Northampton panto 2026–27
Beauty and the Beast at Royal & Derngate
Beauty and the Beast runs at Royal & Derngate in Northampton from Friday 4 December 2026 to Thursday 31 December 2026.
| Dates | Friday 4 December 2026 to Thursday 31 December 2026 |
|---|---|
| Show times | Weekday school shows at 11:00 in early December; public shows include 13:00, 14:00 and 18:00 performances |
| Running time | Not published by the theatre yet |
| Ages | Not published by the theatre yet |
| Tickets | Group, school (£14.50) and PTA/uniform rates published; full prices on the booking page |
| Starring | Steve McFadden, Dani Harmer, Sam Rabone, Dave Bibby, Georgia Brierley-Smith, Christian Southway, Sage Spiker |
| Schools and groups | School performances at 11:00 on 8–11 and 15–16 December (£14.50, 11th ticket free); group discounts from 10 people |
| Theatre | Royal & Derngate, Northampton NN1 1DP |
| Produced by | Evolution Productions |
Access performances
| Relaxed | Sunday 6 December at 13:00 |
|---|---|
| BSL | Tuesday 15 December at 18:00, Wednesday 30 December at 13:00 |
| Audio described | Wednesday 16 December at 18:00, Monday 28 December at 13:00 |
| Captioned | Sunday 20 December at 13:00 |
Touch tour one hour before each audio-described show.
Planning your visit
| Access booking | 01604 624811 Royal & Derngate's access page |
|---|---|
| At the relaxed show | Sound and special effects are toned down, doors stay open so you can come and go, and a sensory space with a lie-down pod, cushions and puzzles is open. |
| Visual story | Not published by the theatre |
| Carer tickets | Free essential companion ticket where it applies; the companion should be shown on your Nimbus Access Card or Digital Access Pass, and must be 16 or over. |
| Sensory warnings | Not published by the theatre |
The phone number is the main box office. The theatre moved to the Nimbus Access Card from April 2026; old access scheme accounts last until March 2027 at the latest. Sensory bags with ear defenders and fidget toys can be borrowed from the Access Hosts in orange ties.
Access performances sell out first, so book early. Every relaxed panto in the UK · every signed and captioned one.
About this panto
Royal & Derngate's Beauty and the Beast is written by Paul Hendy and produced by Evolution Productions, with EastEnders' Steve McFadden and Dani Harmer, and Sam Rabone as the dame.
Other pantos nearby
| Where | Panto | Dates | From | Access | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wellingborough Castle Theatre | Dick Whittington | Sun 29 Nov to Thu 31 Dec | RelaxedBSL | 10 miles | |
| Kettering The Lighthouse Theatre | Peter Pan | Fri 11 Dec to Thu 31 Dec | £20 | Relaxed | 12 miles |
| Milton Keynes Milton Keynes Theatre | Sleeping Beauty | Sat 5 Dec to Sun 10 Jan | £15 | RelaxedBSLAudio describedCaptioned | 15 miles |
| Corby The Core at Corby Cube | Aladdin | Fri 11 Dec to Tue 29 Dec | RelaxedBSLAudio described | 19 miles | |
| Bedford Bedford Corn Exchange | Jack and the Beanstalk | Sat 19 Dec to Thu 31 Dec | £20 | Relaxed | 19 miles |
| Leamington Spa Royal Spa Centre | Cinderella | Fri 4 Dec to Sun 3 Jan | RelaxedBSL | 27 miles |
More: every Beauty and the Beast panto this season.
How we checked
The dates and access performances are from the theatre's own page, published by Royal & Derngate, checked on Friday 23 October 2026. Theatres sometimes change times or add performances, so check with them before you travel. How we check.