It is that time of year again! Oh yes it is!! It is the time of spectacular stage sets, glorious and elaborate costumes, over the top make up and children of all ages singing along. It is that panto time of year when the audience gets to shout back at the performers!
Songs, slapstick comedy and dancing, boys dressing as girls and girls dressing as boys, combining topical humour with a story loosely based on a well-known fairy tale.
It's panto time!
It may have begun in ancient Greece but the modern Pantomime has been passed down from the Mummers Plays of Middle Ages England and the Commedia Dell Arte tradition of 17th Century Italy.
There are many big budget pantos in the established theatres in towns and cities but up and down the country there are also hundreds of pantos with casts of thousands as someone from every family has a part to play in entertaining the community.
So tell us about yours – where is the show, when is it and why is it unique? Does it have a delirious dame, a sparkling script, or an undiscovered diva? Let us know by e-mailing mooney@rte.ie, and we will list the pantos from around the country!
Please make sure to include the following information:
- Name of panto
- Location where panto will be performed
- Name of panto group/ dramatic society/ performers featuring in the panto
- Dates the panto will be performed
- Ticket prices
- Phone number / e-mail address / website that our listeners can go to for further information, or to book tickets
Pantos In Dublin
The Cheerios Panto: Cinderella
At: The Tivoli Theatre
Starring: Alan Hughes, Niamh Kavanagh, Rob Murphy and Rory Cowan
Dates: Wed. December 10th – Sun. January 11th
Price: €30.25 / €15
More info: (01) 454-4472 / www.panto.ie
Robin Hood
At: St Mary's Secondary School in Baldoyle
Starring: Baldoyle Musical Society
Dates: January 9th, 10th, 16th, 17th @ 8pm, Jan 10th, 11th, 17th, 18th @ 3pm
Price: €12 / €10 (child/ OAP /student)
More info: 085 137-8329 / www.baldoylemusicalsociety.ie
Jack And The Beanstalk
At: Scoil Chaitriona, Glasnevin (beside Na Fianna GAA Club), Mobhi Rd, Glasnevin
Starring: Na Fianna GAA Club featuring John Sharpson, Katie King and a curious cow!
Dates: Dec. 11th - 13th
Price: €20 / €15
More info: panto@clgnafianna.ie / www.clgnafianna.ie / www.facebook.com/amagicalchristmasatnafianna
Cinderella
At: Rolestown Community Hall, Co. Dublin
Starring: Rolestown Theatre Group
Dates: Jan 9th & 16th @ 8pm, Jan 10th, 11th, 17th & 18th @ 3pm (free show on Thurs. Jan 8th for local OAPs & local disabled people)
Price: €12 / €10 (Fri.); €14 / €12 (Sat. & Sun.)
More info: 086 878-0890 (9am - 5pm) or e-mail rolestownpanto@gmail.com
Old King Cole
At: St Brigid's Parish Hall, St Brigid's Church Road, Stillorgan, Co Dublin
Starring: The Stillorgan Players Dramatic Society
Dates: Sat. January 3rd - Sat. January 10th 2015 (matinees: Saturday 3rd, Sunday 4th and Saturday 10th January)
Price: €12/ €10 / Group/family discounts available
More info: 01 288-2115 (bookings from Dec. 1st)/ www.stillorganplayers.com
Believe In The Magic Of Christmas (in aid of the Irish Cancer Society)
At: Axis Theatre, Ballymun
Starring: Thunderstruck Productions
Dates: Thurs. Nov. 27th - Sat. Nov. 29th
Price: €12 (Adults), €10 (Child/Concession), €40 (Family ticket)
More info: 01 883-2100, www.magicofchristmas.ie or www.axis-ballymun.ie
Peter Pan
At: Clasac Theatre, Clontarf
Starring: Tempus Productions
Dates: Thursday 15th Jan - Sat 17th Jan @ 7.30pm, Sat 17th Jan and Sun 18th @ 2.30 pm
Price: €12.50
More info: 01 836-3060 / www.facebook.com/tempus.productions / www.clasac.ie
Pantos In Munster
CO. CLARE: Snow White And The Seven Dwarfs
At: Glór, Ennis
Starring: Pantaloons & The Breakthrough Dance Company
Dates: Monday, December 22nd – Tuesday, January 30th
Price: €15 (family ticket available)
More info: 065 684-3103 / www.glor.ie
CO. CORK: Bluebeard
At: Ballinspittle Community Centre
Starring: De Courcey Drama Group
Dates: Dec. 11th - 14th @ 8pm
Price: €10 / €8
More info: from Centra in Ballinspittle
CO. CORK: Snow White & The Seven Dwarfs
At: Briery Gap Theatre, Macroom, County Cork
Starring: Briery Gap Musical Group
Dates: Dec. 13th-14th & Dec. 20th - 21st @3pm, Dec. 19th - 21st @ 8pm
Price: €15 / €10 (OAPs & students)
More info: 026 41793 / brierygap@eircom.net / www.brierygap.com
CO. CORK: Pinocchio
At: Douglas Community School, Douglas, Cork
Starring: Transition Year Drama Group
Dates: Dec. 3rd - 5th @ 7pm
Price: €10 / €5
More info: 021 429-4201
CO. CORK: Aladdin
At: Eccles Hotel, Glengarriff, Beara Peninsula, South West Cork
Starring: Cast of Glengarriff Theatre Group
Dates: Dec. 5th & 6th @ 8pm, Dec.7th @ 3pm
Price: €10 / €8 (seniors) / €5 (children)
More info: www.gtg.ie
CO. CORK: Little Red Raving Mad (adult panto, **NOT suitable for children**)
At: An Spailpín Fánach, South Main St, Cork
Starring: Chattyboo Productions
Dates: Dec. 2nd-6th, 9th-13th, 16th- 20th, 22nd-23rd, 27th-30th, Jan. 2nd- 3rd, 6th-10th
Price: €15 / €12
More info: 089 442-7883 / www.chattybooproductions.com
CO. CORK: Improvised Panto (adult panto, **NOT suitable for children**)
At: Half Moon Theatre
Starring: Laura Harte, Laura O’Mahony, Dominic MacHale, Cornelius O Sullivan and Tadhg Hickey with Paul O’Connor on piano
Dates: Fri. Dec. 5th – Tues. Dec. 23rd @8.30pm (excl Sundays)
Price: €12, €15 (Group rates available)
More info: 021 427-0022 / www.corkoperahouse.ie
CO. LIMERICK: Jack And The Beanstalk
At: University Concert Hall, Limerick
Starring: Richie Hayes, Leanne Moore, George McMahon, Myles Breen, Richard Lynch & Trevor O'Connell
Dates: Tuesday, December 16th – Sunday, January 4th
Price: €20 - €27.50 (school, family and group tickets available)
More info: 061 331549 / www.uch.ie
CO. LIMERICK: Cinderella
At: University Concert Hall, Limerick
Starring: Keith Hanley, Clodagh Downey and Jim Mulcahy
Dates: Saturday, December 6th – Sunday, January 11th
Price: €15 / €23 / €26 (family tickets available)
More info: 021 450-1673 / www.everymancork.com / boxoffice@everymancork.com
CO. LIMERICK: Cinderella
At: Lime Tree Theatre, Mary Immaculate, Limerick
Starring: Emma O'Driscoll & Limerick Panto Society
Dates: Saturday, December 27th – Sunday, January 4th
Price: Tickets from €18.50 / €16.50 (family ticket available)
More info: 061 774774 / www.limetreetheatre.ie
CO. TIPPERARY: Snow White And The Seven Dwarfs
At: Abbey Hall, Roscrea, Co. Tipperary
Starring: Roscrea Musical Society
Dates: Thurs. December 11th - Sat. December 13th 2014 @ 8pm (and an extra matinee show on Saturday 13th at 2.30pm)
More info: roscreapanto@gmail.com or at the Booking Office from November 27th 2014 at Roscrea Credit Union, or call 0505 23600
CO. TIPPERARY: Snow White & The Seven Dwarfs
At: The Simon Ryan Theatre, Tipperary Excel Centre, Tipperary Town
Starring: Tipperary Pantomime Society
Dates: Dec. 14th - Jan. 17th
Price: TBC
More info: TBC
CO. TIPPERARY: Robin Hood
At: Cahir Community Hall, Cahir
Starring: Cahir Pantomime Society
Dates: Feb. 5th - 8th
Price: €10 / €5 (matinee)
More info: The Heritage shop, Cahir (tickets available late Dec/ early Jan)
CO. TIPPERARY: Cinderella
At: Abymill Theatre in Fethard
Starring: Patrician Presentation Secondary School
Dates: Friday Dec.5th - Sun. Dec 7th @ 8:15pm (Saturday is SOLD OUT; matinee on Sun. 7th @ 2.30pm)
Price: €10 / €5
More info: 052 613-1572 / www.fethardsecondaryschool.ie
Pantos In Leinster
CO. CARLOW: Aladdin
At: George Bernard Shaw Theatre, Carlow
Starring: Carlow Club Players
Dates: Mon. Dec. 8th @ 5pm, Thurs. Dec. 11th - Sat. Dec. 13th @ 7:30pm, Sun. Dec. 14th @ 2:30pm & 7:30pm
Price: €15 / €12 concession / €10 (under-16)
More info: 059 917-2400 (box office) / www.visualcarlow.ie
CO. CARLOW: Santa's Magical Journey
At: George Bernard Shaw Theatre, Carlow
Starring: Striking Productions
Dates: Dec. 18th/ 19th/ 20th/ 21st
Price: €15 / €12 concession / €10 (under-16)
More info: 059 917-2400 (box office) / www.visualcarlow.ie
CO. KILDARE: Beauty & The Beast
At: St. Mary's, Green Lane, Leixlip
Starring: Leixlip Musical & Variety Group
Dates: Jan. 23rd - Feb. 1st
Price: €10
More info: 087 163-2268 / www.facebook.com/leixlipmusicalandvarietygroup
CO. KILDARE: Cinderella
At: Moat Theatre, Naas
Starring: The Moat Club
Dates: Dec. 3rd - 7th & Dec. 9th - 13th
Price: €15
More info: 045 883030 / www.moattheatre.com
CO. KILDARE: Little Red Riding Hood
At: Aula Maxima of Maynooth University
Starring: An Nuadha Players
Dates: Dec. 4th - 7th
Price: €12 / €10 (family ticket available)
More info: TBC
CO. KILDARE: A Peter Pan Tale
At: Moat Theatre, Naas
Starring: Panto Club (all-child panto)
Dates: Jan. 29th - 31st
Price: €10
More info: 045 883030 / www.moattheatre.com
CO. KILKENNY: Little Red Riding Hood
At: Watergate Theatre, Kilkenny
Starring: Watergate Productions
Dates: January 10th - January 17th
Price: €12.50/ €14/ €18
More info: 056 776-1674 / www.watergatetheatre.com
CO. LAOIS: Mother Goose
At: Dunamaise Arts Centre, Portlaoise
Starring: Portlaoise Pantomime Group
Dates: January 24th - 31st
Price: €15/€12/€8
More info: 057 866-3355 / www.dunamaise.ie
CO. LONGFORD: Robin Hood
At: Backstage Theatre, Longford
Starring: Backstage Youth Theatre (BYT)
Dates: Jan. 23rd - 31st
Price: €12 / €8 concession (family tickets available)
More info: (043) 334-7888 or www.backstage.ie
CO. LOUTH: Tiny Thumbelina
At: TLT Concert Hall & Theatre, Drogheda
Starring: Drogheda Pantomime Society
Dates: Sun 18th – Sun 25th Jan
Price: €16/ €11 concession (family ticket available)
More info: 041 987-8560 / www.thetlt.ie
CO. LOUTH: Goldilocks & The Three Bears
At: Droichead Arts Centre, Drogheda
Starring: East Meath Pantomime & Dramatic Society
Dates: Friday Dec. 19th & Sat. Dec. 20th
Price: €12.50
More info: 041 983-3946 / www.droicheadartscentre.com
CO. MEATH: Robin Hood
At: Solstice Arts Centre, Railway Street, Navan
Starring: St. Mary's Musical Society
Dates: Dec. 20th - Jan. 4th
Price: €15 (family ticket available)
More info: 046 909-2300 / www.solsticeartscentre.ie
CO. MEATH: Beauty & The Beast
At: Scoil Mhuire, Trim, Co. Meath
Starring: Trim Musical Society & Stagecraft
Dates: Fri. December 5th @ 7.30, Sat. December 6th @ 2.30 & 7.30, Sun. December 7th @ 2.30
Price: €12 / €10 (group tickets available)
More info: 086 087-0713 or Siopa an Caislean, Trim
CO. WEXFORD: Humpty Dumpty
At: Clonroche Community Centre
Starring: Clonroche Pantomime Society
Dates: Dec. 2nd - 7th
Price: €10 / €5 (children)
More info: 086 347-4876
CO. WICKLOW: Snow White & The Seven "Dwarfs"
At: St. Patrick's Primary School, Vevay Road, Bray
Starring: Bray Musical Society
Dates: Nov. 28th - 30th & Dec. 5th - 7th
Price: €10/ €5 concession (family ticket available)
More info: 086 266-3250 / braymusicalsociety@gmail.com
CO. WICKLOW: Cinderella
At: Tramway Theatre, Blessington, Co. Wicklow
Starring: Blessington Musical and Dramatic Society
Dates: Dec. 16th - 18th
Price: €10
More info: www.blessington.info/tramway-theatre
Pantos In Connaught
CO. GALWAY: Cinderella
At: Town Hall Theatre, Galway
Starring: Renmore Pantomime Society
Dates: Dec 29th, 30th, Jan 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 7th, 8th, 9th & 10th (7:30pm), Dec 29th, 30th, 31st, Jan 1st, 3rd, 10th (2:30pm), Jan 4th, 11th (12 noon & 4:30pm); performance on Sun. Jan 4th at 12:00 is a special Sensory Friendly performance for children with autism spectrum disorders
Price: €16/€14
More info: 091 569777 / www.tht.ie / www.renmorepantomime.com
Pantos In Ulster
CO. DONEGAL: The Wizard Of Oz
At: Balor Arts Centre, Ballybofey, Co. Donegal
Starring: The Butt Drama Circle
Dates: Nov. 22nd - Dec. 5th
Price: €10/ €6
More info: 074 913-1840 / www.balorartscentre.com