Christmas Pantomimes in Essex
PUBLISHED: 10:54 12 December 2016 | UPDATED: 10:55 12 December 2016

Christmas Pantomimes in Essex
Archant
Christmas isn’t complete without rounding up the family for a trip to see a pantomime. This year there’s a multitude of wonderful, festive performances taking place all over Essex.
1. Beauty and the Beast
Venue: Ingatestone & Fryerning Community Centre
Date: 25 – 27 November 2016
Young Expressions, an award winning youth theatre group, will be bringing music, magic and fun to Ingatestone this Christmas with the children’s classic ‘Beauty and the Beast’. Tickets go on sale from November 7 and the production is suitable for the whole family to enjoy.
2. Dick Whittington
Venue: Mercury Theatre, Colchester
Date: 26 November 2016 - 8 January 2017
The heart warming rags-to-riches tale of Dick Whittington will be brought to life this festive season at Colchester’s Mercury Theatre. The show will be complete with special effects, plenty of slapstick comedy and a few familiar faces from last year’s production of Aladdin.
3. Cinderella
Venue: The Mill Arts & Events Centre, Rayleigh
Date: 1 December - 3 December 2016
We all know and love the story of Cinderella. If you pay a visit to The Mill Arts & Events Centre this December, you can see the traditional tale performed on stage by the super talented Rayleigh Operatic and Dramatic Society. Tickets are available from the Box Office on 01268 771751.
4. Jack and the Beanstalk
Venue: Civic Theatre, Chelmsford
Date: 2 December 2016 – 2 January 2017
Fee-Fi-Fo-Fum… Jack and the Beanstalk is set to bring festive cheer in gigantic proportions to Chelmsford’s Civic Theatre this winter. From glamorous costumes and energetic dance routines to family sing-alongs, this panto is a “must-see” date for the diary.
5. Beauty and the Beast
Venue: Harlow Playhouse, Harlow
Date: 3rd Dec 2016 to 4th Jan 2017
Harlow Playhouse favourites Kevin James and Jimmy Burton-Iles return to the stage this year to bring you Beauty and the Beast as you’ve never seen it before. A thrilling and innovative performance with beautiful songs and lavish sets, it’s sure to be a show you will never forget.
6. Jack and the Beanstalk and his Fairy Tale Friends
Venue: Zinc Arts, Chipping Ongar
Date: 3rd Dec 2016 to 22nd Dec 2016
The incredible entertainers at Stage One Theatre Group bring your favourite characters to life with their quirky twist on a beloved childhood classic. It’s Jack and the Beanstalk as you’ve never seen it before – the perfect pre-Christmas treat for you and the kids.
7. Robinson Crusoe & the Caribbean Pirates,
Venue: Cliffs Pavilion, Westcliff-on-Sea
Date: 10th Dec 2016 to 8th Jan 2017
After an incredible performance in Cinderella last year, Brian Conley returns to Southend to star in the title role of Robinson Crusoe. Full of laugh-out-loud comedy that will leave your sides splitting and jaws aching, even Gok Wan will make an appearance as the Spirit of the Ocean.
Venue: Princes Theatre, Clacton-on-Sea
Date: 10th Dec 2016 to 1st Jan 2017
Who doesn’t love the story of Sleeping Beauty? This classic fairytale promises to be a wonderful performance and a magical evening that will enchant the whole family.
9. Aladdin
Venue: The Bocking Arts Theatre, Braintree
Date: 16th Dec 2016 to 24th Dec 2016
Full of songs, dancing and plenty of laughter, Starstruck Theatre School will transport you to the streets of Agrabah in their performance of Aladdin. It promises lots of audience participation for the kids (and the adults) to get involved in.
10. Through the Looking Glass
Venue: Brentwood Theatre, Brentwood
Date: 10th December to 31st December 2016
Join Alice & White Rabbit on their fabulous journey into the realms of Wonderland, and be transported into a zany world of mixed-up nursery rhymes with old friends and new, whilst enjoying the interactive, catchy songs
11. Sleeping Beauty
Venue: Hylands House & Estate, Chelmsford
Date: 28th December 2016
The Panto Bus makes its return to Hylands this year with their take on the timeless, traditional fairytale classic, Sleeping Beauty. Expect a performance full of mischief and wonder.
12. A Christmas Carol by Candlelight
Venue: Colchester Arts Centre, Colchester
Date: 23rd December 2016
Colchester Arts Centre Director Anthony Roberts’ brings you a traditional rendition of the Dickens classic, along with musical accompaniment by Jamie Cunliffe. Hear this wonderful tale in the beautiful surroundings of a Victorian church, with the only lights provided by candles!
If the shows listed above don’t take your fancy, there’s still plenty to choose from!
Colchester
Show: Silver Moon
Venue: Colchester Arts Centre
Date: 26th November 2016
Westcliff-on-Sea
Show: Beauty and the Beast
Venue: Palace Theatre
Date: 20th Jan 2017 to 22nd Jan 2017
Colchester
Show: Rapunzel
Venue: Colchester Arts Centre
Date: 19th December 2016 to 3rd January 2017
Barking and Dagenham
Show: Aladdin
Venue: The Broadway Theatre
Date: 3rd December 2016 to 7th January 2017
Ilford
Show: Rapunzel
Venue: Kenneth More Theatre
Date: 8th Dec 2016 to 14th Jan 2017
Loughton
Show: The Sleeping Beauty
Venue: Lopping Hall
Date: 27th Jan 2017 to 28th Jan 2017
Clacton-on-Sea
Show: Robin Hood
Venue: Princes Theatre
Date: 9th Apr 2017 to 10th Apr 2017
Hornchurch
Show: Cinderella
Venue: Queen’s Theatre
Date: 3rd Dec 2016 to 14th Jan 2017