Adult pantos 2026–27
Pantos for grown-ups: one adults-only production, and 56 theatres that run an adult (16+ or 18+) version or night alongside their family panto. Expect rude jokes, strong language and innuendo, so leave the children at home.
Adults-only pantos
| Where | Panto | Dates | From | Access |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| London Charing Cross Theatre | Cinderella Adults only | Sat 21 Nov to Sat 9 Jan | £22 | Captioned |
Adult nights at family theatres
These theatres' main pantos are for families; the adult versions below are separate shows or performances.
- Arbroath, Webster Memorial Theatre: ANGUSalive also runs one adults-only (18+) night of its Aladdin, on Friday 11 December at 19:30.
- Barnes, OSO Arts Centre: The venue also runs an over-18s version, 'The Little Mermaid After Dark', at 20:00 on six December evenings: the same panto with ruder jokes.
- Barnstaple, Queen's Theatre: The theatre also hosts a separate touring adult panto, 'Puss & Dick', on 20 January (after the family run); not suitable for under-16s.
- Basildon, Towngate Theatre: The Towngate also hosts a separate 18+ adult panto, 'Tingled', from 15 January to 7 February (after the family run)
- Bishop's Stortford, South Mill Arts: South Mill Arts also hosts a separate touring 16+ adult panto, 'Tinderella', on 8 January; under-18s must be with an adult.
- Blackwood, Blackwood Miners' Institute: The Institute also hosts a separate touring 18+ adult panto, 'Tinderella', on 21 January.
- Bracknell, South Hill Park Arts Centre (Wilde Theatre): South Hill Park also runs adults-only (18+) 'Adult Nights' of its Aladdin at 19:00 on several December evenings and 2 January; under-18s are not admitted to those.
- Brighton, DoubleTree by Hilton Brighton Metropole: The producer also runs an adults-only (16+) version, 'The Outrageous Adult Only Panto', on 28 and 29 December at 19:00.
- Camberley, Camberley Theatre: The theatre also runs one adult (18+) performance of its Wizard of Oz, on Sunday 27 December at 20:00.
- Carlisle, The Sands Centre: The same producer also brings a strictly 18+ adult version of Sleeping Beauty on 2 January at 19:30, sold separately.
- Chelmsford, Chelmsford Theatre: The theatre also hosts a separate touring 18+ adult panto, 'Tinderella', on 16 January.
- Clacton-on-Sea, Princes Theatre: The Princes Theatre also runs 18+ adults-only performances of its Sleeping Beauty on 27 and 28 December at 20:00.
- Colchester, Mercury Theatre: The Mercury also runs 18+ adult performances of its panto on most evenings from 5 to 15 January (and one 14:00 show on 9 January); check the date before booking.
- Dartford, The Orchard Theatre: The Orchard also hosts a separate touring adult panto, 'Puss & Dick' (16+), on 7 January.
- Dorking, Dorking Halls: Dorking Halls also hosts a separate touring 16+ adult panto, 'Tinderella', on 28 January.
- Ellesmere Port, Ellesmere Port Civic Hall: The venue also runs an 18+ 'Naughty Adults Show' of Jack and the Beanstalk, with bad language and sexual references, on Friday 18 December at 19:00.
- Exeter, Exeter Northcott Theatre: The Northcott also runs strictly 18+ 'No Kids Allowed' performances, with very strong language and adult humour, on 8, 9 and 11 December and 2 January at 19:00.
- Fleetwood, Marine Hall: The Marine Hall also runs one 18+ adults-only performance of the panto on Wednesday 30 December at 19:00.
- Gorleston-on-Sea, Pavilion Theatre: The Pavilion also runs a separate 18+ adult panto with a similar name, 'Sleeping WITH Beauty', mostly at 21:00 from 5 to 20 December; check the title before booking.
- Gravesend, The Woodville: The Woodville also hosts a separate touring 18+ adult panto, 'Snow White and the Seven Inches', on 30 January.
- Grays, Thameside Theatre: The Thameside also runs over-16s-only 'Prank Performances' of Rapunzel, with naughty jokes and adult humour, on 2 and 3 January.
- Hastings, White Rock Theatre: The White Rock also hosts a separate touring 16+ adult panto, 'Tinderella', on 9 January.
- Haverhill, Haverhill Arts Centre: The arts centre also hosts a separate touring 16+ adult panto, 'Tinderella', on 10 January.
- Hereford, The Courtyard: The Courtyard also runs strictly over-18s 'Adult Nights' of its Cinderella, late on 5, 11, 18 and 27 December and early evening on New Year's Eve.
- High Wycombe, Wycombe Swan: The Swan also hosts a separate touring adult panto (16+), 'The Adult Panto: Puss & Dick', on Thursday 14 January 2027 at 19:30.
- Hornchurch, Queen's Theatre Hornchurch: The Queen's also hosts a separate touring 16+ adult panto, 'Tinderella', on 17 January; under-18s must be with an adult.
- Horsham, The Capitol: The Capitol also runs a 16+ grown-ups' version of Dick Whittington on 9 to 11 December at 20:00.
- Ipswich, Ipswich Regent Theatre: The Regent also runs one adult (16+) performance of Snow White on Tuesday 29 December at 20:00.
- Ipswich, New Wolsey Theatre: The Wolsey also runs adults-only (18+) performances at 21:00 on some Fridays in December and January.
- Islington, King's Head Theatre: The theatre also runs an adults-only (16+) version, 'Dick Whittington: Adults Only', through the same season; 16- and 17-year-olds must come with a parent.
- Lancaster, Lancaster Grand Theatre: The Grand also hosts a separate 18+ adult panto, 'Pinocchio' by After Dark Entertainments, on evenings from 5 to 20 December.
- Leatherhead, The Leatherhead Theatre: The same producer also stages a strictly 18+ adult panto, 'Booty and the Beast', for one night on 21 December.
- Lichfield, Lichfield Garrick: The Garrick also hosts a separate touring 16+ adult panto, 'Tinderella', on 22 and 23 January; under-18s must be with an adult.
- Lincoln, New Theatre Royal Lincoln: The theatre also hosts a separate touring adult panto, 'Puss & Dick', on 15 and 16 January (after the family run); not suitable for under-16s.
- Ludlow, Ludlow Assembly Rooms: Three evenings in the run (12 and 18 December and New Year's Eve) are adult-only nights; check the date before booking.
- Maidstone, The Hazlitt Theatre: The Hazlitt also hosts a separate touring adult panto, 'Puss & Dick', on 21 January (after the family run); not suitable for under-16s.
- Manchester, Contact Theatre: One performance (Friday 11 December, 19:00) is for adults (18+) only, with the same script as the family show.
- Middleton, Middleton Arena: The venue also runs a strictly 18+ adults-only performance of its Cinderella on 4 and 5 December at 20:00.
- Neath, Gwyn Hall: The Gwyn Hall also sells adults-only evenings of Peter Pan on 15 and 16 January, listed separately.
- Newbury, Corn Exchange Newbury: Some evenings in the run are adult-only nights (20:00 on 4, 10, 11, 17 and 18 December, and 18:30 on New Year's Eve); check the date before booking.
- Newcastle upon Tyne, Tyne Theatre & Opera House: The theatre also runs a separate 18+ adult panto, 'Aladdin Adult Panto', with its own cast, on 30 December and 2 and 3 January.
- Northwich, Northwich Memorial Court: The venue also runs an 18+ 'Naughty Adults Show' of Snow White, with bad language and sexual references, on 19 and 29 December at 19:00.
- Pontardawe, Pontardawe Arts Centre: The arts centre also sells a separate 18+ 'Adult Panto' Beauty and the Beast on six December evenings at 19:00.
- Ramsgate, The Granville Theatre: The Granville also hosts a separate touring adult panto, 'Snow White and the Seven Inches', on 22 January (after the family run); the theatre gives no age limit.
- Rhyl, Rhyl Pavilion: Two evenings in the run (11 and 19 December, 19:30) are billed as 'Adult Panto' at £30; the theatre gives no age limit, so check the date before booking.
- Salisbury, Salisbury Playhouse: Wiltshire Creative also runs strictly 18+ 'Adults Only' performances of Beauty and the Beast on 17 December and 8 January at 19:30.
- Sevenoaks, Stag Theatre: The Stag also runs adults-only performances of Robin Hood on 18, 19 and 27 December and 2 January, listed separately.
- Southsea, Portsmouth, Kings Theatre: The Kings also runs an 18+ adult version, 'The Adult Panto: Jack and the Beanstalk', on 28 and 29 December at 19:30.
- St Albans, The Alban Arena: The Alban Arena also hosts a separate touring 16+ adult panto, 'Tinderella', on 20 January; under-18s must be with an adult.
- Stroud, The Sub Rooms: The Sub Rooms also runs an 18+ 'Adults Only' version of the same show from 31 December to 2 January.
- Tamworth, Tamworth Assembly Rooms: The Assembly Rooms also runs an 18+ 'After Hours' version, with the same cast and story, on New Year's Day at 19:00.
- Tewkesbury, The Roses Theatre: The Roses also runs strictly 18+ 'Adult Only' evenings of Sleeping Beauty during the run, sold on their own page.
- Welwyn Garden City, Campus West: Campus West also runs a strictly 18+ 'Blue Panto', Dick Whittington 'Unzipped', on some December evenings at 19:30.
- Weymouth, Weymouth Pavilion: The Pavilion also runs an adults-only (16+) version of its Cinderella, with the same cast, on 1 and 2 January at 19:30.
- Wimborne Minster, The Tivoli Theatre: The Tivoli also runs two grown-ups-only (16+) performances of the panto on 1 and 2 January at 19:30.
- Worcester, Swan Theatre: Worcester Theatres also hosts a separate touring 18+ adult panto, 'Tinderella', on 15 January.
Ages and dates are as each theatre gives them. Check with the theatre before you book: adult nights sell out fast and some ask for ID. Looking for a family panto instead? Find a panto near you.