Sussex pantomimes 2026–2027: dates, stars, tickets and our theatre guides

From Courtney Act in Brighton and Matthew Kelly in Crawley to community shows in Lewes and Lavant, here is where to find a Sussex pantomime this Christmas and into January.

Sussex’s 2026–2027 pantomime season brings television names, returning theatre favourites and local companies to stages across the county. Aladdin, Cinderella, Dick Whittington and Puss in Boots all have more than one production, making the venue as important as the title when choosing tickets.

This guide brings together 20 family productions, with links to our individual previews where they are published and to the organisers’ booking information. There are also separate grown-up performances below. Runs cover selected performance dates, not necessarily a show every day; prices and availability were checked on 26 October 2026 and can change.

Jump to Brighton and Hove, West Sussex, East Sussex, accessible performances or panto for grown-ups.

Sussex panto dates at a glance

Brighton and Hove pantomimes

Aladdin: Brighton, DoubleTree by Hilton Brighton Metropole

22–30 December 2026. Courtney Act, known for Celebrity Big Brother and RuPaul’s Drag Race, plays both the Genie of the Lamp and the Genie of the Ring. Brighton Family Panto’s tenth-birthday production offers a Christmas-week option on the seafront. This is the Metropole hotel production, so check the venue rather than assuming it is at Theatre Royal Brighton.

Read our Aladdin at DoubleTree by Hilton Brighton Metropole guide for more on the production and planning your visit. Check official performance and ticket information.

West Sussex pantomimes

Dick Whittington: Horsham, The Capitol

29 November 2026–3 January 2027. Louie Spence, familiar from Pineapple Dance Studios and Dancing on Ice, plays Peppe Puss the Cat as the Capitol reopens after refurbishment. Will Jennings, Emma Lindars and James Camp are among the returning performers. The opening Sunday is advertised at £26 for all tickets; other dates and seating bands vary.

Read our Dick Whittington at The Capitol guide for more on the production and planning your visit. Check official performance and ticket information.

Puss in Boots: Worthing, Pavilion Theatre

3 December 2026–3 January 2027. Former Strictly Come Dancing professional and Dancing on Ice winner James Jordan plays Rumpelstiltskin. Katie-Elizabeth Allgood is Puss and Alan Richardson is Dame Nelly in a production marking the Pavilion’s centenary. The venue lists a two-hour running time and prices from £14.75 plus a £1.75 transaction fee; check the final total and ticket category.

Read our Puss in Boots at Pavilion Theatre guide for more on the production and planning your visit. Check official performance and ticket information.

Aladdin: Crawley, The Hawth

5–31 December 2026. Stars in Their Eyes presenter Matthew Kelly plays Widow Twankey opposite Linda Lusardi’s Abanazar. CBeebies presenter Cat Sandion, Matt Rixon, Lucy Kane and Darius James also feature. This is a new chapter for the Hawth’s annual panto following Michael J Batchelor’s departure and the end of Evolution Productions’ long association with the show.

Read our Aladdin at The Hawth guide for more on the production and planning your visit. Check official performance and ticket information.

Dick Whittington: Crawley, Ifield Barn Theatre

3–13 December 2026. Ifield’s volunteer-run theatre offers a smaller community production, directed by Janine Robins from Ron Nicol’s script. Dick and his cat set out for London and become caught up in Queen Rat Imperia’s plans. Follow the theatre’s calendar for individual performance times and current ticket prices.

Read our Dick Whittington at Ifield Barn Theatre guide for more on the production and planning your visit. Check official performance and ticket information.

Goldilocks, The Christmas Show: Crawley, Crawley Town Hall, Create Building

5–6 December 2026. Same Difference’s touring three-performer panto is aimed at children aged three and above, using songs, jokes and quick costume changes. Crawley performances are at 11am and 2pm on both days. The tour confirms the dates, but the council’s admission price and booking procedure still need checking before travelling.

Read our Goldilocks, The Christmas Show at Crawley Town Hall, Create Building guide for more on the production and planning your visit. Check official performance and ticket information.

Robin Hood: East Grinstead, Chequer Mead Theatre

5 December 2026–3 January 2027. Callum Donnelly, whose television work includes CBeebies’ Spot Bots, plays Robin Hood, with Amelia Fadden as Maid Marion. Helen Goldwyn, Harry Henderson, Tizane McEvoy and Kevin Gauntlett complete the principal company. The calendar includes morning and afternoon shows as well as evening performances.

Read our Robin Hood at Chequer Mead Theatre guide for more on the production and planning your visit. Check official performance and ticket information.

Cinderella: Shoreham-by-Sea, Ropetackle Arts Centre

17–30 December 2026, selected dates. LP Creatives brings the Fairy Godmother, pumpkin and royal ball to Shoreham for a two-hour family pantomime. The official booking calendar covers selected dates across the run, with daytime and evening options. Choose the date first: the venue also has separate webpages for individual performances.

Read our Cinderella at Ropetackle guide for more on the production and planning your visit.

Check Cinderella at Ropetackle Arts Centre dates and booking information.

Rapunzel: Southwick, Barn Theatre, Southwick Community Centre

1–9 January 2027. Southwick Players begin the new year with Nick Lawrence’s pantomime, directed by Amy Bowyer and Amanda Reeves. Rapunzel’s escape from Gothel’s tower unfolds alongside Dame Betty Beehive’s salon, Silly Billy and Prince Leo. The January run is an alternative to squeezing a visit into Christmas week.

Read our Rapunzel at Barn Theatre, Southwick Community Centre guide for more on the production and planning your visit. Check official performance and ticket information.

Puss in Boots: Burgess Hill, The Burgess Hill Academy

16–17 and 22–23 January 2027. Burgess Hill Theatre Club is planning seven performances over two weekends for its sixtieth-anniversary pantomime. The Academy is the performance venue. This is a separate production from Worthing’s Puss in Boots, with its own company, story treatment and ticket arrangements.

Read our Puss in Boots in Burgess Hill guide for more on the production and planning your visit.

Check Puss in Boots at The Burgess Hill Academy dates and booking information.

The Priory Park Panto Experience: Chichester, The Guildhall, Priory Park

12–13 and 19–22 December 2026. Twitten Productions returns with an original one-hour panto featuring Santa, Mrs Santa, Fairy Sparkle, Norman the Elf and Uncle Holly. Tickets are £11 for adults and £8 for children, with free carer/personal-assistant tickets and free entry for babes-in-arms under one. A short cast meet-and-greet follows each show; the council advises audiences to wrap up warm for the Guildhall.

Check The Priory Park Panto Experience at The Guildhall, Priory Park dates and booking information.

Jack and the Beanstalk: East Lavant, near Chichester, Lavant Memorial Hall

12 December 2026. Cardboard Box Theatre Company brings its Christmas pantomime to Pook Lane, East Lavant. Holly Goble plays Jack Trott, with Navaeah Hoath as Olivia and Edward Gamazeliuc as Dame Tilly Trott. This is a one-date listing rather than a long theatre residency; use the organiser’s ticket page for the session time and price.

Check Jack and the Beanstalk at Lavant Memorial Hall dates and booking information.

The Grinch The Panto: Worthing, Northbrook Theatre

17–20 December 2026. Durrington Theatrical Society’s six performances currently show as sold out, with waiting lists offered on TicketSource. The timetable has evening shows on 17 and 18 December, followed by noon and 4pm performances on 19 and 20 December. Treat this as a returns option rather than assuming seats are available.

Read our The Grinch at Northbrook Theatre guide for more on the production and planning your visit.

Check The Grinch The Panto at Northbrook Theatre dates and booking information.

East Sussex pantomimes

Cinderella: Eastbourne, Devonshire Park Theatre

11 December 2026–17 January 2027. Ella Bracci plays Cinderella, with Morgan Phillips as Buttons, Martyn Knight as Dame Fairy G, Lewes Roberts as Flora Hardup and Chris Aukett as Marge Hardup. Jordan Productions’ staging uses live music and runs well into January. Check the chosen performance for the price and access arrangements.

Read our Cinderella at Devonshire Park Theatre guide for more on the production and planning your visit. Check official performance and ticket information.

Dick Whittington: Eastbourne, Royal Hippodrome Theatre

Public family shows: 11 December 2026–3 January 2027. Eastbourne’s other major panto follows Dick and his cat on their search for fortune. The theatre’s overall listing begins on 7 December, but 7–10 December are school performances: public family opening night is 11 December at 7pm, advertised at £12. Separate adult-night tickets are not suitable for children.

Read our Dick Whittington at Royal Hippodrome Theatre guide for more on the production and planning your visit. Check official performance and ticket information.

Snow White: Hastings, White Rock Theatre

12 December 2026–3 January 2027. EastEnders actor Shona McGarty takes the title role opposite The X Factor winner Matt Terry as Prince Henry. Ben Watson returns as Muddles, with Tim McArthur as Herman the Henchman. Our full preview explains the leads’ television and stage backgrounds as well as the announced supporting cast.

Read our Snow White at White Rock Theatre guide for more on the production and planning your visit. Check official performance and ticket information.

Beauty and the Beast: Peacehaven, Community House

3–5 December 2026. Peacehaven Players stage Tom Whalley’s panto with Belle, the cursed prince, Brie and Dame Bonnie Baguette. There are four performances: 7pm on 3 and 4 December, then 2pm and 6pm on 5 December. These early-December dates fall before the main school Christmas holiday.

Read our Beauty and the Beast at Community House guide for more on the production and planning your visit. Check official performance and ticket information.

Jack and the Beanstalk: Uckfield, Civic Centre Uckfield

11–12 December 2026. Uckfield Theatre Guild offers three performances, with tickets advertised at £15. Choose Friday at 7pm, or Saturday at 2pm or 7pm, checking the final booking total. The afternoon show gives families an option without a late finish.

Read our Jack and the Beanstalk at Civic Centre Uckfield guide for more on the production and planning your visit. Check official performance and ticket information.

The Wizard of Oz: Bexhill, De La Warr Pavilion

13 December 2026, 11am and 5pm. Diana Freedman’s School of Dance and Performing Arts presents a pantomime version of Dorothy’s journey, with Aunt Em as the dame and audience participation alongside the Scarecrow, Tin Man and Lion. The venue lists two performances and tickets at £17, £18 and £21, including fees.

Check The Wizard of Oz at De La Warr Pavilion dates and booking information.

Cinderella: Lewes, St Mary’s Social Centre

9–10 and 13–16 January 2027. St Mary’s Pantomime brings its community company and children’s chorus to Christie Road for nine performances. Weekend matinees sit alongside evening shows, so there are choices beyond Christmas week. Use the organiser’s own TicketSource calendar for current times and prices.

Check Cinderella at St Mary’s Social Centre dates and booking information.

Relaxed, signed and audio-described performances

Access performances have specific dates, and a relaxed show is not automatically BSL interpreted or audio described. Contact the theatre before booking if you need wheelchair spaces, an essential-companion ticket, a touch tour or a particular service.

Pantomime for grown-ups: book the right version

Dick Whittington: 16+, The Capitol, Horsham has performances on 9, 10 and 11 December 2026 at 8pm, with tickets advertised from £30. These are separate grown-up versions of the family production.

Dick Whittington adult night, Royal Hippodrome, Eastbourne is on 17 December 2026 at 8pm, for ages 18 and over. The theatre advertises tickets at £20.

Tinderella, White Rock, Hastings is a separate touring adult pantomime on 9 January 2027 at 8pm. It is strictly 16+, with under-18s required to be accompanied by an adult. The venue lists tickets at £25–£31.

Comparing cost and length for a family visit

The examples below help compare the type of visit rather than declare a county-wide cheapest panto. A family definition, booking fee and shorter special-price performance can change the result. These examples were checked on 26 October; choose the exact session before paying.

A one-hour community show and a two-hour theatre panto are different purchases. For a first visit, match the curtain time and duration to the child; for a larger family, compare the actual ticket combination rather than multiplying a headline “from” price.

Choosing a panto for your family

For younger children, start with the stated age guidance, running time and curtain time. Crawley’s Goldilocks is advertised for ages three and above, while Chichester’s Priory Park show lasts an hour. A shorter performance may be a more manageable first visit than a two-hour production, but check the organiser’s advice for your child.

Compare the full family total, including booking fees, rather than assuming the lowest advertised price applies to every seat or date. School rates, group offers and family-ticket definitions can have restrictions. Check whether babies need their own ticket even when admission is free.

For an evening show, check the last bus or train and the expected finish before booking. Our individual previews include venue and travel information; the official ticket page remains the place to confirm the selected performance, available seats and access arrangements.

Sussex pantomime questions

Which pantos have television stars?

Courtney Act leads Brighton’s Aladdin; Matthew Kelly, Linda Lusardi and Cat Sandion appear at The Hawth; Louie Spence is in Horsham’s Dick Whittington; James Jordan appears in Worthing’s Puss in Boots; and Shona McGarty and Matt Terry lead Snow White in Hastings. Our linked previews give fuller cast backgrounds.

Can we go after Christmas?

Yes. Several main theatre runs continue into January. Southwick’s Rapunzel starts on New Year’s Day, Lewes’s Cinderella runs on selected dates from 9 to 16 January, and Burgess Hill’s Puss in Boots plays across two later-January weekends.

Is every Christmas family show a pantomime?

No. Musicals, ballets, concerts and Santa shows can appear alongside pantos in Christmas programmes. Check the production description rather than assuming every festive theatre listing has traditional panto characters and audience participation.

Does a date range mean daily performances?

No. Runs can include days without a public show, school-only sessions and more than one curtain time. Use the booking calendar to select the exact date and performance.

Are there still tickets for The Grinch?

All six Northbrook Theatre performances showed as sold out on the organiser’s TicketSource page when checked on 26 October. Waiting lists are offered, but joining one does not guarantee a ticket.

Does this list include every village pantomime?

This is a researched guide to the announced productions linked here, rather than a guarantee that every Sussex society has released its programme. Check the organiser’s current information before making plans.

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