Christmas Listings 2025
All the pantos and Xmas shows in one place…
Despite the traditional cries of “Oh no it isn’t!” it really is panto time. And for those who want something different – or indeed extra – to the tradition King’s Panto at the Festival Theatre, there is plenty on offer.
Of course, the trio of Allan Stewart, Grant Stott and Jordan Young – with top support and the combined might of Capital Theatres and Crossroads Pantomimes behind them – are likely to provide the business in their take on Jack and the Beanstalk (Sat 13 Dec 2025 – Sun 11 Jan 2026: tickets).
Cast members of EPT’s Sinbad the Sailor. Clockwise from top – Allan Carty, Lynsey Spence, Gemma Dutton, Carol Bryce, and Al Brown. Pic Alan P. Frayn
The other big tradition, and the reason for Jack’s delayed start up the beanstalk, is the arrival of Scottish Ballet at the Festival Theatre. This year sees the return of The Snow Queen, a much loved favourite last seen in 2022 (Thurs 27 Nov – Sun 7 Dec: tickets).
The Lyceum has Sally Cookson’s adaptation – Cinderella: A Fairytale (Thurs 27 Nov – Sun 7 Dec 2025: tickets). It’s sort of a halfway house between play and panto, but should be a big family friendly show.
Panto-tastic!
What then of the other pantomimes? Well, there are a full ten pantomimes on offer from companies professional, amateur and community. Here they are in chronological order… For full details, the listings below are ordered alphabetically by venue.
Getting the panto hit in early are Forth Children’s Theatre at North Edinburgh Arts with the circus-themed Goldilocks and the Three Bears (Wed 26 – Sat 29 Nov: tickets) and student company EUTC at the Bedlam with Miracle on Vatican Street (Wed 26 – Sat 29 Nov: tickets), a mash-up of Panto and Papal Conclave.
Next up are the Balerno Theatre Company with the first of two pantos at the Church Hill, Beauty & The Beast The Pantomime (Wed 3 – Sat 6 Dec: tickets) and the St Serf’s Players, with Dick Whittington at Inverleith St Serf’s Church Centre (Wed 3 – Sat 6 Dec: tickets).
The second Beauty & The Beast The Pantomime of the week opens at the Portobello Town Hall in Stage Door’s professional production Fri 5 – Sun 28 Dec (tickets).
The following week, Edinburgh Acting School have Snow White comes to Summerhall, although tickets appear to have already sold out (Thurs 11 – Sat 14 Dec: tickets). While EPT have the second amateur panto at Church Hill with their take on Sinbad the Sailor (Fri 12 – Sun 21: tickets). Always good for big family parties, this one.
Newcomers to the panto scene, Cramond Drama Group, have the self written A Lad in… Cramond at Cramond Kirk Hall (Fri 12/Sat 13: tickets).
And finally, Jack Nurse and Robbie Gordon – nominees for the CATS inaugural panto award for last year’s show – return to The Brunton at Loretto School with The Wizard of Oz (Fri 19 – Sat 27 Dec: tickets). While Macastory, the brilliant storytelling company for young people, are at the Scottish Storytelling Centre with Cinder Ella (Sat 20 – Tue 23 Dec: tickets).
Xmas show
There are plenty of other Christmas treats on offer, which don’t fall into the genre… Again, in chronological order with full details in the listings below, ordered alphabetically by venue
Leitheatre are up at the Church Hill with It’s A Wonderful Life, the adaptation of the Frank Capra’s Christmas-set movie (Wed 26 – Sat 29 Nov: tickets).
The following week the Traverse open their Christmas offering, Dancing Shoes, by Stephen Christopher and Graeme Smith, previously seen as a PPP (Thurs 4 – Sat 20 Dec: tickets) while Strawmoddie have the wintry feel to Terry Pratchett’s Fifth Elephant at the Pleasance Theatre (Thurs 4 – Sun 7: tickets).
The big non-pants Xmas show of the season is at the Playhouse with Mamma Mia! (Tue 9 Dec 2025 – Sun 4 Jan 2026: tickets). Plenty of seats to fill for that one…
The following week Forth Act take their A Christmas Carol to both St David’s Scottish Episcopal Church (Fri 12/Sat 13 Dec: tickets on the door) and Saint Salvador’s Episcopal Church (Sat 13/Sun 14: book here).
And then there is Snowy, a “curious little pup with a nose for mischief and a heart full of adventure” whose story is at the Studio Theatre in a play for the youngsters (Wed 17 – Wed 31 Dec: tickets).
Proper grownup festive material will be on display for one night only at the Gilded Saloon, where Half Trick are bringing their parody of Edward Albee, Who’s Afraid of Santa Claus (Thurs 18: tickets), with American academia switched for the North Pole and the Claus’s toxic little cottage on Christmas Eve.
And finally, over Christmas, it is the Magic Festival, now in its 16th year. There are plenty of events at the Storytelling Centre. But the big one is festival founder Kevin Quantum and Friends’ Christmas Special, at the Church Hill Theatre (Mon 22 – Wed 24; Sun 28 – Tue 30: tickets).
See our preview and full listings for the MagicFest here: Magic Edinburgh.
Phew! Further details of shows, with times and ticket links are in the listings below.
Listings, ordered by venue
Click on the name of the show or the Book here link to go to its ticketing site.
Bedlam Theatre
11B Bristo Place, EH1 1EZ.
Miracle on Vatican City Street (EUTC)
Wed 26 – Sat 29 November 2025.
Evenings: 7.30pm.
Panto and papal Conclave collide – with a mash-up of musical theatre. After the death of his holiness, Pope Nicholas VI (Greek Santa), the college of cardinals must elect a new poper before Christmas – which is tomorrow! – and half the cardinals can’t make it. Thankfully, help is on hand: fresh from his role in the hit movie Conclave (2024), Ralph Fiennes, is on hand as an honorary cardinal, ready to use his expertise and extensive research to help out. Book here.
The Brunton @ Loretto School
Loretto School Theatre, Millhill, Musselburgh. Phone booking: 0131 653 5245.
The Wizard of Oz – pantomime
Fri 19 – Sat 27 Dec 2025
Fr 19/Sat 20, Mon 22/Tue 23: 2pm & 7pm;
Wed 24, Fri 26/Sat 27: 1pm & 5pm.
Follow the yellow brick road to Loretto School for a magical, musical panto adventure for all ages. Produced by The Brunton, written by Jack Nurse and Robbie Gordon – the team behind 2024’s panto hit – A Christmas Carol. Book here.
Church Hill Theatre
33 Morningside Road, EH10 4DR.
It’s a Wonderful Life (Leitheatre)
Wed 26 – Sat 29 November 2025.
Wed – Fri: 7.30pm; Sat mat: 2.30pm.
Christmas Eve, 1946, Bedford Falls. Down-on-his-luck banker George Bailey feels life has passed him by, and he’s at the end of his rope. But when George’s guardian angel pays him a visit, he’s amazed to discover what life in his beloved town would be like without him. Leitheatre with Mary Elliott Nelson’s adaptation of the Frank Capra movie. Book here.
Beauty & The Beast The Pantomime (BTC Productions)
Wed 3 – Sat 6 December 2025.
Wed – Sat: 7.30pm; Fri mat: 2.30pm, Sat mat: 2pm.
The Balerno Theatre Company with a traditional family pantomime, based on the fairytale by Gabrielle-Suzanne Bardot de Villeneuve. The new script is by director Lewis T Baird, James McCutcheon is MD and choreography is by Sophie Williams. Book here.
Sinbad the Sailor (EPT)
Fri 12 – Sun 21 December 2025.
Weekdays (not Mon 15): 7pm; Sat/Sun: 2.30pm.
Sinbad has packed up his adventuring bags – but, when the Persian Pearl of Peace mysteriously disappears, Sinbad must set out on an epic adventure to clear his name and rescue the Caliph’s beautiful daughter. Traditional family pantomime by Alan P Frayn. Book here.
MagicFest Christmas Special (Kevin Quantum & Guests)
Mon 22 – Wed 24; Sun 28 – Tue 30 December 2025.
Mon 22/Tue 23: 2pm & 7pm; Wed 24, Sun 28 – Tue 30: 12 noon & 4pm.
A riotously fun Christmas Magic show with magicians, illusionists and variety acts. Expect drama, vanishes, levitations – big tricks and big wows with the glamour and glitz of a West End magic show. Book here.
Cramond Kirk Hall
1 Kirk Cramond, Cramond, EH4 6HZ.
A Lad in… Cramond (Cramond Drama Group)
Fri 12/Sat 13 December 2025.
Evening: 7pm; Sat mat: 2pm.
The boy who dared to dream…. Cramond Drama Group and their community cast promise epic tunes and banging boogies in their modern twist on a timeless and much-loved tale. Book here.
Festival Theatre
13/29 Nicolson Street EH8 9FT. Phone booking: 0131 529 6000.
The Snow Queen (Scottish Ballet)
Thurs 27 Nov – Sun 7 Dec 2025
Wed – Sat: 7.30pm; Mats Sats, Sun 30: 2.30pm; Sun 7: 1.30pm.
Scottish Ballet’s spectacular and much-loved Snow Queen returns, after its hugely popular tour in 2022. This glittering production is inspired by Hans Christian Andersen’s classic tale – which was also the basis for Frozen. Set to the music of Rimsky-Korsakov which will be performed live by the full Scottish Ballet Orchestra. Book here.
Jack and the Beanstalk (Panto 2025)
Sat 13 Dec 2025 – Sun 11 Jan 2026
Mon – Sat: 2pm, 7pm; Suns, Xmas Eve & New Year’s Eve: 1pm, 5pm.
Join Allan Stewart, Grant Stott and Jordan Young for the GIANT of a pantomime we’ve all BEAN waiting for! Doomed to sell his trusty cow, join Jack and his family as they fight to outwit the evil giant, win riches beyond his wildest dreams, and earn the hand of the girl he loves. Book here.
Gilded Saloon
45-47 Lothian St, EH1 1HB.
Who’s Afraid of Santa Claus (Half Trick)
Thurs 18 December 2025.
One perf: 8pm.
It’s Christmas Eve, 2am. The presents wrapped, reindeer fed. Santa and Martha Claus are trapped in a destructive cycle of love and self loathing. When Martha invites two unsuspecting workshop elves into their toxic little world, a night of festive drinks soon turns into a dangerous cocktail of truths and revelations. Half Trick parody Mr Albee. Book here.
Inverleith St Serf’s Church Centre
1a Clark Road, EH5 3BD.
Dick Whittington (St Serf’s Players)
Wed 3 – Sat 6 Dec 2025
Wed – Fri: 7.30pm; Sat: 2pm & 6.30pm.
James Barry’s take on the rags-to-riches pantomime with Andrew Henderson as Dick and Amber Skelton as Catwith with guest director Rik Kay at the helm. Book here.
Lyceum Theatre
Grindlay Street EH3 9AX. Phone booking: 0131 248 4848.
Cinderella: A Fairytale
A Royal Lyceum Theatre Edinburgh production.
Fri 28 Nov 2025 – Sat 3 Jan 2026
Various times.
Sally Cookson’s celebrated adaptation of Cinderella in a new production from The Lyceum. With music, puppetry and Dr Martens, this festive story adds a magical flutter of wings to happily ever after. Ella and her devoted father share a love for woodland birds and their calls, but when her father remarries, everything changes. Now Ella’s feathered friends feel like her only true family. Book here.
North Edinburgh Arts
12C MacMillan Square, Pennywell Road, EH4 4AB.
Goldilocks and the Three Bears (FCT)
Wed 26 – Sat 29 Nov 2025
Evenings: 7pm; Sat mat: 2.30pm.
Forth Children’s Theatre with the circus-themed panto by Lewis C. Baird which sees the MacCarnival’s family Circus go to war with Baroness Von Winkle’s Circus of Horrors. Featuring showstopping music, comedy and some cirque magic, this is a show for all the family! Book here.
Playhouse
18 – 22 Greenside Place, EH1 3AA. Phone booking: 0844 871 3014.
Mamma Mia!
Tue 9 Dec 2025 – Sun 4 Jan 2026.
Tue – Sat, & Mon 29 Dec: 7.30pm; Thurs, Sat, Sun Mats: 2.30pm
No show 25, 31 Dec & 1 Jan; Extra mat: 24 (no 7.30pm show), 30 Dec & 2 Jan.
Sophie’s quest to discover the father she’s never known brings her mother face to face with three men from her distant romantic past on the eve of a wedding they’ll never forget in the Abba Jukebox Musical. Book here.
Pleasance Theatre
60 Pleasance, EH8 9TJ.
Terry Pratchett’s The Fifth Elephant (Strawmoddie)
Thurs 4 – Sun 7 Dec 2025
Thurs – Sat: 7.30pm; Sat/Sun 2.30pm.
They say that diplomacy is a gentle art. That mastering it is a lifetime’s work. But you do need a certain inclination in that direction. It’s not something you can just pick up on the job. Sam Vimes faces his toughest test yet, travelling to distant Uberwald to make a deal with the new Dwarven King, in Strawmoddie’s latest visit to the Discworld in an adaptation by Stephen Briggs. Book here.
Portobello Town Hall
147-149 Portobello High St, Portobello EH15 1AF.
Beauty and the Beast – the Pantomomime (Stage Door)
Fri 5 – Sun 28 Dec 2025
Various times: Mainly Fri/Sat: 2pm & 7pm; Suns: 5pm.
Angus, Prince of Summer has been transformed by Beira, Queen of Winter. Can he be saved, or will he remain a Beast forever? Join us at Portobello Town Hall this December to meet a host of colourful characters in a festive treat of fun, frolics, thrills and true love.. Book here.
St David’s Scottish Episcopal Church
Royston Mains Place, EH5 1LH
A Christmas Carol (Forth Act)
Fri 12/Sat 13 Dec 2025
Fri 7pm; Sat 2pm.
Angus, Prince of Summer has been transformed by Beira, Queen of Winter. Can he be saved, or will he remain a Beast forever? Join us at Portobello Town Hall this December to meet a host of colourful characters in a festive treat of fun, frolics, thrills and true love. Tickets on the door.
Saint Salvador’s Episcopal Church
61 Saughton Mains Street EH11 3QX.
A Christmas Carol (Forth Act)
Sat 13/Sun 14 Dec 2025
Evenings: 7pm; Sun mat: 2pm.
Angus, Prince of Summer has been transformed by Beira, Queen of Winter. Can he be saved, or will he remain a Beast forever? Join us at Portobello Town Hall this December to meet a host of colourful characters in a festive treat of fun, frolics, thrills and true love. Book here.
Scottish Storytelling Centre
43-45 High St, EH1 1SR. Phone booking: 0131 556 9579.
Cinder Ella (Macastory)
Sat 20 – Tue 23 Dec 2025.
Daily: 11am & 2pm
Join Cinderella, her nasty sister and her even nastier Stepmother, along with a cast of colourful characters in a laugh-out-loud, family-friendly show filled with songs, silliness, and plenty of chances for the audience to join in the fun. Specially designed by Macastory as a lovely introduction to Pantomime. Book here.
Studio Theatre
The Studio, 22 Potterrow, EH8 9BL. Phone booking: 0131 529 6000.
Snowy
Wed 17 – Wed 31 Dec 2025
Wed 17 – Sat 20: 10.30am & 1pm; Sun 21 – Wed 31 (not 22, 25, 26): 11am & 1.30pm.
Meet Snowy, a curious little pup with a nose for mischief and a heart full of adventure. When she accidentally throws the city’s festive celebrations into chaos, Snowy must put things right – but can one little dog really save Christmas? A brand new show filled with fun, friendship and a whole lot of snow! Book here.
Summerhall
1 Summerhall, EH9 1PL.
Snow White (EAS)
Thurs 11 – Sun 14 Dec 2025
Th/Fr: 7pm; Sat: 12noon, 4pm; Sun 2pm, 6pm. (Dissection Room).
A Snow White like you’ve never seen it before. A curious soul who marches to the beat of their own drum; a missing Father; Stepmaw concerned only about her image, Magic Mirror full of sass, the straight- talking Dame of Summerhall and a few new pals thrown in along the way… Book here.
Moonlight, Mistletoe & Magic (LMTC)
Sat 13 Dec 2025
One performance: 8pm. (Dissection Room)
A wholesome and heart-warming journey with soaring song, dazzling dance, and evocative spoken word, all celebrating the most wonderful time of the year. Directed by Cat McInally, choreographed by Megan Nicol and written by James O’Neill. Book here.
The Elf that wasn’t Elfing (EAS Productions)
Sat 20 – Mon 22 Dec 2025
Daily: 11am, 1pm and 3pm. (EAS Studios)
Trixiebelle the Elf is so excited, she’s just been promoted to Santa’s Workshop! The only problem is, she can’t quite get the hang of what she is supposed to do… Kirsty Eila McIntyre and Stephen Graham-Martin join EAS Productions to create a magical family show (3+) with an opportunity to make your own Christmas crafts with Santa’s Elves. Book here.
Traverse
10 Cambridge Street, EH1 2ED. Phone booking: 0131 228 1404.
Dancing Shoes (Traverse in association with PPP)
By Stephen Christopher and Graeme Smith.
Thurs 4 – Sat 20 Dec 2025
Evening: 7.30pm; Sat Mat 13 & 20: 2.30pm (Trav 1).
Donny lives with his mum and has been struggling with addiction most of his life. He also has a secret hobby… dancing alone in his bedroom. A life-affirming comedy-drama about isolation, support groups and bedroom dancing that challenges how we treat the most vulnerable people in society. Previously seen at PPP (★★★☆☆ Joyful) Book here.
*NB: This is intended to be as complete a listing of Xmas and Panto productions on in Edinburgh. If you are staging a show which is not listed, or a listing is inaccurate, please get in touch through the contact page, here.
ENDS
