless gardeners, a talking reindeer and a host of unlikely characters as she sings, dances and even throws sweeties from the stalls on her quest to bring him home; Perth Theatre’s production is billed as the company’s “coolest” panto yet and promises warmth, laughs and a proper family adventure onstage.
Leading the cast are writer‑director Barrie Hunter as Grannie Frannie McMannie, Nina Gray as Gerda, Stuart Edgar as McKay and Lauren Ellis‑Steele as the Snow Queen, supported by Ewan Somers, Julia Murray, Rachel Campbell, Robin Campbell and Beth Scott, with Chris Stuart Wilson as associate director and choreographer, Alan Penman as musical director and Becky Minto on design; The Snow Queen runs at Perth Theatre from 28 November to 31 December and is aimed squarely at families looking for a heartwarming, laugh‑out‑loud festive treat.
November 28th – December 31st
Signed Performance – 20th December 13:00pm
Relaxed Performance – 14th December, 13.00pm, 28th December 14:00pm
Audio-described Performance – 23rd December, 19.00pm
The Tron Theatre’s panto this year hurls West End woes straight into a pantoshpere of pure Glasgow chaos: our beleaguered Gallus misses their ballet exam, discovers Dinah The Cat has vanished and falls down a mysterious pothole into WEEGIELAND — a winter wonderland of strange‑talking creatures, a maniacal, power‑hungry Queen and her dangerously handsome son Knavey. Expect glitter, gaglines and sing‑along anarchy as Gallus navigates pratfalls and peril to rescue Dinah, survive a few public beheadings and maybe, get a very theatrical happily ever after.
This riotous reimagining, written by Johnny McKnight and staged by Tron Theatre Company, returns the company’s trademark mix of irreverence, catchy songs and on‑the‑nose cultural jokes, with new music by Ross Brown and over‑the‑top set and costume design to match; the production also includes a range of accessible performances including BSL‑interpreted, audio‑described, relaxed and live‑captioned shows for the festive run.
November 19th – January 4th
Captioned Performance – 21st December, 13:00pm
Signed Performance – 5th December, 13.00pm, 6th December 19:00pm, 7th December 13:00pm
Relaxed Performance – 10th December, 19.00pm
Audio-described Performance – 3rd December, 19.00pm, 13th December 14:00pm
Oor Wee Mammy McGoose – The Kings Kirckaldy
Oor Wee Mammy McGoose returns to the King’s Theatre in Kirkcaldy this festive season with a brand‑new production that promises all the magic and mayhem the Lang Toun has come to expect — marvellous music, stunning sets, lashings of laughter and maybe a wee tear or two, all rooted in the town’s own Links Market traditions. Fife’s favourite Dame, the legend Billy Mack, headlines in the title role alongside Mark McDonnell and long‑time company member Sarah Brown Cooper, joined by newcomers Shona White and Ross MacKenzie; the show is directed by Suzi Budd and will run across an extended seasonal programme from early December into January.
This Best Wee Panto in Scotland returns to the King’s with a packed schedule of family and schools performances and special events for grown‑ups, promising the warm, crowd‑pleasing charm that has made the wee panto an annual favourite in Kirkcaldy. Grab your tickets early and get ready for a rollicking local romp — Oor Wee Mammy McGoose is set to scale new heights and could well be the King’s best wee panto ever.
December 4th – January 10th
Jack and The Beanstalk – The Festival Theatre, Edinburgh
Join Jack as he climbs a beanstalk of gigantic proportions to Cloudland in a spectacular family pantomime at the Festival Theatre in Edinburgh, starring Allan Stewart as Dame Trot, Grant Stott as Fleshcreep and Jordan Young in the title role — a cast of local favourites and comic heavyweights guaranteed to keep the laughs coming.
Doomed to sell his trusty cow, Jack must outwit an evil giant to win riches beyond his wildest dreams in a show bursting with laughs, music, special effects and buckets of audience participation; the Festival’s panto runs from 13th December to 11th January and includes a range of accessible performances, so bring your singalong voices and be part of this giant of a festive tradition.
December 13th – January 11th
Signed Performance – 19th December 19:00pm, 20th December 14:00pm, 31st December 13:00pm
Relaxed Performance – 9th January, 14.00pm
Audio-described Performance – 19th December, 19.00pm, 20th December 14:00pm
This Christmas PACE Theatre Company brings its 36th annual Paisley pantomime to the recently refurbished Paisley Arts Centre with a brand‑new Snow White — a festive, family‑friendly take on the classic tale running from 26 November 2025 to 5 January 2026, headed by panto stalwarts Chris Alexander and Alan Orr alongside Chiara Sparkes as Snow White, Bailey Newsome as Prince Barry and Joanne McGuiness as the Evil Queen. Cast out into the woods on her 18th birthday, Snow White finds refuge with seven of the silliest miners you’ll ever meet, but the Evil Queen’s poisoned apple looms large in a show full of laughter, music and mayhem that asks who, in a land of chaos and comedy, will deliver the true love’s kiss to break the spell.
The production is written and directed by Andy McGregor with set and costume design by Fraser Lappin, and will feature four teams of young actors drawn from PACE’s youth theatre alongside the professional ensemble; the run includes accessible performances and a full programme of family and schools shows, making this a can’t‑miss seasonal outing for Paisley families and visitors alike.
The Little Mermaid – The King’s Theatre, Glasgow
Dive under the sea this Christmas with The Little Mermaid at the King’s Theatre, Glasgow, starring Glasgow panto superstar Elaine C Smith alongside the King’s favourite funny‑man Johnny Mac, with Darren Brownlie returning as Dishy Fishy and newcomers Jasmine Jules‑Andrews as Ariel and Benjamin Lockhart as Prince Eric; while annah Jarrett‑Scott returns to the King’s in a villainous role, as the evil Sea Witch in a starry line‑up guaranteed to bring Glasgow’s festive crowds to their feet.
This reimagined, music‑filled pantomime — produced for the King’s by Crossroads Pantomimes — promises high‑energy hijinks, fab costumes, dazzling scenery and full‑throttle audience participation, taking families on an underwater journey complete with magical chariots, catchy songs and the sort of laugh‑out‑loud moments the King’s panto has become famed for.
Interested in being featured? With many previews and Q&As lined up, we’re always happy to chat about including your show in future articles. Please do get in touch through the contact page to feature in an upcoming ‘Have A Gander’