Scotland

With comedians, soap stars and even wrestlers all treading the boards across Scotland this panto season, there’s plenty to entertain all ages. If you’re looking for a big stage production, something smaller and closer to home or a way to fill the boredom of betwixtmas, we’ve got the best pantos for you. Now’s the time to bag the best seats in the house.&nbsp;



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-big-hitters">The big hitters</h2>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-little-mermaid-king-s-theatre-glasgow"><a href="https://www.atgtickets.com/shows/the-little-mermaid-pantomime/kings-theatre-glasgow/">The Little Mermaid</a>, King’s Theatre, Glasgow</h3>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1457" height="1000" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/scotland/wp-content/uploads/sites/29/2025/09/The-Little-Mermaid-8.jpg" alt="The Little Mermaid panto at Glasgow's King's Theatre" class="wp-image-931" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/scotland/wp-content/uploads/sites/29/2025/09/The-Little-Mermaid-8.jpg 1457w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/scotland/wp-content/uploads/sites/29/2025/09/The-Little-Mermaid-8-300x206.jpg 300w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/scotland/wp-content/uploads/sites/29/2025/09/The-Little-Mermaid-8-1024x703.jpg 1024w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/scotland/wp-content/uploads/sites/29/2025/09/The-Little-Mermaid-8-768x527.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1457px) 100vw, 1457px" /></figure>



Last year’s panto at The King’s Theatre in Glasgow broke box office records, so book this year’s quick. Starring Glasgow pantomime superstar Elaine C Smith from City Lights and Two Doors Down and the King’s favourite funny-man, Johnny Mac, it’s set to be an ocean of delights. (Runs Sun 22 Nov – Sun 4 Jan.)



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-cinderella-his-majesty-s-theatre-aberdeen"><a href="https://www.aberdeenperformingarts.com/whats-on/cinderella-2/">Cinderella</a>, His Majesty&#8217;s Theatre, Aberdeen</h3>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1500" height="1000" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/scotland/wp-content/uploads/sites/29/2025/09/02_09_19_Panto_Launch-81-Edit.jpg" alt="Cinderella at Aberdeen's His Majesty's Theatre" class="wp-image-859" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/scotland/wp-content/uploads/sites/29/2025/09/02_09_19_Panto_Launch-81-Edit.jpg 1500w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/scotland/wp-content/uploads/sites/29/2025/09/02_09_19_Panto_Launch-81-Edit-300x200.jpg 300w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/scotland/wp-content/uploads/sites/29/2025/09/02_09_19_Panto_Launch-81-Edit-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/scotland/wp-content/uploads/sites/29/2025/09/02_09_19_Panto_Launch-81-Edit-768x512.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px" /></figure>



Go to the ball, almost literally. Aberdeen’s His Majesty’s Theatre panto this year features Strictly’s Joe McFadden as the lead. He’s joined by Shetland and Monarch of the Glen star Dawn Steele to lead the cast, alongside panto regular Paul J Corrigan. It&#8217;s a laugh-out-loud version of the classic rags to riches tale. (Runs Sat 29 Nov – Sun 4 Jan.)



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-cinderella-a-fairytale-lyceum-theatre-edinburgh"><a href="A Fairytale" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Cinderella</a>: A Fairytale, Lyceum Theatre, Edinburgh</h3>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="1042" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/scotland/wp-content/uploads/sites/29/2025/09/jpg_Cinderella_KeyArtwork-no-text.jpg" alt="Cinderella at Edinburgh's Lyceum Theatre" class="wp-image-864" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/scotland/wp-content/uploads/sites/29/2025/09/jpg_Cinderella_KeyArtwork-no-text.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/scotland/wp-content/uploads/sites/29/2025/09/jpg_Cinderella_KeyArtwork-no-text-288x300.jpg 288w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/scotland/wp-content/uploads/sites/29/2025/09/jpg_Cinderella_KeyArtwork-no-text-983x1024.jpg 983w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/scotland/wp-content/uploads/sites/29/2025/09/jpg_Cinderella_KeyArtwork-no-text-768x800.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Cinderella at the Royal Lyceum Theatre. Photograph: Michaela Bodlovic, Design: Jed Berry</figcaption></figure>



The Royal Lyceum Theatre in Edinburgh brings a slightly different take to the rags-to-riches tale. Cinderella: A Fairytale is a new production of Sally Cookson&#8217;s celebrated adaptation. Featuring music and puppetry, this festive story adds a magical flutter of wings to happily ever after. (Runs Thurs 27 Nov – Sat 3 Jan.)



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-jack-and-the-beanstalk-festival-theatre-edinburgh-nbsp"><a href="https://www.capitaltheatres.com/shows/panto-2025-jack-and-the-beanstalk/">Jack and the Beanstalk</a>, Festival Theatre, Edinburgh&nbsp;</h3>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="630" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/scotland/wp-content/uploads/sites/29/2025/09/Cinderella-Joe-McFadden-Aberdeen.jpg" alt="Joe McFadden stars in Cinderella in Edinburgh" class="wp-image-324" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/scotland/wp-content/uploads/sites/29/2025/09/Cinderella-Joe-McFadden-Aberdeen.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/scotland/wp-content/uploads/sites/29/2025/09/Cinderella-Joe-McFadden-Aberdeen-300x189.jpg 300w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/scotland/wp-content/uploads/sites/29/2025/09/Cinderella-Joe-McFadden-Aberdeen-768x484.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></figure>



Join Jack at Edinburgh’s Festival Theatre as he climbs a beanstalk of gigantic proportions to cloudland. Starring comedian Allan Stewart as Dame Trot and River City stars Grant Stott as Fleshcreep and Jordan Young in the title role. (Runs Sat 13 Dec – Sun 11 Jan.)



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-jock-and-the-beanstalk-pavilion-theatre-glasgow"><a href="https://www.imaginetheatre.co.uk/pantomimes/2025-jock-and-the-beanstalk-glasgow">Jock and the Beanstalk</a>, Pavilion Theatre, Glasgow</h3>



Of course Glasgow has its own take on the tale too. Can Jock save the Trots from having to sell Buttercup, the family cow to survive? We’re sure wrestling and TV personalities Grado and Jack Jester, as well as River City’s Stephen Purdon, will leave us all living happily ever after. (Runs Thurs 27 Nov – Sun Jan 11.)



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-best-of-the-locals">The best of the locals</h2>



For all the celeb appearances and large-scale splendour of a big panto, Muddy loves a smaller, local take on the classic stories for all their in-jokes and tailored storytelling. Here are the ones that caught our eye.&nbsp;



The Aberdeen Arts Centre will be bringing local in-jokes and a bit of Doric to the stage with their take on <a href="https://www.aberdeenartscentre.com/whats-on/robin-hood">Robin Hood</a> (Sat 29 Nov – Wed 24 Dec.)



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1500" height="844" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/scotland/wp-content/uploads/sites/29/2025/09/8268_02_Dundee_Socials_Jack_1920x1080px_NoCredit_v2.jpg" alt="Jack and the Beanstalk at the Dundee Rep" class="wp-image-868" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/scotland/wp-content/uploads/sites/29/2025/09/8268_02_Dundee_Socials_Jack_1920x1080px_NoCredit_v2.jpg 1500w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/scotland/wp-content/uploads/sites/29/2025/09/8268_02_Dundee_Socials_Jack_1920x1080px_NoCredit_v2-300x169.jpg 300w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/scotland/wp-content/uploads/sites/29/2025/09/8268_02_Dundee_Socials_Jack_1920x1080px_NoCredit_v2-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/scotland/wp-content/uploads/sites/29/2025/09/8268_02_Dundee_Socials_Jack_1920x1080px_NoCredit_v2-768x432.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px" /></figure>



Down in Dundee, The Rep has opted for a &#8216;mooooosical&#8217; take on <a href="https://dundeerep.co.uk/events/jack-and-the-beanstalk">Jack and the Beanstalk</a>, (Sat 29 Nov – Tues 30 Dec) written by acclaimed musical theatre duo Jonathan O’Neill and Isaac Savage.&nbsp;



The Perth Theatre plays host to their “coolest panto yet” (their pun not ours!) <a href="https://www.perththeatreandconcerthall.com/whats-on/the-snow-queen">The Snow Queen</a> (Fri 28 Nov – Wed 31 Dec).&nbsp;



Dunfermline’s Alhambra also has a snowy theme and a local panto celebrity! Comic actor Ian ‘Sheepie’ Smith plays Muddles in their production of <a href="https://alhambradunfermline.com/event/snow-white/">Snow White</a>. He’s joined by his comedy partner Gary Morrison as the dame (Sat 6 – Sun 28 Dec).



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1500" height="1000" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/scotland/wp-content/uploads/sites/29/2025/10/DSC_1468.jpg" alt="Fraser Boyle writer of Aladdie and its pantomime dame at the Ayr Gaiety Theatre" class="wp-image-935" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/scotland/wp-content/uploads/sites/29/2025/10/DSC_1468.jpg 1500w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/scotland/wp-content/uploads/sites/29/2025/10/DSC_1468-300x200.jpg 300w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/scotland/wp-content/uploads/sites/29/2025/10/DSC_1468-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/scotland/wp-content/uploads/sites/29/2025/10/DSC_1468-768x512.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Fraser Boyle writer of Aladdie and its dame at the Ayr Gaiety Theatre</figcaption></figure>



The Ayr Gaiety Theatre offers a panto set in the very, very far East&#8230; of Ayrshire with <a href="https://thegaiety.co.uk/events/aladdie/">Aladdie</a> (Sat 29 Nov – Sun 4 Jan).



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-pantos-for-betwixtmas-and-hogmanay">Pantos for betwixtmas and Hogmanay</h2>



Theirs is not the only panto spilling over into the new year, for if you need something close to home to get you through the betwixtmas gap. 



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="1000" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/scotland/wp-content/uploads/sites/29/2025/09/TRO-306-Gallus-Digial_Instagram-Title-Static.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-926" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/scotland/wp-content/uploads/sites/29/2025/09/TRO-306-Gallus-Digial_Instagram-Title-Static.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/scotland/wp-content/uploads/sites/29/2025/09/TRO-306-Gallus-Digial_Instagram-Title-Static-300x300.jpg 300w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/scotland/wp-content/uploads/sites/29/2025/09/TRO-306-Gallus-Digial_Instagram-Title-Static-150x150.jpg 150w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/scotland/wp-content/uploads/sites/29/2025/09/TRO-306-Gallus-Digial_Instagram-Title-Static-768x768.jpg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/scotland/wp-content/uploads/sites/29/2025/09/TRO-306-Gallus-Digial_Instagram-Title-Static-500x500.jpg 500w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></figure>



For those who like their panto with a twist, the Tron Theatre has <a href="https://www.tron.co.uk/shows/gallus-in-weegieland/">Gallus in Weegieland</a> (Wed 19 Nov – Sun 4 Jan), a winter wonderland populated with strange-talking creatures, a maniacal power-hungry Queen and a son called Knavey.&nbsp;



Packed full of hilarious slapstick humour, audience interaction, hit songs, sensational dancing and plenty of festive joy, <a href="https://eden-court.co.uk/event/snow-white">Snow White</a> at the Empire Theatre in Inverness’s Eden Court Centre (Wed 3 Dec – Sun 4 Jan) is a classic family panto.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="1407" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/scotland/wp-content/uploads/sites/29/2025/09/Aladdin-brochure-version.jpg" alt="Aladdin at the Byre Theatre in St Andrews" class="wp-image-866" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/scotland/wp-content/uploads/sites/29/2025/09/Aladdin-brochure-version.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/scotland/wp-content/uploads/sites/29/2025/09/Aladdin-brochure-version-213x300.jpg 213w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/scotland/wp-content/uploads/sites/29/2025/09/Aladdin-brochure-version-728x1024.jpg 728w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/scotland/wp-content/uploads/sites/29/2025/09/Aladdin-brochure-version-768x1081.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Aladdin at the Byre Theatre in St Andrews</figcaption></figure>



The much-loved team who’ve brought panto to St Andrews&#8217;s Byre Theatre since 2014 are also performing a Scottish take on <a href="https://byretheatre.com/shows/aladdin/">Aladdin</a>. His daft family, the McSwankeys, set off on a bonkers Highland adventure packed with peril, pals and plenty of panto pranks (Fri 28 Nov – Sun 4 Jan).&nbsp;



Last but not least, over in Stirling, there’s <a href="https://www.macrobertartscentre.org/shows/674827AGTJMBSTCJLQCNJJRSCHSDMKJGQ">Weans in the woods</a> (Wed 26 Nov – Sat 3 Jan) at the MacRoberts Arts Centre.&nbsp;



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<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-in-the-mood-for-more">IN THE MOOD FOR MORE?</h2>



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<a href="https://scotland.muddystilettos.co.uk/things-to-do/whats-on/scotland-winter-light-trails-festivals/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Let there be light: Scotland’s dazzling winter illuminations</a>



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Oh yes it is! 14 great pantos to book now

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