This December looks a lot different from the Christmases we are used to. No claustrophobia-inducing, shoulder-crushing Christmas markets, no wild holiday pub crawls full of strangers, and, for the most part, no live theatre. But despite this year’s health and safety restrictions, the Christmas spirit in London is palpable. And thanks to the clever use of technology, we can still get our yearly dose of holiday cheer!

Theatre-makers in the UK have been hard at work to adapt Christmas pantomimes to a socially distant holiday season. From live streams to filmed adaptations to pantomimes of Christmases past, there are a multitude of options to keep the panto tradition alive! Here is your roundup of some of the most hotly anticipated virtual pantos for a very 2020 Christmas.

Panto Live’s Cinderella

For Live Interaction

This virtual production of the Cinderella story will be broadcast live to the screens of ticket holders across the world. Cinderella is also the only live and interactive panto on this list, featuring reaction buttons that will allow you to boo, cheer, clap, and shout “Behind you!” from behind your device screens. The production also boasts sing-a-longs, a live chat to keep audience members engaged, and a special Pantomime Activity Pack that will arrive with your virtual ticket.

Cinderella is directed by Charlotte Peters and will feature Harry Potter’s Chris Rankin (Percy Weasley). The show will last 90 minutes, and runs 18 December through 24 December. Tickets are £19.97 and can be purchased on Panto Live’s website. For more information, visit https://pantolive.com/.

Panto Online’s Jack and the Beanstalk

For Cinematic Flair

Inspired by the limitations of the pandemic on theatrical endeavours, critically acclaimed Panto Dame Peter Duncan (Blue Peter, Flash Gordon) has created a new pantomime that is intended not for the stage, but for the screen! Filmed entirely in Duncan’s own back garden, Jack and the Beanstalk is an “inspired ensemble effort” that brings the much-loved spectacle of the pantomime tradition to a format fit for these technology-dependent times. 

Featuring splashy costumes, beautiful scenery, and a bold and adaptive cast, this filmic panto will not be one to miss for anyone seeking outrageous entertainment during the holiday season.

Jack and the Beanstalk runs 4 December through 10 January, with tickets starting from £25.00. You can find more information and a video trailer to give you a taste of the production at https://pantoonline.co.uk/jack-and-the-beanstalk.

 The McMillan Theatre’s Aladdin

For the Traditionalist

This production is unique to this list as a fully-produced, live audience-attended panto that will be simultaneously live streamed to virtual audiences. The McMillan Theatre in Bridgwater continues their five-year run of holiday pantomimes with Aladdin in its fullest form: flashy sets and costumes, 

McMillan returning cast members, and live band included. If you’re looking for a panto to watch from the comfort of your living room without sacrificing the allure of traditional live theatre, Aladdin is the production for you.

Virtual performances of The McMillan Theatre’s Aladdin are December 20, 23, 26, and 28. Tickets cost £15.00 and can be purchased on The McMillan Theatre’s website. For more information visit https://mcmillantheatre.com/event/aladdin/.

Charles Court Opera’s Snow White in the Seven Months of Lockdown

For Covid Comedy

If topical humor is your thing, why not face the pandemic head on and attend a COVID-themed panto? The King’s Head Theatre hosts Charles Court Opera for a 2020-appropriate adaptation of a classic fairytale. Snow White in the Seven Months of Lockdown is an interactive, made-for-screen experience featuring “choose your own adventure” style viewer-choice moments.

Inspired by a year which only the Brothers Grimm could have authored, this twist on Snow White is sure to give you a good laugh and only a few groans of recognition. Watch with your relatives and choose the family-friendly version or get raunchy and go with the adult only version; this pantomime’s customizability makes it an appealing choice for all audiences.

Snow White in the Seven Months of Lockdown will be available to stream any time between 14 December and 31 December. Tickets are online on the King’s Head Theatre website starting at £20.

Glastonbury & Street Musical Comedy Society: Pantos Past

For the Penny-Pincher

Instead of fighting against this year’s COVID-19 restrictions, the Glastonbury & Street Musical Comedy Society is choosing to look back to happier, mask-less times and share some of their successful past pantomimes. The theatre company will stream their 2017 and 2018 pantos to their YouTube channel at scheduled times to allow “live” synchronous viewing of the pre-recorded events.

Experience writer/director Matthew Maisey’s outrageous, panto-appropriate twists on fairy tales completely free of charge from your home. Jack and the Beanstalk will go live on 16 December at 4:45pm, and Goldilocks and the Three Amazing Bears will be available to stream on 30 December at 4:45pm.

Stream both pantomimes and find more information on YouTube here!

No matter what else you might be missing this Christmas, at least you know you’ve got a panto to see for a little bit of holiday normalcy. And before you know it, this entire year will be “behind you!!!”

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Written by Caroline Lezny