Xmas Listings 2023
Pantos and Christmas Shows in Edinburgh
It’s almost panto time again, so here’s a big list of all the Christmas shows, pantomimes and other shows we know of in Edinburgh!
Look out for our special panto preview, coming soon…
So here are the listings. Firstly by date, and then by venue with more information about each show.
Listings by date
Click on the name of the show or the Book here link to go to the ticketing site (opens in a new window).
Thurs 23 Nov to Sun 31 Dec 2023
The Snow Queen
Lyceum Theatre, Grindlay Street EH3 9AX.
Tue – Sat: 7pm; Mats Sat: 2pm; Sun: 1pm & 6pm.
Tickets and details: Book here.
Sat 25 Nov – Sun 31 Dec 2023.
The Pantomime Adventures of Peter Pan
Festival Theatre, 13/29 Nicolson Street EH8 9FT.
Tue – Sat: 2pm & 7 pm. Sun: 1pm & 5pm.
No mats: Dec 5, 6, 7, 13. No evening perf: Dec 14
Tickets and details: Book here.
Mon 27 Nov – Fri 1 Dec 2023.
A Christmas Carol (Guy Masterson)
Assembly Roxy, 2 Roxburgh Place, EH8 9SU.
Evenings: 7.30pm. (Upstairs)
Tickets and details: Book here.
Wed 29 Nov – Sat 2 Dec 2023
Hansel & Gretel (St Serf’s Players with The Trinity Theatre Company)
Inverleith St Serf’s Church Centre, 1a Clark Road, EH5 3BD.
Wed-Fri: 7.30pm; Sat: 2pm & 6.30pm.
Tickets and details: Book here.
Wed 29 Nov – Sat 2 Dec 2023
Monty Panto and the 12-ish Labours (EUTC)
Bedlam Theatre, 11B Bristo Place, EH1 1EZ.
Evenings: 7.30pm.
Tickets and details: Book here.
Fri 1 – Sun 3 Dec 2023
A Very Crypto Christmas (Adrenalism)
Summerhall, 1 Summerhall, EH9 1PL.
Evenings: 7pm (Techcube 0)
Tickets and details: Book here.
Wed 6 – Sat 9 Dec 2023.
Alice in Pantoland (Balerno Theatre Company)
Church Hill Theatre, 33 Morningside Road, EH10 4DR.
Evenings: 7.30pm; Fr/Sat mats: 2.30pm.
Tickets and details: Book here.
Wed 6 – Sat 23 Dec 2023
Sleeping Booty
The Three Sisters, 139 Cowgate, EH1 1JS.
Wed – Sat: 9pm; Sun: 3pm.
Tickets and details: Book here.
Thurs 7 Dec 2023 – Sat 14 Jan 2024
Wicked
Playhouse, 18 – 22 Greenside Place, EH1 3AA
Tue – Sat: 7.30pm; Wed, Thurs, Sat, Sun: 2.30pm.
Tickets and details: Book here.
Fri 8 – Sun 10 Dec 2023
Terry Pratchet’s Hogfather(Strawmoddie Theatre)
Pleasance Theatre 60 Pleasance, EH8 9TJ.
Evenings: 7.30pm; Sat & Sun mats: 3pm.
Tickets and details: Book Here.
Fri 8 – Sun 24 Dec 2023
Unicorn Christmas Party
The Studio, 22 Potterrow, EH8 9BL
Wed – Sun: 10.30am (not Fri 8, Sat 9) & 1.30pm. 6pm: Fri 8 & Sat 9 only.
Tickets and details: Book here.
Fri 8 – Sat 30 Dec 2023
Cinderella (Stage Door Entertainment)
Portobello Town Hall, 147-149 Portobello High St, Portobello EH15 1AF.
All Fri: 7pm; All Sat & Thurs 28/Fri 29: 2pm & 7pm. Wed 20 – Fri 22: 1pm & 7pm.
Tickets and details: Book here.
Sat 9 Dec 2023.
Cramond Island (Cramond Drama Group)
Cramond Kirk Halls, 16 Cramond Glebe Rd, Cramond, EH4 6NS.
Two shows: 2pm and 7pm.
Tickets and details: Book here.
Sat 9/Sun 10 Dec 2023.
Hansel and Gretel (Macastory)
Scottish Storytelling Centre, 43-45 High St, Edinburgh EH1 1SR.
Two shows daily: 11am & 2pm.
Tickets and details: Book here.
Tue 12 – Thurs 21 Dec 2023.
Boris & Sergey’s Christmas Cabaret (Flabbergast Theatre)
Assembly Roxy, 2 Roxburgh Place, EH8 9SU.
Evenings: 7.30pm. (Central)
Tickets and details: Book here.
Fri 15 – Sat 16 Dec 2023.
Cinderella (EAS)
Marchmont St Giles’ Parish Church, 3 Kilgraston Rd, EH9 2DW
Evenings: 7.00pm, Sat mat: 2pm.
Tickets and details: Book here.
Fri 15 – Sat 23 Dec 2023.
Cinderella (EPT)
Church Hill Theatre, 33 Morningside Road, EH10 4DR.
Evenings: 15, 19, 20, 21, 22: 7.00pm.
Matinees: 16, 17, 23: 2.30pm.
Tickets and details: Book here.
Fri 15 – Sun 17 Dec 2023
A Christmas Carol (Forth Act)
Saint Salvador’s Episcopal Church, 61 Saughton Mains Street EH11 3QX.
Evenings: 7pm.
Tickets and details: Book here
Sat 16/Sun 17 Dec 2023.
Last Christmas (Strange Town 11-14s)
Scottish Storytelling Centre, 43-45 High St, Edinburgh EH1 1SR.
Fri: 6.30pm, Sat: 8.30pm.
Tickets and details: Book here.
Tarlike (Strange Town 11-14s)
Scottish Storytelling Centre, 43-45 High St, Edinburgh EH1 1SR.
Fri: 8.30pm, Sat 6:30pm.
Tickets and details: Book here.
Sat 16/Sun 17 Dec 2023.
Billi & the Polar Bear (Strange Town 8-10s)
Scottish Storytelling Centre, 43-45 High St, Edinburgh EH1 1SR.
Sat: 3pm, Sun: 11:30.
Tickets and details: Book here.
Wed 20 – Sat 30 Dec 2023.
Cinderella (Hopscotch Theatre)
The Brunton @ Loretto School Theatre, Linkfield Road, Musselburgh EH21 7RE.
Wed 20-Fri 22: 7pm; Sat 23: 2pm & 7pm; Sun 24: 1pm & 5pm.
Wed 27-Fri 29: 11am (not Thurs), 3pm, 7pm; Sat 30: 1pm & 5pm.
Tickets and details: Book here.
Fri 5 – Sat 20 Jan 2024.
Scottish Ballet’s Cinders
Festival Theatre, 13/29 Nicolson Street EH8 9FT.
Wed – Sat: 7.30pm; Fri 12, Sat, Sun mat: 2.30pm.
Tickets and details: Book here.
Listings by Venue
Click on the name of the show or the Book here link to go to the ticketing site (opens in a new window).
Assembly Roxy
Assembly Roxy, 2 Roxburgh Place, EH8 9SU. Phone booking: 0131 623 3030
A Christmas Carol (Guy Masterson)
Mon 27 Nov – Fri 1 Dec 2023.
Evenings: 7.30pm. (Upstairs)
Æ Review: ★★★★☆ Splendidly seasonal.
Famed for bringing literary masterpieces to vivid life (Under Milk Wood, Animal Farm) Masterson gives Dickens’ original performance text in his own inimitable multi-character style. Scrooge, Marley, the Fezziwigs, the Cratchits, Tiny Tim et al are brought to vivid life in a riveting performance that dazzles, enchants, and will linger long in the memory. Book here.
Boris & Sergey’s Christmas Cabaret (Flabbergast Theatre)
Tue 12 – Thurs 21 Dec 2023.
Evenings: 7.30pm. (Central)
The Balkan bad boys of puppetry are back with their very own brand of Christmas cheer. They’ve put their leathery heads together to come up with an exceptional cast of cabaret delinquents, and can’t wait to unleash them on you this festive season. Carols, Chaos, and a tenuous link to a well known Christmas story. Book here.
Bedlam Theatre
11B Bristo Place, EH1 1EZ.
Monty Panto and the 12-ish Labours (EUTC)
Wed 29 Nov – Sat 2 Dec 2023.
Evenings: 7.30pm.
“In the beginning was the game, the game was with God, and the game was God.” The gods are happily watching the nativity, the gift of life granted by God himself, but someone comes along and ruins the whole thing by putting the party to an end. Hercules is blamed and set 12(ish) labours. One of the other gods isn’t happy about the way that things are going in Hercules’ adventure and the things that he is finding out along the way and is determined to put an end to him. Book here.
The Brunton @ Loretto School Theatre
Linkfield Road, Musselburgh EH21 7RE.
Cinderella (Hopscotch Theatre)
Wed 20 – Sat 30 Dec 2023. (Loretto School Theatre).
Wed 20-Fri 22: 7pm; Sat 23: 2pm & 7pm; Sun 24: 1pm & 5pm.
Wed 27-Fri 29: 11am (not Thurs), 3pm, 7pm; Sat 30: 1pm & 5pm.
Cinderella receives an invitation to Prince McCharming’s royal birthday party, but with her step-siblings Hackit and Glackit, the so-called fungal sensations vying for the royal Tik Tok star’s hand in marriage, they stop at nothing to keep Cinderella locked away. Book here.
Church Hill Theatre
33 Morningside Road, EH10 4DR.
Alice in Pantoland (Balerno Theatre Company)
Wed 6 – Sat 9 Dec 2023.
Evenings: 7.30pm; Fr/Sat mats: 2.30pm.
Balerno Theatre Company and their cast of 35 (not to forget a pair of ten-strong child ensembles) slip off down the rabbit hole with Alice, who has begun to believe that very few things are, indeed, impossible. Book here.
Cinderella (EPT)
Fri 15 – Sat 23 Dec 2023.
Evenings: 15, 19, 20, 21, 22: 7.00pm.
Matinees: 16, 17, 23: 2.30pm.
EPT with Paul Reakes’ take on the ever-popular pantomime. Prince Charming is off gallevanting round the world and leaves Pantomania to be governed by the selfish Duke of Verruca. When the prince returns the duke refuses to relinquish power. Luckily, faithfull Buttons, his friend Kathy and of course the Fairy Godmother are around to work wonders. Book here.
Cramond Kirk Halls
16 Cramond Glebe Rd, Cramond, EH4 6NS.
Cramond Island (Cramond Drama Group)
Sat 9 Dec 2023.
Two shows: 2pm and 7pm.
A family-friendly swashbuckling adventure on the high seas of hidden treasure, betrayal, pirates and unusual island inhabitants. Can Jim find the hidden treasure? Or will he end up shipwrecked? Book here.
Festival Theatre
13/29 Nicolson Street EH8 9FT. Phone booking: 0131 529 6000
The Pantomime Adventures of Peter Pan
Sat 25 Nov – Sun 31 Dec 2023
Tue – Sat: 2pm & 7 pm. Sun: 1pm & 5pm.
No mats: Dec 5, 6, 7, 13. No evening perf: Dec 14
Join Peter Pan as he sets sail on a brand-new adventure for Christmas 2023. Returning for another year to the Festival Theatre, are pantomime favourites Allan Stewart, Grant Stott and Jordan Young. Book here.
Scottish Ballet’s Cinders
Fri 5 – Sat 20 Jan 2024.
Wed – Sat: 7.30pm; Fri 12, Sat, Sun mat: 2.30pm.
Scottish Ballet’s festive favourite returns for the winter season with a new name, glittering new designs, including a stunning art-nouveau-inspired set, and a charming twist to the tale. Book here.
Inverleith St Serf’s Church Centre
1a Clark Road, EH5 3BD.
Hansel & Gretel (St Serf’s Players with The Trinity Theatre Company)
Wed 29 Nov – Sat 2 Dec 2023
Wed-Fri: 7.30pm; Sat: 2pm & 6.30pm.
A wicked witch (but not too wicked!) and with good winning over evil. The Forest Fairy and Attrocia the Witch battle for the villagers of Pumpernickel. But will the witch get her just desserts? Norman Robbins’ script is full of fun, comedy routines and laughter. Book here.
Lyceum Theatre
Grindlay Street EH3 9AX. Phone booking: 0131 248 4848
The Snow Queen
By Morna Young, adapted from the story by Hans Christian Andersen
Thurs 23 Nov to Sun 31 Dec 2023
Tue – Sat: 7pm; Mats Sat: 2pm; Sun: 1pm & 6pm.
When the beautiful and fearsome Snow Queen steals young Kei away to her frozen kingdom, she leaves behind the brave and brilliant Gerda, an Edinburgh lass. Book here.
Marchmont St Giles’ Parish Church
3 Kilgraston Rd, EH9 2DW
Cinderella (EAS)
Fri 15 – Sat 16 Dec 2023.
Evenings: 7.00pm, Sat mat: 2pm.
Edinburgh Acting School with a Marchmont panto for Marchmont people, written and directed by Audrey Jones. Will Cinderella get to the ball or is she destined to work at Bruntsfield Hall for the rest of her life? Will those evil stepsisters EVER say anything nice? And how raging is that Baroness! Book here.
Playhouse
18 – 22 Greenside Place, EH1 3AA
Wicked
Thurs 7 Dec 2023 – Sat 14 Jan 2024
Tue – Sat: 7.30pm; Wed, Thurs, Sat, Sun: 2.30pm.
Based on the acclaimed novel by Gregory Maguire, Wicked imagines a beguiling backstory and future possibilities to the lives of L. Frank Baum’s beloved characters from The Wonderful Wizard of Oz and reveals the decisions and events that shape the destinies of two unlikely university friends on their journey to becoming Glinda The Good and the Wicked Witch of the West. Book here.
Pleasance Theatre
60 Pleasance, EH8 9TJ.
Terry Pratchet’s Hogfather(Strawmoddie Theatre)
Fri 8 – Sun 10 Dec 2023
Evenings: 7.30pm; Sat & Sun mats: 3pm.
Superstition makes things work in the Discworld and undermining it can have serious consequences. Hogfather begins the night before Hogswatch, the last night of the year. Time is turning and it’s much too quiet. Worse…DEATH is creeping down chimneys and trying to say “Ho Ho Ho”. Terry Pratchett’s Yuletide classic adapted by Steve Briggs. Tickets and details: Book Here.
Portobello Town Hall
147-149 Portobello High St, Portobello EH15 1AF.
Cinderella (Stage Door Entertainment)
Fri 8 – Sat 30 Dec 2023
All Fri: 7pm; All Sat & Thurs 28/Fri 29: 2pm & 7pm. Wed 20 – Fri 22: 1pm & 7pm.
Stage Door turn to the most popular of pantomimes for their first Porty Panto, which promises to transport audiences to a world of wonder, where dreams can come true, Cinders will get to the ball and everyone gets to go home laughing. Book here.
Saint Salvador’s Episcopal Church
61 Saughton Mains Street EH11 3QX.
A Christmas Carol (Forth Act)
Fri 15 – Sun 17 Dec 2023
Evenings: 7pm.
The Forth Act is working in partnership with St. Salvador’s Scottish Episcopal Church to put on their version of A Christmas Carol. Tickets are free or by donation. All proceeds to St Salvador’s Food Pantry which serves over 70 families week to week. Book here
Scottish Storytelling Centre
43-45 High St, Edinburgh EH1 1SR.
Hansel and Gretel (Macastory)
Sat 9/Sun 10 Dec 2023.
Two shows daily: 11am & 2pm.
Join Ron, Ferg and Claire as they take you on a great big Christmas cracker of an adventure. Perfect Panto Patter, full of fun and laughs, especially devised for a young audience and their parents… it’s a BIG story for LITTLE people.. Book here.
Last Christmas (Strange Town 11-14s)
Fri 15/Sat 16 Dec 2023.
Fri: 6.30pm, Sat: 8.30pm.
Christmas 2063: the teenage crew of the Starship Abandoner have departed from their burning world for the last time – but never mind that! Time to set your phasers to fun as Christmas is just around the corner. Until things go wrong… A Sci-Fi Christmas farce with a heart for home. Written by Poppy Hope Smith and directed by Amy Wilson. Book here.
Tarlike (Strange Town 11-14s)
Fri 15/Sat 16 Dec 2023.
Fri: 8.30pm, Sat 6:30pm.
As Christmas Eve dawns on a distant asteroid orbiting Jupiter, Reverie can’t wait to find the present she begged for under the tree. But when Mother Tar, finds her opening presents early, she teleports all the presents away in a rage and cancels Christmas for everyone. A gothic sci-fi quest of Christmassy proportions. Written by Daniel Orejon and directed by James Beagon. Book here.
Billi & the Polar Bear (Strange Town 8-10s)
Sat 16/Sun 17 Dec 2023.
Sat: 3pm, Sun: 11:30.
Billi always takes things too far: making up stories, stealing people’s glasses and generally being an all-round pain. So, when Billi discovers a book about Chris-T-Mas – a holiday celebrated long ago – the group are understandably hesitant to trust them. A light-hearted Christmas comedy-caper across the frozen wilderness. Written by RJ Hunter and directed by Catherine Ward-Stoddart. Book here.
The Studio
22 Potterrow, EH8 9BL. Phone booking: 0131 529 6000
Unicorn Christmas Party
Fri 8 – Sun 24 Dec 2023
Wed – Sun: 10.30am (not Fri 8, Sat 9) & 1.30pm. 6pm: Fri 8 & Sat 9 only.
Find your inner unicorn and join glittering, magical unicorns Melody and Luna, as they bring a little winter sunshine, moonlight, good times, and a lot of boogies into everyone’s lives, with easy-to-follow dance moves and a soundtrack of Christmas hits.. Book here.
Summerhall
1 Summerhall, EH9 1PL.
A Very Crypto Christmas (Adrenalism)
Fri 1 – Sun 3 Dec 2023
Evenings: 7pm (Techcube 0)
Middling corporate hacks Warren and Stew present a christmas theatre show that is part business edu-tainment session, part investment seminar but fully doomed to fail. Expect slapstick violence, physical theatre, clunky metaphors and razor-sharp satire of our current grotesque political reality. Book here.
The Three Sisters
139 Cowgate, EH1 1JS.
Sleeping Booty
Wed 6 – Sat 23 Dec 2023
Wed – Sat: 9pm; Sun: 3pm.
Adult Panto with sparkling decor and costumes, an utterly filthy script and all your favourite cheesy anthems, fun, frolics, laughter and audience participation. Get ready for a night you won’t forget in a hurry, oh no you won’t!. Book here.
Traverse
10 Cambridge Street, EH1 2ED. Phone booking: 0131 228 1404
Same Team – A Street Soccer Story
Friday 8 – Saturday 23 December 2023
Previews Fri 8/Sat 9: 7.30pm.
Tue – Sat (not Sat 23): 7.30pm;
Mats: Sats 16 & 23, Wed 20, Fri 22: 2.30pm.
Five women have come together with one goal, one dream. Coming from very different backgrounds in life they have to work together as a team if they want to do what no one from Scotland has ever done before. To win the Homeless World Cup, and bring the trophy home. (See preview: Football play closes Trav 60). Tickets and details: Book here.
ENDS
