OH YES IT IS!
ARTS + ENTERTAINMENT
© Kate Darkins
PANTO SEASON 2025 OH YES, IT IS!
He’ s behind you! A visit to the pantomime is as synonymous with Christmas as decorating the tree or sharing a festive feast with your family and friends. Luckily for us, there is a show-stopping number of theatres throughout Kent that go all-out every year with their pantomime offering – your only dilemma is which one( or two, maybe three) you’ ll choose to kick off your seasonal celebrations.
“ Oh no, it isn’ t … Oh yes, it is!” is undoubtedly one of the most famous calls in the whole of theatreland and heralds the of one of the UK’ s oldest theatrical traditions – the pantomime.
Although it first arrived on British stages in the 1600s, it was the Victorians who ramped up the fun and started to make panto into what we know and love today. In those days, it was an outlet for escapism; somewhere that people could go to hear saucy jokes and watch risqué scenes without shame or embarrassment. It was safe and permitted, but – a lot like today – teetered right on the edge of decency, so it’ s no surprise they loved it then as much as we all still love it now.
These days, there’ s a much more family orientated feel to most pantos and the annual theatre trip has become something your kids will remember for years to come.
The first experience of theatre for so many little ones, pantomime is as immersive, funny and exciting as it gets – it’ s something a lot of us have grown up with, and, let’ s face it, Christmas without a raucous singalong panto just isn’ t Christmas at all.
A seasonal trip to the pantomime is as much something to look forward to as it is something to treasure for years to come; it’ s a magical experience that children won’ t forget. Pantomime season 2025 is raring to go, so read ahead to discover which sparkly and delightfully silly shows Kent has for you this year – all you have to do is choose!
www. insidekent. co. uk • 35