Potted Panto
- 70 minutes
- Apollo Theatre
- 4.5/5 based on 15 reviews
Potted Panto photos
- Booking details
- Booking from: Sunday, 6 December 2026 Booking until: Sunday, 3 January 2027
- Running time: 70 minutes
- Age restrictions
Potted Panto description
About the Show
Two performers race through seven classic pantomimes in 70 minutes, rubbing Aladdin's lamp, walking the golden streets of Dick Whittington's London and making sure Cinderella reaches the ball. Costume, character and plot change every few minutes, and much of the comedy comes from the gap between what the stories demand and what two people can actually manage.
The production premiered in the West End at the Vaudeville Theatre in 2010 and was nominated for the Olivier Award for Best Entertainment. It has returned to London almost every Christmas since, making it the West End's longest-running pantomime. It plays straight through with no interval and is recommended for ages six and over. The Guardian called it "so silly it's just one long joke... featuring a 3D journey to nowhere but tear-inducing laughter", and the Evening Standard "a hoot of a show... huge fun".
Cast and Creatives
The show is written by Daniel Clarkson, Jefferson Turner and Richard Hurst, and directed by Richard Hurst. Set design is by Simon Scullion, costume design by Nicky Bunch, lighting design by Tim Mascall and sound design by Tom Lishman.
Daniel Clarkson and Jefferson Turner perform the show themselves. Both are former CBBC presenters and double Olivier nominees, and they also created Potted Potter, which condenses all seven Harry Potter books into 70 minutes and has played in the West End, in New York and on international tours.
Why You Should Watch It
It is the whole pantomime canon at speed, short enough for young children and daft enough for the adults sitting with them. Book tickets for Potted Panto.
