Pinocchio gets his King’s on
New script sets King’s theatre at heart of panto plot
In a big meta-panto plot twist, the King’s Theatre itself is set to become a character in Pinocchio this year’s King’s pantomime which returns to the theatre for the first time since 2021.
It’s not just the theatre which will be familiar, as the full named cast is announced. Clare Gray returns for her eighth year, as the mischievous Kitty the Cat, with Bonnyrigg born and bred Gail Watson as Phyllis the Fox. They join regulars Jordan Young in the title role with Allan Stewart as his mum, May Geppetto, and Grant Stott as the evil Stromboli.
Grant Stott, Allan Stewart and Jordan Young with Clare Gray, Gail Watson and C.J. Borger. Composite: Capital Theatres.
Every panto needs a force for good – and musical theatre star C.J. Borger, fresh from playing the dual role of Goldie Wilson and Marvin Berry in Back to the Future, the Musical at the Adelphi Theatre, takes on the role of Jiminy Cricket.
The plot sets out on its usual Pinocchio course of the wooden puppet dreaming of becoming a real boy. However, the King’s has been woven into this year’s script in a celebration of the return of the pantomime to its natural home.
In Toy Toon, May Geppetto and Pinocchio are desperately trying to raise enough money to reopen their beloved King’s, leading them to join the Great Stromboli’s travelling puppet show when he promises them a share of the takings.
But when the money is stolen, Pinocchio must set off on an adventure to recover it, save the theatre and prove he has what it takes to become a real boy.
great memories
Having joined the panto team for Cinderella in 2024 when it was at the Festival Theatre, this will be the first time that Gail Watson has performed a the King’s since 2003, when she was in The Odd Couple with Gerard Kelly and Andy Gray,
Watson says that the King’s provided her with her first theatre experience watching the greats Rikki Fulton, Stanley Baxter and Jack Milroy, and it is where she caught the acting bug.
“This theatre holds great memories not just of past performances, but as a wee lass, when the ‘Young Mothers’ group in Bonnyrigg would organise the yearly panto trips.”
Capital Theatres once again join forces with the world’s biggest pantomime produce, Crossroads Pantomimes for Pinocchio, which opens on Saturday 28 November and runs through to Sunday 17 January 2027.
The company say: “this spectacular pantomime adventure is bursting with toe-tapping song and dance numbers, jaw-dropping special effects, fabulous costumes, laughter, magic and plenty of mayhem.”
Pinocchio
King’s Theatre, 2 Leven Street EH3 9LQ.
Sat 28 Nov 2026 – Sun 17 Jan 2027
Tue-Sat (& Mons 21, 28 Dec, 4 Jan): 2pm & 7pm. Sun (& Thurs 24, 31 Dec): 1pm & 5pm.
Tickets and details: Book here.
ENDS
